Venezuelan sanctions a needed sign of support

Under the sanctions approved by Congress, the officials responsible for the crackdown on protesters will be denied visas to enter the United States and will have their assets in this country frozen. Called the Venezuelan Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, the measure was co-sponsored by Florida’s two senators, Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Bill Nelson. It targets Venezuelan officials responsible for “significant acts of violence or serious human rights abuses against persons associated with the anti-government protests.” The measure does not include a list of officials to be sanctioned, but earlier this year Rubio released the names of two dozen officials he thinks should be targeted. The sanctions will hit Maduro’s wealthy supporters. More…