President Bush on Friday ordered a partial cut in US assistance to Venezuela because of its alleged role in the international trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation.
The action means the United States will not support US$250 million in Venezuelan loan requests expected to come before international lending institutions during the next fiscal year, a State Department official said.
VHeadlinearticle
The action means the United States will not support US$250 million in Venezuelan loan requests expected to come before international lending institutions during the next fiscal year, a State Department official said.
The U.S. government's official statement is here.
Venezuela's statement in response:
We were disappointed to learn that on Friday, September 10, President Bush issued a determination that the United States intends to take action against Venezuela for allegedly not standing strongly against human trafficking. The Government of Venezuela stands firmly against trafficking in persons. We have signed and ratified the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, and the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which the United States has yet to ratify.
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[Information Minister Andres] Izarra said Venezuela was not concerned about the lack of U.S. support for funding channeled through international organizations. The loans could be approved without U.S. backing if Venezuela secures sufficient support from other governments.
"We don't believe that the U.S. vote is enough to stop the loans," Izarra said.
Yahoo article
"We don't believe that the U.S. vote is enough to stop the loans," Izarra said.
Personally, I think this is BushCo's way of attacking Venezuela on other grounds now that the recall of President Chávez has failed. Too much publicity has been placed on the more overt and covert attempts to oust the man. We have to back away a bit on that angle for now. Also, we've not had much success in our attempts to connect Chávez to terrorism. Reasons for sanctions must be fabricated from another angle.
In closing:
Modern-day slavery is alive and well in Florida, the head of a human rights center said Tuesday as it released a report on people forced to work as prostitutes, farmworkers and maids across the state.
Human traffickers bring thousands of people into the United States each year and Florida is believed to be one of the top three destinations, along with New York and Texas, according to the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University.
CNN article
Human traffickers bring thousands of people into the United States each year and Florida is believed to be one of the top three destinations, along with New York and Texas, according to the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University.
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