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Venezuelan Judge Orders Trial for Directors of Nonprofit Group
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A Venezuelan judge has ruled the directors of a nonprofit group must be tried for allegedly using foreign funds to help organize a recall vote against President Hugo Chavez. The judge on Thursday ordered trials for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and three other directors of the Sumate group. They face conspiracy charges stemming from the organization's use of a $31,000 (euro26,040) contribution last year from the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy, which supports democratic development in scores of countries. Corina Machado said the group would continue working "for the electoral education and mobilization of Venezuelans," even if its directors are found guilty and must serve time in prison. Sumate has some 500 directors and 40,000 volunteers in Venezuela. Venezuela's ruling party lawmakers said the endowment's contribution violates a constitutional provision that forbids citizens from receiving support from foreign countries intent on destroying Venezuela's government. The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, which receives funds from the U.S. Congress, says its programs in Venezuela support groups and individuals "struggling to strengthen democratic processes, rights, and values, irrespective of their political or partisan affiliations." U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, William Brownfield, has said the NED would continue funding pro-democracy organizations in Venezuela, including Sumate. The State Department has expressed "grave concern" that Venezuelan political activists can be subject to charges of treason or conspiracy if they receive foreign funding. Chavez has labeled Sumate leaders "traitors" while many opposition sympathizers in this politically-divided South American nation say the organization's directors have helped push for more democratic election rules. Posted by: Steve 2005-07-08 |
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