The executive order issued today
implements and expands upon the act
by authorizing the imposition of sanctions
against individuals involved in
or responsible for the erosion of human rights guarantees,
persecution of political opponents,
curtailment of press freedoms,
use of violence in human rights violations
and abuses in response to anti-government protests,
and arbitrary arrest and detention of anti-government protestors,
as well as significant public corruption
by senior officials in Venezuela.
We want to be absolutely clear that
this executive order does not target the people or
the economy of Venezuela.
We’re committed to advancing respect for human rights,
safeguarding democratic institutions,
and protecting the U.S. financial system
from the illicit financial flows
from public corruption in Venezuela.
In addition to the executive order,
the White House released today
an annex designating seven individuals
for the imposition of sanctions under this executive order.
These individuals will have their property
and interest in property in the United States
blocked or frozen, and,
as well, U.S. persons are prohibited
from doing business with them.
The executive order also suspends
the entry into the United States of individuals
meeting the criteria for economic sanctions.
We continue to be concerned
by the Venezuelan government’s efforts
to escalate intimidation of political opponents.
Venezuela’s problems cannot be solved
by criminalizing dissent,
nor will they be resolve by attempts
to distract from their own actions
by blaming the United States or
other members of the international community
for events inside of Venezuela.
The only way to solve Venezuela’s problems
is through real dialogue."
THE foregoing is an excerpt from
a private White House briefing
on Venezuela the transcript of which is now released.
For All of us,
the foregoing should be borne in mind
by Guyanese politicians,
especially at this time.
Gutter Rat, Donald Duck & De Goat
Better Take Warning....