PressTV – Venezuela accuses US officials of stoking violence.
PressTV
Mar 16, 2014
Caracas has accused Washington of seeking to stoke violence in Venezuela, after US lawmakers called for funding opposition groups in the South American country.
Speaking on the sidelines of a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on Friday, Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz slammed the United States for planning to fund anti-government groups involved in violence in the country.
“There’s no doubt that this is to fund the violent actions taking place in Venezuela,” Ortega Diaz said, warning that those who receive foreign aid would be prosecuted.
She also criticized the US government for acting like the “world’s policeman”, saying, “Who gave them the authority to sanction countries? Are they the world’s court?”
“If that’s how it is, I’ll sanction the United States for violating human rights in Guantanamo, for invading Vietnam and Afghanistan, for human rights abuses in South America and Central America, for the coup in Chile, in Nicaragua,” she stated.
Her comments come as the US pushes for sanctions against Venezuelan officials, whom it accuses of cracking down on protesters.
On Thursday, the US Senate introduced a bipartisan bill that compels President Barack Obama to target Venezuelan officials, who it says are involved in the country’s violence.
The proposed bill also includes an additional 15 million dollars in funds to help the Venezuelan opposition.
Meanwhile, 10 members of the US House of Representatives are seeking to impose visa bans, asset freezes and financial sanctions on Venezuelan officials.
Venezuela has been rocked by a wave of protests since early February. At least 28 people have been killed in the violence since then.
President Nicolas Maduro has accused the US of backing the opposition to launch a coup d’état in Venezuela.
MSM/MHB/MAM
