Venezuela Naked at the UN

The truth is that it was a total disaster the appearance of the Venezuelan government before the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT). And not only because its delegation had to deal with a team of dedicated human rights professionals, but because of the notable intellectual weakness of its members. José Vicente Rangel Jr., who chaired the commission, did nothing but repeat the same old sad litanies of the Revolution when he was required to give straight answers to the straight questions asked, to the terrible allegations that were put on the table. The Prosecutor’s Office appointee, María Mercedes Berthé, left everyone dumbstruck when she she told the panel not to "worry about a thing" about the rape in prison of former Supreme Court justice María Lourdes Afiuni because she "never filed a formal complaint." It’s indeed very shameful. More…