EspañolOn Sunday, the Organization of American States (OAS) General Secretary José Miguel Insulza stated that the agency has no jurisdiction in the case of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, who faces criminal charges in Venezuela and could be jailed for at least 10 years.
Insulza told Chilean daily El Mercurio that “it would be good if the dialogue [between the opposition and the government] began without pending trials for political offenses.”
However, he noted that the OAS cannot intervene while the Venezuelan justice system investigates López. “The role of the OAS in judicial matters, defense of human rights, comes after domestic remedies have been exhausted. Until that happens, the OAS cannot intervene,” said the general secretary.
According to Insulza, Venezuela “is divided, and one of the major obstacles are political leaders who are detained or prosecuted,” such as López.
Source: El Universal.