College students have become emblematic elements of nonviolent resistance throughout the world.  Perhaps most famous were the anti-Vietnam protests when college campuses in the United States transformed into hotbeds of political activity. Students would organize “teach-ins” to rally against the escalation of the war. In Europe, Serbian university students organized poster campaigns and satirical concerts against the oppressive Milošević regime. Just two years later, these ‘unruly’ young people had successfully overthrown a dictator.

Today, we see that same trend of student activism visit another country with a democracy on the brink of collapse: Venezuela. In Venezuela, supermarket shelves and pharmacies are virtually empty. Due to the lack of food, medicines and medical equipment, people are dying of easily preventable causes. The Venezuelan economy is heading in a nosedive, evident in a current unemployment rate of 17 percent and an inflation rate that is expected to hit 481 percent by the end of the year, per Ian Bremmer of Time.

The severity of the humanitarian crisis is felt by many, with two million Venezuelans taking refuge in neighboring countries throughout recent years. Yet, the dire situation continues to grow. The Maduro-led government refuses to accept humanitarian assistance from the international community. Refusals indicate a blatant disregard for human life, amid an increasingly tense political climate.

According to Luis Almagro, secretary-general of the Organization of American States, President Nicolas Maduro has deliberately dismantled the democratic institutions of his country since his election in 2013. The Venezuelan constitution, which safeguards the most coveted freedoms of democracy, has overtly been disregarded. Maduro and the executive branch now enjoy a strong-hold over all key government institutions. The Supreme Court has stripped powers away from the legislature and the military has become government cronies in quashing opposition.

Maduro has explicitly stated his contempt for dissent.  “Prepare for a time of massacre and death if the Bolivarian revolution fails,” he warned. Sadly, Maduro’s warning has come to fruition, with university students bearing the brunt of this burden. Of the 92 dissidents who were killed from April 1 to July 10, 31 of them were aged 21 or younger.

Even with Maduro’s grave forewarning and demonstrated commitment to stamp out opposition, many students have nevertheless left their lecture halls in favor of the streets. "We just couldn't sit calmly in class when down the road fellow youths were being killed in clashes with the security forces," Gabriela Sayago, a 24-year-old dentistry student at the University of Merida. told the BBC News. Students like Sayago have vowed to complete their studies, but only under a free and fair Venezuela.

To achieve that goal, student organizers have partnered with the opposition party to resist the regime and its grim promise to rewrite the constitution.  According to David Gonzalez of The New York Times, the recent opposition-led referendum voted 98 percent in favor of rejecting Maduro’s efforts to rewrite the constitution, of nearly 7.8 million votes. These Venezuelans demanded that the current constitution be respected in order to prevent Maduro’s path to dictatorship. 

The student activists are being credited with utilizing more sophisticated tools of protests, including psychological sessions and civil disobedience workshops on their university campuses. In conjunction, the opposition is organizing a nationwide 24-hour strike, which is expected to be a “massive, nonviolent protest.:  In some areas, the movement has even adopted a database to track the safety of protesters who continue to take to the streets.

Almagro recognizes the grueling, historical struggle that Latin American countries have faced to achieve democracy. Many of the region’s most respected leaders have their own memories of participating in popular protest. Yet the case of Venezuela demonstrates the fragility of even an established democracy.

Still, the Maduro government claims to be a representative voice of its people on the international stage.  Particularly, the Venezuelan government has used its position at the United Nations to criticize and condemn Israel. Venezuela uses the same institutions, in which it refuses to accept humanitarian assistance to save its own people, to turn the focus toward the State of Israel.

In May the Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations raised in the Security Council whether Israel intended to “wage a final solution sort of solution [against the Palestinians] as was perpetrated against the Jews?”  The comparison to Nazi-Germany was quickly condemned by the United Kingdom and the United States and distinguished as anti-Semitism by Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon. Anti-Semitism has become a flagrant issue within the country itself. Since Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, took power in 1999 nearly 50 percent of Venezuelan Jews have left the country. During that time, Chávez took steps to deepen relations with the Palestinian leadership and Iranian government. He viewed Israel as a Middle Eastern proxy of the United States and thus adopted anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic sentiments in his rhetoric. Chávez’s rhetoric spilled over into government-sponsored media and local governments thus creating an intolerable space for Jews in the country.

The January appointment of Vice President Tareck El Aissami has reiterated concerns over Venezuela’s connections in the Middle East. From a testimony last year at the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Joseph Humire detailed the vice president’s complex financial network, which includes laundering millions of dollars on behalf of organizations like Hezbollah.  Hezbollah, an internationally recognized terror organization, has called for the destruction of Israel since its founding.  El Aissami’s financial dealings point to the infiltration of Islamic extremism at the highest levels of Venezuelan government.

In June U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called for Venezuela to step down from its position at the United Nations Human Rights Council if it could not put an end to its own human rights abuses.  Haley continued to express her frustration that not a single resolution had been considered by the council to address the Venezuelan abuses, yet five had been passed against Israel in March alone. This, she said, marked another example of the anti-Israel bias that has long plagued the U.N.

Various human rights violators of the world have used United Nations institutions to divert attention from their own records of abuse and shift the focus toward  Israel.  Venezuela has been a leader in this diversion tactic, yet the popular protests that ensue within the country suggest that these accusations do not represent the concerns of the people. 

Those who follow the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS, movement have seen student activism as a tool to delegitimize Israel in the region. In particular Chile, the country with the largest Palestinian population outside of the Middle East has answered the BDS call. Chile’s votes against Israel at the United Nations mirror the Pontifical Catholic University student body vote to reject ties with Israeli academic institutions.  Not coincidentally, anti-Semitic incidents and attacks have risen within the country. Schools, synagogues and cemeteries have been vandalized and the president of Chile’s Jewish community has been provided police protection.

Observers of the BDS movement may regard university campuses as a battle to be lost, but that fear may not be warranted elsewhere in the region. The young people of Venezuela continue to carry out the fight of their lives, with July 9 marking the 100 consecutive day of protest in Caracas. This past Sunday marked the deadliest day yet, following the fraudulent election to move forward with the Constituent Assembly. The election results ensure that a return to democracy through traditional democratic channels is impossible, now making the protest movement indispensable.

Evidence from other countries in the region suggests that the students who are protesting in the streets today will become the key decision-makers of their countries tomorrow. We must look beyond the votes of diplomats and recognize the strength of the movements that are fighting against this phony representation. The current standoff between the government and its opposition may signify a change in who will speak on behalf of Venezuelans in the future—and how they will exercise that voice on the world stage.

Photo via Flickr

Facing economic collapse and a great shortage in public support, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has chosen as his vice president one of Venezuela's most controversial and feared politicians, government critics say—Tareck El Aissami.

El Aissami has climbed from student leader in rural Venezuela to the country's number two in power in just over a decade.

El Aissami, 42 years old, is one of a number of Venezuelans under investigation by U.S. authorities for alleged participation in drug trafficking and money laundering. He played a key role in helping Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist group, gain ground in Latin America. A young star in the so called socialist party, El Aissami is viewed by both supporters and critics as extremely dangerous, far from any political ethics and skills. 
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Maduro, whom former President Hugo Chavez chose as his own successor, has been under pressure to step aside because of the country's potential default, widespread social unrest and a demanding opposition. He has so far avoided—through his control of the so called legal system—the opposition's attempt to hold a referendum on his removal before his term ends in about two years. Many analysts say if things continue to decline, the main risk to him is from within the military.

El Aissami's selection addresses Maduro’s concerns. Those seeking to oust Maduro probably will be more careful facing El Aissami and might hesitate to pursue their efforts. And the new vice president is a strong man with tight control over internal security forces and little loyalty to the military. He would be less tempted to take part in a military-led coup than to resist it.

In the weeks since El Aissaimi became vice president, Maduro has granted him wide-reaching decree powers and helped him to lead a newly formed “commando unit” against alleged coups and officials suspected of treason. The “Unity” has already arrested “opposition” members without hesitation or embarrassment.

El Aissami first met Chavez when he was a student. According to three witnesses, El Aissami openly celebrated the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States, and has served as one of Chavez's closest allies ever since. In his last post as governor of Aragua, he regularly denounced government opponents as traitors. A court in Aragua annulled the recall referendum there, charging the opposition with collecting fraudulent signatures.

El Aissami has publicly denied any alleged drug ties, saying they are little more than media lies, but traces of all sort of media investigations end in his family circle and his people in Aragua.

El Aissami won a seat in congress as a representative of Merida in 2005. Chavez named the young congressman as vice minister and later minister of interior. Much of what El Aissami tried as interior minister was resisted by the military. In 2012, El Aissami won the governorship of Aragua and the opposition has since labeled El Aissami "the narco (nark) of Aragua,” alleging that he has used his vast political network to help turn the country into an international hub for drugs and Middle Eastern extremists.

Since at least 2011, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration have been investigating El Aissami for money laundering to the Middle East, specifically Lebanon.

In this context, CNN has made this week the following announcement:

To urge the Secretary General to abstain from any activity, regardless of whether or not it is specifically prohibited by the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat, that may result in, or give the impression of resulting in:  a) Giving preferential treatment to any organization or person; b) Losing complete independence or impartiality of action; c) Making an administrative decision without observing established procedures; d) Adversely affecting the good name and integrity of the General Secretariat.”
 
To request the Permanent Council to report to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh regular session on compliance with this resolution.
 
Venezuela is attempting to diminish the secretary general because he is the only one denouncing, in detail, the ongoing violation of human rights by Maduro´s regime. His 132-page report, which will be discussed next week, has been compelling and emphatic.
 
There is a very deep division between the ALBA countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela) and a group of 15 countries which want to find a real solution to the the Venezuelan people’s is suffering. Those 15 countries decided to issue a statement before the end of the OAS GA, a sort of a preamble for the meeting of the Permanent Council next week.

If the OAS Permanent Council rejects the request of the secretary general to move forward and stops the violation of human rights in Venezuela, Almagro will not be defeated, but OAS will.
 
In the last decade, Iran has penetrated Latin America, Hezbollah has the freedom to move inside Latin America and it is all happening in Venezuela.
 
There is no real judiciary system, no freedom speech and far too many politic prisoners.
After so many years, OAS has used its secretary general to speak out. The statement of the 15 countries is cautious, but it is a step forward. How many more steps are they ready to advance? Today, it is uncertain.
 
In the private meeting between B’nai B’rith International and Secretary General Almagro in Santo Domingo during the OAS GA, Almagro was very clear when he told us that he will not answer to more insults and threats; he follow OAS rules and defend the respect of the Democratic Charter.
 
Now, the Permanent Council will have to show its commitment to democracy next week.

United States Deputy Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken posed clear goals when he addressed the General Assembly:

Eduardo Kohn, Ph.D has been the B’nai B’rith executive vice president in Uruguay since 1981 and the B’nai B’rith International director of Latin American affairs since 1984. Before joining B'nai B'rith, he worked for the Israeli embassy in Uruguay, the Israel-Uruguay Chamber of Commerce and Hebrew College in Montevideo. He is a published author of “Zionism, 100 years of Theodor Herzl,” and writes op-eds for publications throughout Latin America. He graduated from the State University of Uruguay with a doctorate in diplomacy and international affairs. To view some of his additional content,Click Here.

Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith International Director of Latin America Affairs, reporting from Panama.

Here are seven observations from the Summit of the Americas, specifically the O.A.S. Civil Society Forum:

1. The Summit was unable, once again, to issue a document with resolutions signed by all the Americas. This was a historic summit, with all of the Americas attending in Panama, including Cuba. Venezuelan President Maduro attempted to blame the U.S. for the decision to ban seven Venezuelan officers and declare Venezuela a threat for national security, but Maduro had no support for even a majority vote, and no statement was issued. Major differences between the 35 member nations make finding consensus on important issues very unlikely.

2. The most important political event was the shaking of hands between Cuban President Raul Castro and President Barack Obama, and the private meeting they had. President Obama insists the Cold War is over, but there is still a long way to go to normalize relations between the countries. Today, diplomatic relations between U.S. and Cuba are in place, and there is the groundwork for economic relations.

3. President Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela) was received with rallies against him in Panama City. He, President Rafael Correa (Ecuador) and President Evo Morales (Bolivia) had an agenda of demonizing the United States based on strained relations over the last century. President Obama tried to explain that the U.S. is looking toward future relations,  but Correa, Morales and Maduro responded with insults and threats.

4. Panama made a big effort to host not only a great summit, but also great forums for Business, Academia, Youth and Civil Society. Civil Society had almost a thousand attendees.

5. B'nai B'rith attended the Social Forum and shared analysis on the speeches from President Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, and the farewell speech of departing OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, who leaves office on May 25.

6. B'nai B'rith had fruitful meetings with Insulza; Emilio Alvarez Icaza, executive secretary of the Interamerican Comission of Human Rights, which is doing a great job, despite being harassed by Presidents Correa and Morales.

7. B'nai B'rith participated in the Working Group on Governance and Democracy.The group was comprised of more than 100 delegates, representing 40 NGOs, asked me and a Panamanian member to discuss the statement with Panamanian foreign ministry officers. I expressed my gratitude for the appointment to the Group and to the leaders of the NGOs. The group, without Cuban delegates, wrote a document stressing the importance of the Democratic Charter to all members. The document was presented before the governmental officers in the plenary and is on the record with the summit’s final documentation.

Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith International Director of Latin America Affairs, reporting from Panama.

The closing session of the Organization of American States Civil Society Forum had three highlights:

1.    U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech
2.    Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos speech
3.    Presentation of the document on governance and the brutal incidents, made by Cuban officials.

Obama was warmly welcomed by the thousand Civil Society delegates attending the session, including those from B’nai B’rith. He stressed that Civil Society plays a key role in communication, enforcing standards between governments, and that democracy and freedom are a strong asset to society.

Santos announced that he is hopeful that 40 years of civil confrontation against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (F.A.R.C.) are close to an end because Colombia and the region as a whole need peace.

Both Obama and Santos underlined the importance of Cuba’s attendance at the Summit of the Americas, representing the first time in a half century that all the Americas attended the meeting.

I was elected by the governance working group to conduct dialogue with the organizers, the Panamanian foreign ministry officers. Our group’s official statement from the conference is a document that insists that no country can join OAS if it does not  sign the Democratic Charter first.

Perhaps dialogue between presidents will open windows of opportunity for business in Cuba, but the payoff must be political tolerance for its citizens. This is an issue to watch moving forward.

Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith International Director of Latin America Affairs, reporting from Panama.

The opening session of the Organization of American States Civil Society Forum had three highlights:

1.      Former President Bill Clinton's speech
2.      Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela’s opening remarks
3.      Analysis OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza gave to the audience.

Clinton praised civil society for becoming the balance of power filling the gap between the governments and citizens of the Americas. He stressed that in the 21 years since the first summit in Miami during his administration, civil society has been instrumental in progressing the social agenda of the Americas.

The forum, held in Panama City this week, has attracted 800 attendees in addition to those present for the Seventh Summit of the Americas. Varela is proud to host the historic summit where “all the Americas, without exception, will be here.” 

Emphasis has been placed on the Cuban delegation, as Clinton mentioned the importance of the island nation’s attendance, and the need to move forward with relations.

Insulza noted the importance of poverty in the Americas decreasing 20 percent in the last decade, but said progress still remains, as the distribution of wealth is very unbalanced.

This summit is the first attended by Cuba, a move that has brought extra controversy and attention, considering the summit’s democratic charter.  Approximately 100 protestors have made an effort to disrupt the proceedings, directing their ire at Cuba and the United States.

B'nai B'rith conducted advocacy during a meeting with OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza. B’nai B’rith Latin American leadership thanked him for 10 years of open support to our agenda, and we wished him well in his political future back in his native Chile.

Eduardo Kohn, Ph.D has been the B’nai B’rith executive vice president in Uruguay since 1981 and the B’nai B’rith International director of Latin American affairs since 1984. Before joining B'nai B'rith, he worked for the Israeli embassy in Uruguay, the Israel-Uruguay Chamber of Commerce and Hebrew College in Montevideo. He is a published author of “Zionism, 100 years of Theodor Herzl,” and writes op-eds for publications throughout Latin America. He graduated from the State University of Uruguay with a doctorate in diplomacy and international affairs. To view some of his additional content,Click Here.

Eduardo Kohn, B’nai B’rith International Director of Latin America Affairs, reporting from Panama.

It was in 1984 when President Bill Clinton organized the first Summit of the Americas. The major goal was to gather all the Americas in a Presidential meeting and develop new economic and social strategies in order to move forward to a better relationship and interaction among North, Central and South America.

Today, 31 years after the good intentions of President Clinton started, Panama will host the VII Summit. The motto is "Equity, development, cooperation."

Story-lines to watch for:

1.    The opening of relations between Cuba and United States
2.    The great political division in the Americas.

If U.S. and Cuba move forward in order to normalize their diplomatic and economic relations, the relations between the U.S. and many Latin American countries will change for the better. The meeting between President Obama and Raul Castro in Panama should become the most important item of the agenda.

Political and social freedom in Venezuela will be center of discussions in the Civil Society Forum and very likely, during the Presidential Summit itself. Several members and groups in the Civil Society Forum will seek to unmask the situation, but confrontations are expected; Venezuelan diplomats and political officers will not remain silent. 

The United States has said that the administration will focus on Cuba, but it will be interesting to see how the situation in Venezuela comes to the floor, fully or partially.

In this frame, B´nai B´rith will stand very firm in the Civil Society Forum regarding the need to ask the governments of the region to defend human rights, non-discriminatory practices and freedom and the rule of law.