International community pressure only way to aid Venezuela | Letters – Sun Sentinel

In reference to Mark Weisbrot's July 21 viewpoint "Venezuela needs negotiation, not American intervention," I am troubled by the half-truths and disregard of events included in the piece.

The opposition in Venezuela has been mostly very pacific, as opposed to the actions of the government; violent repression, jailing of opposition leaders, and disregard of national and international law all with the only purpose of staying in power to implant obsolete ideas under a dictatorship.

During 2015 and 2016 a dialogue was established by some ex-presidents (chosen by the government), and at the end with the participation of the Vatican. The result was some agreements with which the government did not comply. Its response was more jailing of dissidents and persecution and oppression of the opposition. The government has refused to accept the elected national assembly by disregarding its laws, with the protection of a Supreme Court elected with disregard of the Venezuelan constitution and at the service of the president.

The present situation is best described by the words of President Maduro: "What we will not gain with votes we will gain with weapons." The armed forces (with the help of the Cubans) is the only support of the government. The people are overwhelmingly opposed to it, as demonstrated by the recent civic voting act.

The only possible dialogue is the negotiation of the exit of the present government, which the government has refused to accept.

As demonstrated, the government is disregarding the Venezuelan people; if it kills one or 100, if it jails thousands and tries them under military courts, the opposition is powerless to stem it.

The only alternative is international community pressures with strong measures against the government and its corrupt elite by the U.S., the European Union and Latin American countries.

Carlo Ermoli, Plantation

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International community pressure only way to aid Venezuela | Letters - Sun Sentinel