[News] Venezuelan Supreme Court Upholds Machado’s Removal from Office

[Anti-Imperialist News]

  Venezuelan Supreme Court Upholds Machado’s Removal from Office

By Zoë Clara Dutka

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10566

Santa Elena de Uairén April 1st, 2014 (venezuelanalysis.com 
<http://venezuelanalysis.com>)-- Yesterday evening, the Supreme Court of 
Venezuela ruled to uphold the removal of former deputy of the National 
Assembly (AN), Maria Corina Machado. Assembly president Diosdado Cabello 
called for her dismissal last week, though the power to pass such 
verdict ultimately belonged to the Supreme Court. The final decision was 
based on Machado’s violation of articles 191 and 197 of the constitution 
as they apply to Assembly members. The articles indicate that no member 
may accept employment from any foreign government without previous 
approval from parliament.

Though Machado claimed it was temporary appointment, she accepted a seat 
as an alternate Ambassador of Panama in a meeting of the Organization of 
American States (OAS) in Washington, on March 21st.

Upon learning the verdict yesterday evening, Machado summoned her 
supporters to rally for “Popular Sovereignty” at 12 PM today in Brión 
Plaza, in downtown Caracas.

Machado has asserted that her expulsion has no parallel in Venezuelan 
history and further proves that the country is under dictatorship.

Late last night she tweeted <http://www.apple.com>, “Tomorrow I will 
attend the National Assembly and exercise my right, even with the risks 
involved. I am deputy of the Assembly and I will be as long as the 
people want me to. I was elected by the people of Venezuela.”

Machado was elected into office in 2010 through the same electoral 
system that elected president Nicolas Maduro in April of 2013. She 
denounced the latter victory as having been achieved by fraudulent and 
undemocratic means.

In preparation for today’s demonstration, Machado warned protestors 
<http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/protestas-en-venezuela/140331/convocan-concentracion-en-apoyo-a-maria-corina-machado> 
of the likelihood of mass arrest. “Any Venezuelan who raises their voice 
for their rights and defends the Constitution without fear… may be the 
object of an arbitrary detention… now that there is no separation of 
powers, there is no Lawful State, nor respect for due process in our 
country.”

Incidentally, Machado has been under criminal investigation for alleged 
incitement of violent protest that has resulted in an estimated $10 
billion dollars in damage nationwide.

A pro-government Assembly member, Elvis Amoroso, today communicated that 
he’d been presented with a document signed by over 2,000 citizens 
<http://aporrea.org/actualidad/n248230.html> from different social 
groups accusing Machado of encouraging unconstitutional activity to 
remove democratically elected president Maduro from office and calling 
for her arrest. Hundreds of government supporters marched today in front 
of the district attorney’s office in Guarico state, and others 
congregated around Parliament in the city center.

A woman holding a copy of the constitution in her hand told a state 
television reporter <http://aporrea.org/actualidad/n248230.html>, “The 
very same constitution she tried to dissolve in 2002 gave her the power 
to be deputy of the national assembly. Now she’s against us again, 
seeking conflict in our country along with the United States. We are a 
country of peace, and they cannot win with violence, because we are 
armed with the constitution…laid down by commander Hugo Chavez.”

In 2002 Machado was linked to a coup attempt that  briefly removed late 
president Hugo Chavez from office and subsequently dissolved the 
National Assembly, Supreme Court, and forced the suspension of many 
governors and mayors.

The oppositional mayor of the Caracas metropolitan area, Antonio 
Ledezma, tweeted this morning his solidarity with Machado’s 
<http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Ledezma-Maria-Corina-Machado-Venezuela_0_383361698.html> 
cause, “Street action and more street action! All of Caracas will march 
today in support and defense of democracy. [María Corina] is not alone, 
she has Venezuela by her side.”

Around 1 PM today, accompanied by Ledezma and flanked by hundreds of 
supporters, Machado began to march towards the National Assembly in 
Caracas. National Guard soldiers blocked 
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2014/04/140401_ultnot_venezuela_caracas_avenidas_trancadas_ng.shtml> 
their route, however, which prevented them from walking through the city 
center. Many demonstrators, and Machado herself, tried to get past the 
guard but were refused passage, eventually being pushed back with tear 
gas. Ramon Muchacho, the mayor of the municipality quickly dispatched 
medics to the area, and some minor wounds were treated.

Machado left the scene and was taken, on motorcycle, by an alternate 
route to the front of parliament. A caravan of supporting deputies 
accompanied her, also on motorcycles. Some reports estimate 
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2014/04/140401_ultnot_venezuela_caracas_avenidas_trancadas_ng.shtml> 
22 deputies arrived before the official building at her side.

Machado later announced 
<http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Maria-Corina-Machado-Brion-Chacaito_0_383361756.html> 
her plan to confront the Supreme Court directly, and asked her 
supporters to join her again this Friday in front of the Palace of 
Justice. “If they attempt to silence me, we’ll only get stronger.”

Some hours later, unknown persons set fire 
<http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/caracas/prendieron-fuego-a-fachada-ministerio-vivienda-y-habitat-chacao/> 
to the Ministry of Housing for the second time since February. The 
Ministry, in charge of constructing housing for low-income families, is 
located in the wealthy Caracas district of Chacao.

-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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