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US-POLITICS-VENEZUELA-SANCTIONS
Trump orders freeze on all Venezuelan govt assets in US
WASHINGTON, Aug 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – President Donald Trump on Monday
ordered a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States and
barred transactions with its authorities, in Washington’s latest move against
President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump took the step “in light of the continued usurpation of power by
Nicolas Maduro and persons affiliated with him, as well as human rights
abuses,” according to the order.
The Wall Street Journal said the move was the first such against a Western
Hemisphere government in over 30 years, and imposes restrictions on Caracas
similar to those faced by North Korea, Iran, Syria and Cuba.
Asked last week if he was considering a “blockade or quarantine” of
Venezuela, Trump responded: “Yes, I am.”
The order affects “all property and interests in property of the
Government of Venezuela that are in the United States, that hereafter come
within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession
or control of any United States person.”
These assets “are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported,
withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in,” the order said.
The measure also bars transactions with Venezuelan authorities whose
assets are blocked.
It prohibits “the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods,
or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and
interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order,” as well as “the
receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from
any such person.”
– Stalled efforts to oust Maduro –
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim
president earlier this year in a bid to oust Maduro that was backed by the
United States and dozens of other countries.
But Guaido’s efforts have stalled despite the international support and
widespread discontent with Maduro, who has been able to cling to power with
the backing of the country’s security forces.
Guaido has tried to keep hope alive, encouraging Venezuelans weary after
years of crisis not to give up. Despite the loss of momentum, Guaido — the
speaker of the opposition-controlled National Assembly — remains the
greatest threat to Maduro, even though the body has been effectively rendered
powerless by Caracas.
The oil-rich, cash-poor country has been in a deep recession for five
years. Shortages of food and medicine are frequent, and public services are
progressively failing.
Around a quarter of Venezuela’s 30 million-strong population is in need of
aid, according to the United Nations, while 3.3 million people have left the
country since the start of 2016.
The International Monetary Fund says inflation will hit a staggering one
million percent this year while the economy — already in recession for five
years — will shrink by 35 percent.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0814 hrs