US President Declares Venezuela a “National Security Threat”

Confrontational Executive Order Broadens Sanctions to More Chavista Officials TND Guest Contributor: Elisa Vásquez US President Barack Obama issued an executive order on Monday, declaring a national emergency with regard to the “unusual and extraordinary threat” posed by Venezuela to the security and foreign policy of the United States. The same order applies sanctions previously approved by Congress against seven Venezuelan officials for their alleged role in human-rights violations in the South American country. “We are 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,” the White House statement continues. The order implements the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, signed by Obama on December 18, 2014. The seven sanctioned individuals include Antonio José Benavides Torres, commander of Venezuela’s armed forces (FANB) for the country’s central region; security service (SEBIN) Director General Gustavo Enrique González López; former National Guard Commander and current President of state firm CVG Justo José Noguera Pietri. They’re joined by Katherine Nayarith Haringhton Padron, national level prosecutor of the 20th District Office of Venezuela’s Public Ministry, who is heading the majority of the cases against political prisoners in Venezuela. Also targeted are Police Director Manuel Eduardo Pérez Urdaneta; former SEBIN boss and current chief of the FANB’s 31st Armored Brigade of Caracas Manuel Gregorio Bernal Martínez; and FANB Inspector General Miguel Alcides Vivas Landino. Monday’s extraordinary measure is also directed against those involved in: business activities or policies to the detriment of democratic processes and institutions; violent acts or human-rights abuses; actions which prohibit, limit, or punish the exercise of freedom of expression or peaceful association; and public corruption committed by senior government officials. Those sanctioned will have assets and properties in the United States seized by the government, and US citizens are forbidden from engaging in business activities with them.



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