En tu idioma

Eduardo del Buey
Foto: Ap
La Jornada Maya

Miércoles 29 de junio, 2106

For twelve years I served as spokesperson for three international organizations: the Organization of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, and the United Nations (UN). One fundamental lesson I learned is basic to any understanding of multilateral institutions -- any international organization can only go as far as its member states want it to.

Member states work on national interests. At OAS, we have thirty-four competing national interests around the table. These national interests often lead member states to avoid implementing covenants or agreements to which they have subscribed. When this happens, the organization ceases to “live its message”, and loses credibility with the general public it purports to serve.

This has been underscored once again with the recent debates on the situation in Venezuela.

OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro has called for the invocation of the Democratic Charter for the Americas, which was approved by all OAS member states in Lima, Peru, on September 11, 2001 – the same day and almost the same hour as the worst foreign terrorist attack in the Americas. The Democratic Charter was adopted to preclude the democracies of the hemisphere from transitioning into dictatorships of the right or the left, and to guarantee hemispheric support for human rights and democratic practices and institutions.

Venezuela has been in crisis for quite a few years and its economy is in a severe tailspin. Demonstrations are a daily occurrence and often turn violent. Shortages of food and medicines are severe, and the government appears incapable or unwilling to make the changes necessary to alleviate the situation. While claiming that low oil prices are to blame, one must remember that when Hugo Chavez took over oil was at $10 a barrel – lower than it is today.

Recently, the government disavowed the over one million signatures calling for its recall.

By calling for the implementation of the Democratic Charter, the Secretary-General is underscoring the concern shared by many that Venezuela is falling into a spiral of violence and internal chaos, with a government bent in staying in power at whatever the cost.

Member states, however, have different ideas.

Some of Venezuela’s allies, themselves maneuvering towards more autocratic means to govern, stand against anything that goes against their parochial interests – despite their having adopted the Democratic Charter thirteen years ago.

Still others are afraid of being tainted as being too pro-United States. The region remains highly sensitive to any perceptions of real or perceived US intervention given the region´s rather sad history to date. They prefer to err on the side of caution lest they stir up nationalist sentiments at home.

Venezuela has the potential to be one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere and provide well for its citizens. Yet the current democratic deficit is matched by a sinking economy as a result of low oil prices and the government’s inability to manage an economy rich with natural resources and talented people. The increasing unrest and formidable criminal and political violence are seriously eroding social cohesion in a country where murder is a way of life and violence is a daily currency.

This concerns not only Venezuelans, but also their hemispheric neighbors, caught between concerns for the millions of Venezuelans victim to current conditions and the dangers of perceived foreign intervention. But invoking the Democratic Charter, which was agreed to by the Chavez Government, would not be intervention since the Venezuelan government agreed fully to its terms and conditions in 2001.

The Secretary-General continues to push on, guided by the key tenets of the organization, and acting as its conscience. His decision to live the organization’s message is refreshing in a cynical world. That he is being hung out to dry by member states is a shame, but the blame rests on them and not on Almagro.

Whatever one’s views on Venezuela, and there are different views throughout the hemisphere, the fact that its government is denying a basic constitutional right to its citizens (by nullifying the will of the democratically elected parliament and trying to void the million strong signatures calling for a recall and a new election) is reason enough to invoke the Democratic Charter and allow the hemispheric community to engage in finding a solution amenable to the majority of Venezuelans, and bring internal peace to that country.

Living its message is a fundamental requirement for an international organization (or any organization, for that mater) to maintain credibility.

Avoiding it, or acting in a cynical manner, is the best way for an organization to lose public support and drift into irrelevance.

I don’t think that that is what the majority of citizens of the Americas want.

It is not what the people of the hemisphere need.

It is not what the Venezuelan people deserve.

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