HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-14-0089City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution: R-14-0089
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 14-00220 Final Action Date: 3/13/2014
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CONDEMNING THE
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT FOR USING VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
AGAINST ITS POLITICAL OPPOSITION; EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THOSE
VENEZUELANS WHO ARE VALIANTLY FIGHTING TO RESTORE THEIR NATION
TO A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC STATE; URGING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE DIPLOMATIC ACTION; DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO ALL MEMBERS
OF THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THE UNITED STATES
SECRETARY OF STATE, THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, AND TO THE MEMBERS OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION.
WHEREAS, Nicolas 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, Venezuela's political opposition has highlighted widespread incidents of potential
election fraud, voter intimidation, and other abuses by the Venezuelan government in support of
Nicolas Maduro's candidacy; and
WHEREAS, the Organization of American States and other multilateral institutions have called for
a full recount and audit of the April 14, 2013 presidential election; and
WHEREAS, the Senate of the Republic of Chile, the Christian Democratic Organization of the
Americas, the Socialist International, the Union of Latin American parties, and other political
organizations in the region have issued declarations recognizing the possibility of election
irregularities and have also urged a complete audit of the election results; and
WHEREAS, Venezuela's National Electoral Council has nevertheless denied requests for a full
and comprehensive audit of the election results; and
WHEREAS, the people of Venezuela have a right to a fair and democratic process and their
government has an obligation to promote and defend it; and
WHEREAS, this right was usurped by the Venezuelan government during the April 14, 2013
presidential election and has continued to be infringed by the government's sustained actions against
its political opposition; and
WHEREAS, for example, opposition parties in Venezuela were denied the right to speak in the
national legislature from April 16, 2013 to May 21, 2013, and members from those parties were
removed from key committee positions in response to raising concerns over the legitimacy of the
presidential election results; and
City of Miami
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File Number: 14-00220 Enactment Number: R-14-0089
WHEREAS, members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela also violently assaulted
opposition legislators on April 16, 2013, and April 30, 2013 in the National Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the Venezuelan government's rampant disregard for the free speech rights of its
citizens has only persisted; and
WHEREAS, in recent weeks, the Venezuelan people have begun to courageously take to the
streets in nationwide protests against President Maduro; and
WHEREAS, the Venezuelan government has responded to these protests with violent acts of
repression, human rights violations, killing individuals who are doing nothing more than exercising
their right to free speech, and arresting various members of the political opposition, including
opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez; and
WHEREAS, the Venezuelan government also recently expelled three United States diplomats
from the country; and
WHEREAS, these are not the actions of a nation that purports to be democratic and governed by
the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, the United States Senate has already passed Senate Resolution 213, which urges
the State Department to work in concert with other countries in the Americas to take meaningful steps
to ensure the rule of law in Venezuela and to strengthen the ability of the Organization of American
States to respond to election fraud and human rights violations by its member states; and
WHEREAS, the Miami City Commission believes that the United States government should
employ all available diplomatic options to address the pressing and escalating situation in Venezuela;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by
reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission condemns the Venezuelan government for using violence
and intimidation against its political opposition.
Section 3. The Miami City Commission expresses its support for those Venezuelans who are
valiantly fighting to restore their nation to a peaceful and democratic state.
Section 4. The Miami City Commission urges the federal government to take immediate diplomatic
action to help return democracy and the rule of law to Venezuela.
Section 5. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to all members of the
Florida Congressional Delegation, the United States Secretary of State, the United States
Ambassador to the Organization of American States, and to the members of President Obama's
Administration.
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File Number: 14-00220 Enactment Number: R-14-0089
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of
the Mayor.{1}
Footnotes:
{1} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall
become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City.
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