CARACAS, (Reuters) – Two former Latin American presidents were blocked yesterday from visiting jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who was arrested last year after leading protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Former presidents Sebastian Pinera of Chile and Andres Pastrana of Colombia, both conservatives who were U.S. allies, were denied access to the prison where Lopez is being held. They told reporters that the decision to refuse their visit was a sign of limitations on human rights in Venezuela.
“Leopoldo Lopez is a politician, one can disagree with his ideas but that does not provide the right to deprive him of his freedom,” said Pinera at the entrance to the Ramo Verde military prison.
Lopez is charged with inciting crime and being the intellectual author of damages and arson at the start of three months of anti-government protests that began last February and ultimately left 43 people dead.
Maduro on Friday said the former presidents’ visit was part of an effort to support right-wing extremists that are seeking to destabilize his government.
