IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 50 

Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and 

civil liberties of the people of Venezuela. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 31, 2007 

Mr. FORTUN ̃O (for himself, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. MACK, Mr. ROGERS of 

Michigan, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. MARIO DIAZBALART of Florida, Mr. LINDER, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. 

BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. SOUDER, and Mr. FORTENBERRY) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the 

human rights and civil liberties of the people of Venezuela. 

Whereas the United States has traditionally had close relations with Venezuela; 

Whereas Venezuela has undergone enormous political 

changes, including a new constitution, a new unicameral 

legislature, and even a new name for the country since 

President Hugo Cha ́vez was elected to power; 

Whereas the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights 

(IACHR) has expressed concern that some of these 

changes have resulted in a growing concentration of 


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•HCON 50 IH 

power in the executive branch of government with a tendency to militarize public administration; 

Whereas human rights organizations, such as Human Rights 

Watch, have expressed concerns about the independence 

of Venezuela’s judiciary with respect to a May 2004 court 

packing law that expanded the Supreme Court from 20 

to 32 justices; 

Whereas the Venezuelan Government enacted legislation in 

2004 placing restrictions on broadcast content affecting 

the full exercise of freedom of expression; 

Whereas human rights organizations assert that freedom of 

expression remains at threat in Venezuela because of 

laws that have created onerous restrictions on the media, 

subjecting them to heavy fines, temporary closures, and 

threats to suspend their operating licenses; 

Whereas President Cha ́vez announced in early January 2007 

that the license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), one 

of Venezuela’s oldest television stations, would not be renewed; 

Whereas the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jose ́ Miguel Insulza, expressed concern about Venezuela’s decision to suspend RCTV’s 

broadcasting license, calling for the decision to be reversed and maintaining that the action gives the appearance of a form of censorship against freedom of expression and serves as a warning against other news organizations; 

Whereas the Venezuelan Government amended Venezuela’s 

criminal code in 2005 by broadening laws that punish 

disrespect for government authorities; 


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•HCON 50 IH 

Whereas the Venezuelan Government has investigated and 

prosecuted several opposition leaders and brought 

charges against others; 

Whereas the Venezuelan Government continues to try civilians in military court, contrary to the appeals of the 

IACHR; and 

Whereas there is ongoing concern by international human 

rights organizations regarding the deterioration of democratic institutions, threats and intimidations of human 

rights defenders, illegal wiretapping of private citizens, 

intimidation of political opponents, and extrajudicial executions of criminal suspects by police: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) expresses its support for the people of Ven4 ezuela in their daily struggle for freedom, respect for 

5 human rights and civil liberties, democratic self-gov6 ernance, and the establishment of the rule of law; 

7 (2) calls on the Government of Venezuela to 

8 abide by its freely undertaken obligations under 

9 international human rights treaties and international 

10 humanitarian law to respect and ensure the rights of 

11 all individuals, irrespective of their political views; 

12 (3) calls on the Government of Venezuela to put 

13 an end to all killings, torture, and ill treatment by 

14 police and military; 


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•HCON 50 IH 

1 (4) encourages the Inter-American Commission 

2 of Human Rights (IACHR) to continue to monitor 

3 the human rights situation in Venezuela and engage 

4 with the Government of Venezuela with respect to 

5 the human rights situation in Venezuela; 

6 (5) encourages the President and the Secretary 

7 of State to reach out to democracy and human 

8 rights activists and to assist them in their efforts; 

9 (6) urges the adoption and pursuit of these and 

10 other policies to support political parties, the rule of 

11 law, civil society, and independent media, and other12 wise promote democratic accountable government in 

13 Venezuela; and 

14 (7) expresses support for the Secretary General 

15 of the Organization of American States (OAS) for 

16 his continued attention and support for freedom of 

17 expression in Venezuela. 

Æ 


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