Human Rights News
HRW Documents on Venezuela FREE    Join the HRW Mailing List 
Venezuela's Political Crisis
A joint statement by the Washington Office on Latin America and Human Rights Watch
(Washington, October 9, 2002) In recent months, both the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and Human Rights Watch have undertaken fact-finding missions to Venezuela to investigate the events surrounding the failed coup of April 2002 and to assess the present human rights situation and the continued political crisis. We share grave concerns regarding Venezuela's political stability and fear that the potential for large-scale violence remains high. The international community must remain vigilant to the continued risks to human rights, democracy and constitutional rule in Venezuela today. We call on the international community, and the U.S. government in particular, to support efforts underway in Venezuela to promote a negotiated and peaceful settlement to the present political impasse within the framework of the Venezuelan constitution and the rule of law, including strict adherence to human rights principles.


Related Material

Political Crisis in Venezuela
HRW Press Backgrounder, July 2002

Venezuela: Investigate Killings of Demonstrators
HRW Press Release, April 16, 2002


The situation following the failed coup remains polarized and tensions run extremely high. Hard-line sectors within both the opposition and the government have shown little willingness to compromise or negotiate. Both utilize tactics of inflammatory rhetoric and confrontation, creating conditions that are likely to lead to more violence. Sectors of the opposition continue to seek President Chávez's removal prior to the end of his term, with little regard for the legality or constitutionality of how that goal is achieved. The Chávez government, for its part, has failed to take sufficient steps to diffuse the present conflict and to impose the rule of law, and continues to promote a political role within government for active-duty members of the Venezuelan military.

The situation of the news media is also of concern. Far from providing fair and accurate reporting, the media by and large seek to provoke popular discontent and outrage in support of the hard-line opposition. President Chávez, in turn, uses strong and intimidating language to verbally attack members of the media. Given the polarized political context, his statements may be interpreted by his supporters as an incitement to violence. The result is a precarious situation for journalists, who are frequently attacked and harassed.

Despite persistent rumors of another coup, it is unclear whether the conditions exist for further military action in the immediate future. Analysts believe that the military is reluctant to risk a repeat of last April's failed coup, that as an institution it is deeply divided, and that there is insufficient popular support for military action. However, this could well change if street-level violence escalates and internal public order is increasingly threatened. With each demonstration or protest, the potential for violent confrontation increases. Of particular concern is the possibility of violence on October 10, when a demonstration convened by the political opposition is to take place and will likely be met by pro-government demonstrators.

While strategies of confrontation dominate the political debate in Venezuela today, sectors within both the opposition and the government are seeking an alternative path. They are seeking to promote dialogue across the political divide and political solutions that fall within the framework of the country's constitution, such as a popular referendum in the middle of the presidential term. They are supported by the bulk of the population that opposes violence or further military action. To date, however, these sectors have little political space within which to operate and have had little echo within the national debate. Supporting these moderate sectors within Venezuelan society and government and helping them to create the political space to promote democratic alternatives is a key challenge for the international community.

The international community has taken two important steps forward in creating conditions for peace in Venezuela. First, in contrast to its initial justification of the failed coup last April, the U.S. government issued a declaration on September 18, unequivocally stating its opposition to a disruption of constitutional rule in Venezuela. Second, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Carter Center are working together to promote dialogue in Venezuela. We fully support the OAS-UNDP-Carter Center initiative and call on the relevant actors in Venezuela to do so as well. We also urge the Venezuelan opposition and government to accept an OAS "facilitator" as soon as possible to promote dialogue and a democratic solution to the present political crisis.

Finally, we wish to underscore the crucial work being carried out by Venezuelan human rights organizations such as PROVEA, the Red de Apoyo, COFAVIC and the Vicaría Episcopal de Derechos Humanos. They are performing an important and difficult role in defending human rights in a polarized and complicated situation, and in promoting dialogue at the local level. The Venezuelan human rights community deserves the full support of the OAS's Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the international community more broadly.