U.N. appeals for calm in Venezuela ahead of controversial vote

Record ID: 904543

  • Title: U.N. appeals for calm in Venezuela ahead of controversial vote
  • Date: 28th July 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JULY 28, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING U.N. REGULAR BRIEFING ONGOING U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY'S (OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS / OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, ELIZABETH THROSSELL, WITH U.N. SPOKESMAN, MICHELE ZACCHEO, DURING NEWS BRIEFING U.N. STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY'S (OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, ELIZABETH THROSSELL, SAYING: "We are deeply concerned at the risk of further violence in Venezuela, where elections for the constituent assembly convened by President Nicolas Maduro are due to be held on Sunday. The wishes of the Venezuelan people to participate or not in this election need to be respected. No one should be obliged to vote while those willing to take part should be able to do so freely." JOURNALISTS AND U.N. STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS AGENCY'S (OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, ELIZABETH THROSSELL, SAYING: "We hope that the poll scheduled for Sunday, if it goes ahead, will proceed peacefully, and in full respect of human rights. To that end, we renew our appeal to the authorities to guarantee people's rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and we call on all in Venezuela to use only peaceful means to make themselves heard." EXTERIOR OF U.N. BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2017 12:05
  • Keywords: Venezuelan election United Nations calls for calm clashes new Constituent Assembly Nicolas Maduro human rights
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016RMU62V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro must allow peaceful protests and freedom of expression, the United Nations said on Friday (July 28) in an appeal for calm ahead of Sunday's (July 30) elections for the new Constituent Assembly.
    The government banned protests from Friday to Tuesday, raising the likelihood of more violence in volatile Venezuela.
    The U.S. government ordered family members of employees at its embassy in Venezuela to leave on Thursday (July 27) as a political crisis deepened ahead of the vote which critics contend will end democracy in the oil-rich country.
    Over 100 people have died in anti-government unrest convulsing Venezuela since April, when the opposition launched protests demanding conventional elections to end nearly two decades of socialist rule.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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