ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
OAS undecided on Posada case
Some OAS states are supporting a draft by Venezuela blasting the United
States for alleged reluctance to sentence or extradite terror suspect
Luis Posada Carriles.
BY PABLO BACHELET
pbachelet@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON --
Venezuela is pushing the Organization of American States to condemn the
United States for Washington's alleged reluctance to punish or extradite
anti-Castro militant Luis Posada Carriles.
The Venezuelan draft resolution drew a strong rebuke from the United
States, which argued the 34-member OAS had no business getting involved
in a bilateral problem with Caracas.
''It is worrisome that U.S. authorities pretend to protect this
well-known terrorist Posada Carriles,'' said Venezuela's envoy before
the OAS, Jorge Valero.
Posada Carriles is accused of masterminding a 1976 bombing of a Cuban
jetliner that killed 73 persons, and Venezuela is demanding his
extradition. A U.S. judge has refused, saying he could be tortured in
Caracas. Cuba and Venezuela say the apparent U.S. reluctance to go after
Posada Carriles shows the United States has a double standard in its
public discourse on terrorism.
Valero said suggestions that Posada Carriles could be harmed in
Venezuela were a ``fallacy.''
Countries were divided over the Venezuelan proposal. Bolivia, Nicaragua
and Ecuador -- all governed by left-wing governments that criticize U.S.
positions -- backed the Venezuelan draft proposal, which said the U.S.
delay in jailing or extraditing Posada could ''debilitate''
international efforts against terrorism.
Canada and Panama supported the U.S. stance. Robert Manzanares, the
acting U.S. ambassador to the OAS, said ''a show of hands'' could help
settle the issue, but diplomats instead decided to set up an informal
group to try and reach an agreement on an issue that threatens to spill
over into the upcoming General Assembly of the OAS, where foreign
ministers are to discuss renewable energy issues.
Manzanares said the judicial process was still underway and Posada was
under investigation for past activities. ``The United States also notes
that this is a bilateral issue between two OAS member states, not a
multilateral issue.''
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