Guaido stripped of immunity

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, or ANC, on Tuesday unanimously approved the revocation of parliamentary immunity for Juan Guaido, the National Assembly president and head of the opposition.

ANC President Diosdado Cabello read the message sent by the president of Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice, Maikel Moreno, who had asked the governing body to consider revoking Guaido's parliamentary immunity.

The high court ruled on Monday that Guaido failed to comply with an order imposed in January prohibiting him from leaving the country.

The procedure against Guaido was also sent to the attorney general "for the purposes of the continuation of the procedure of the prosecution of high officials".

Guaido assumed the presidency of the National Assembly, which is currently being held in contempt, in early January. On Jan 23, he proclaimed himself "interim president" of the country, which has been recognized by the United States and several other countries in the region.

The ANC was convened by President Nicolas Maduro in 2017 to write a new constitution. ANC member and former minister Maria Leon stated from the speaker's rostrum: "For me, the revocation is too little. How are traitors to the homeland to be treated? They don't deserve the name 'Venezuelan.'"

The Venezuelan Public Prosecutor is investigating the legality of Guaido's proclaiming himself "interim president" and is directing another investigation into his supposed ties to what the government calls electric sabotage, which has caused severe blackouts in the country.

The revocation of parliamentary immunity implies Venezuelan authorities may detain Guaido if necessary.

Guaido recognizes neither the court nor the Constituent Assembly and insisted the decision was invalid.

Meanwhile, Venezuela's Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said on Tuesday that the US sanctions are cutting off Venezuela's access to vital medical supplies, including an 18-million-euro ($20-million) shipment of medicines and vaccines.

The government has already agreed to purchase the supplies but is unable to pay for them due to Washington's "coercive unilateral" sanctions, Alvarado told state-run VTV.

Xinhua

(China Daily 04/04/2019 page11)