Evidence of meeting #7 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was venezuela.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Levitt
Thank you; that was an important last point.
MP Miller, we have two minutes for a short question, please.
May 10th, 2016 / 1:55 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
Thank you to the members of the commission on foreign policy and to Mr. Guevara for coming. I would like to note that you are among colleagues who don't face the same situation you do, so from our side there's a lot of respect for what you're doing and why you came here. Thank you again for having the courage to stand up.
When we talk about human rights violations, people often speak about the rule of law, and here we're not even at that point. There's a complete attack on your ability to do your jobs, whether through personal intimidation or threats of a different nature. None of us here face that. There would not be the same group of people around the table if we faced the threats you face. To that end I would like you to speak a bit more directly about the personal harassment you and your families face at home and abroad.
1:55 p.m.
President, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Assembly of Venezuela, Foreign Affairs Commission of the National Assembly of Venezuela
It's not a joke, what we live in our country. It's not a lie, what we face as members of Parliament. This document is being discussed today in Venezuela. We declare through these documents that the constitutional order in Venezuela has been broken because of all the things that we have already mentioned here. I will leave this document with you.
Last week, one of our members of Parliament, who was also a foreign affairs minister of Venezuela, and who belongs to my commission, threatened me personally. I interpreted it as a death threat, because he said, “I hope you don't run when they come to get you”.
This MP is in charge of a violent group of the government. It's called the Frente Francisco de Miranda. There were threats by the government and by members of Parliament belonging to the official party this week when they asked for our parliamentary immunity to be taken away because they considered us traitors for going to Washington to ask for the protection of democracy and the people of Venezuela.
Parliamentarian William Dávila has been hit three times, and some other members of Parliament have also been hit and have had threats against them. Just imagine that at the entrance of the Parliament here some of the parties that are part of the Parliament of Canada would call their supporters and have 200 people outside to throw rocks and hit some members of Parliament of the opposition party, and to throw excrement or any other objects at them. That is our daily life.
2 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Levitt
On behalf of this committee, I commend you for being here today. I know that travelling as you are comes with risk. As MPs we say it's a good thing that you travel in a group and also that you have each other to stand with and to protect each other. I want to thank you for taking the time to be here and for giving this testimony today. It's been highly enlightening. As parliamentarians we look forward to working with you as National Assembly members in Venezuela.
Thank you very much on behalf of this committee.
The meeting is adjourned.