My sincere apologies for taking so long on this...
In the past week, students from various Latin American countries have descended upon local OAS chapters to deliver a letter demonstrating their solidarity with Venezuelan students on hunger strike and demanding OAS General Secretary José Miguel Insulza to take quick and decisive action with regard to the situation. The letter was submitted in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay.
Following is a translation of the letter, accompanied by a copy of the letter submitted in Nicaragua.
We, the youth of Latin America, stand in solidarity with the brave young Venezuelans who went on hunger strike for 12 days outside the OAS headquarters in Caracas, demanding that the IACHR visit the country to verify the systematic human rights violations taking place, the lack of judicial independence and the status of political prisoners.
Yesterday, Julio César Rivas, firm in his convictions, decided to stop drinking water and whey. Under these conditions, Julio will be dead in four days. That is why today we petition OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, who is acting as intermediary in this situation between the Venezuelan government, the OAS and the young strikers.
Mr. Insulza is aware of the needs of young Venezuelans, and in our opinion has not acted decisively and promptly.
We hold the government of Venezuela responsible for the health and lives of Julio César Rivas and the other young Venezuelans who today put themselves at risk for the defense of human rights of their countrymen, and demand that the OAS Secretary General act more decisively before the Venezuelan government to avoid further consequences for our fellow Venezuelans.
We do not accept arguments about the slowness of the process or the need to obtain permission from the Venezuelan government, because time is young Venezuelans do not have, particularly Julio César Rivas, who could be dead in 4 days.
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