Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 171155
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File Number: 171155 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Version: 0 Reference: R-530-17 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: CONDEMNING VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT FOR VIOLENCE Introduced: 4/26/2017
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 5/2/2017
Agenda Date: 5/2/2017 Agenda Item Number: 14A2
Notes: Title: RESOLUTION FURTHER CONDEMNING THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT FOR USING VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION TO SUPPRESS POLITICAL OPPOSITION; EXPRESSING CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THOSE VENEZUELANS FIGHTING TO RESTORE THEIR NATION TO A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC STATE; URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE DIPLOMATIC ACTION
Indexes: URGING
Sponsors: Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
  Bruno A. Barreiro, Co-Sponsor
  Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
  Daniella Levine Cava, Co-Sponsor
  Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
  Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
  Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
Sunset Provision: No Effective Date: Expiration Date:
Registered Lobbyist: None Listed


Legislative History

Acting Body Date Agenda Item Action Sent To Due Date Returned Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners 5/2/2017 14A2 Adopted P

Office of the Chairperson 4/28/2017 Additions

County Attorney 4/26/2017 Assigned Javier Zapata 4/28/2017

Legislative Text


TITLE
RESOLUTION FURTHER CONDEMNING THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT FOR USING VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION TO SUPPRESS POLITICAL OPPOSITION; EXPRESSING CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THOSE VENEZUELANS FIGHTING TO RESTORE THEIR NATION TO A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC STATE; URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE DIPLOMATIC ACTION

BODY
WHEREAS, Nicol�s Maduro, a member of the United Socialist Party, was declared the winner of Venezuela�s April 14, 2013 presidential election by an incredibly slim margin with 50.6 percent of votes cast; and
WHEREAS, Maduro, who claims to have been elected democratically, has frequently resorted to dictatorial tactics including silencing the media, jailing political opponents, and postponing elections; and
WHEREAS, the Venezuelan government continuously suppresses the voices of its citizens through political arrests, with more than 100 political prisoners currently in jail, including opposition leader Leopoldo L�pez and the former Mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma; and
WHEREAS, police and military raids have led to widespread allegations of abuse, including extrajudicial killings, mass arbitrary detentions, torture in prisons, forced evictions, and arbitrary deportations; and
WHEREAS, Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis, with the highest inflation in the world and current inflation estimated to top roughly 1,600 percent in 2017, according to the International Monetary Fund; and
WHEREAS, in July 2016, President Maduro handed over control of the food supply system to the military, which has enabled corruption, fraud, and food trafficking by the military contributing to food shortages, a scarcity of basic goods, and political discrimination in the distribution of food and basic goods; and
WHEREAS, Venezuela is the leading country for asylum requests to the United States in the world, according to data reported by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; and
WHEREAS, many of the protestors in Venezuela hail from the poorest segments of society, normally the largest bedrock of support for the government; and
WHEREAS, since mass-scale protests erupted in Caracas last month, at least 24 protestors have died, with many killed by the Venezuelan military or other pro-government paramilitary groups; and
WHEREAS, polls indicate that over 80 percent of the country wants Maduro out of office; and
WHEREAS, this Board previously passed Resolution No. R-253-14 condemning the Venezuelan government for using violence and intimidation against its political opposition as early as 2014; and
WHEREAS, the Venezuelan government�s rampant disregard for the free speech rights of its citizens has only persisted; and�
WHEREAS, these are not the actions of a nation that purports to be democratic and governed by the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, this Board believes that the United States government should address the pressing and escalating situation in Venezuela,�
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Further condemns the Venezuelan government for using violence and intimidation to suppress political opposition.
Section 2. Continues to express support for those Venezuelans who are valiantly fighting to restore their nation to a peaceful, democratic state.
Section 3. Urges the federal government and the Organization of American States to take appropriate diplomatic action to help return democracy to Venezuela.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of State, and the United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States.



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