15 July, 2017
Venezuela's National Electoral Council, CNE, will oversee on Sunday preparations for the election of representatives to the National Constituent Assembly, an initiative from President Nicolas Maduro meant to further develop the country's democracy and help ease ongoing tensions with the opposition.
Opposition groups have called the plebiscite after months of protests, saying Venezuelans should have their say on President Nicolas Maduro's plan to rewrite the constitution.
An estimated six to eight million people are expected to take part in the opposition-organized "Sovereign Consultation" on the president's decision to convene a National Constitutional Assembly.
Intense street demonstrations have roiled Venezuela's capital and other cities nearly daily since early April, with protesters demanding that Maduro release political prisoners, schedule long-overdue elections and open access to humanitarian aid to offset severe shortages of food, medicine and other basic goods.
Oscar Perez, 36, who also is an action film star who portrays himself as a James Bond-cum-Rambo figure on social media, surprised opposition supporters by popping up at a Caracas event to mark the deaths of about 100 people related to anti-government unrest that started in April.
"The Venezuelan authorities should not interfere with peaceful demonstrations, and indeed are obliged to actively protect assemblies", she noted. "We express our hope that Sunday's consultation will proceed peacefully and in the full respect of the human rights of all".
Thousands of demonstrators are reported to have been "arbitrarily detained" and more than 450 civilians are believed to have been brought before military tribunals, Throssell said.
As the situation in Venezuela continues, the number of asylum applications by citizens of that country has soared and is projected to continue growing, according to UNHCR.
His opponents have accused the Socialist leader of economic incompetence, while Maduro says pro-opposition businessmen and the United States are waging an "economic war" against him. This represented "only a fraction" of those in need of safe harbour from violence and food shortages, it said.
UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler said even this figure represents “only a fraction” of the total number of Venezuelans who may be in need of worldwide protection, as many do not register as asylum seekers, despite fleeing because of violence and insecurity.
"Venezuelans should not be sent back against their will".
