Lima Group calls for democratic order to be restored in Venezuela

The declaration ratifies commitment to receiving migrants and asylum seekers, comprehensively, across the region.

Lima Group brings together Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and St Lucia to discuss the political and humanitarian crisis in Venuzela (photo: publicity).

The summit, the debut of the new Brazilian Chancellor, Ernesto Araújo, brought together Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and St Lucia to discuss the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and rejected the legitimacy of a further mandate for the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro. It focused on diplomatic solutions for the neighbouring country. Mexico participates in the group, but did not support the final text of the meeting on this occasion.

In the Lima Group’s Declaration, released after the meeting held last Friday 4 January, the countries “reiterated their unequivocal and firm condemnation of the collapse of constitutional order and of the state of democratic rule of law in Venezuela. They emphasised that the causes of the political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis that is affecting the country can only be addressed through the immediate reinstatement of democracy and respect for human rights.”

• Read the full Lima Group Declaration.

With the swing of Latin American countries to the right – Jair Bolsonaro, in Brazil and Ivan Duque, in Colombia – there had been fears that the meeting could lead to radical proposals, such as economic sanctions or military intervention that would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the neighbouring country.

According to Camila Asano, Conectas Human Rights Programme Coordinator, the Lima Group Declaration is correct in reiterating the lack of legitimacy of the elections that gave President Maduro a further mandate and in calling for constitutional order to be reinstated, by convening new presidential elections.

“It was very important that the Declaration should avoid expressing any extremist measures that would exacerbate the crisis, like attempts at foreign military intervention or economic sanctions.” Asano said. “Moreover, and equally positively, the Declaration reiterates the call for the entry of humanitarian aid into Venezuela and for not exporting arms to the country, based on the Arms Trade Treaty, ratified by Brazil last year.”

The declaration also ratifies commitment to receiving migrants and asylum seekers in a comprehensive way across the region.

“Brazil’s participation in the Declaration opens the way for exacting a commitment from the Bolsonaro government, to continued and intensified policies on the reception, interiorisation and integration of Venezuelans who seek asylum in Brazil, without obstacles to migrants’ safe entry or extreme measures such as possible refugee camps.” Asano said. “It is urgent for Brazil to acknowledge the status of Venezuelan migrants as refugees”, she concluded.