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Venezuela expels activists of US human rights organization

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-20 16:41

CARACAS -- The Venezuelan government Friday expelled two activists of a US human rights organization, accusing them of "illegally interfering in the country's matters."

Jose Miguel Vivanco, the American director at Human Rights Watch, holds a news conference in Caracas September 18, 2008. [Agencies]

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said the two activists of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) Jose Miguel Vivanco and his assistant Daniel Wilkinson were expelled for violating the Constitution and "were taken to the international airport Simon Bolivar of Maiquetia and put in the soonest flight."

Vivanco said Venezuela's decision was an attempt to intimidate the civil society.

The US-based HRW describes itself as an independent organization to defend human rights, but Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said it is an ally of Washington to overthrow him.

Maduro said Vivanco "in an abusive and rude way gave a press conference where he reviled the institutions of the Venezuelan democracy."

"We are not going to tolerate any foreigner to come to hurt the Venezuelan dignity," Maduro said.

In a report, Vivanco and Wilkinson criticized that Chavez had suppressed the freedom of speech and harassed his political adversaries.

Venezuelan authorities said Vivianco and Wilkinson violated the constitution as they entered Venezuela with tourist visa, but got involved in the political activities.

Vivanco and Wilkinson gave the press conference days after Venezuelan government expelled the US ambassador to Venezuela Patrick Duddy, a move to support Bolivian President Evo Morales.