Frank criticizes Venezuelan government

Political notes Wednesday, March 19, 2003

..................................

Frank criticizes Venezuelan government

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., released a letter from seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez concerning recent events in Venezuela that seem to threaten the democratic rights of the president's opponents.

In their letter, the lawmakers told Chavez that, although they had written to President Bush last year objecting to the U.S. administration's reticence when the democratically-elected government of Venezuela was threatened by a coup, they are now concerned over undemocratic actions by the Chavez government.

The letter states, in part, "Our objection to any American action that would ignore the results of the last Venezuelan election should not be construed in any way as indifference to the importance in a democracy of respect for the untrammeled rights of a vigorous opposition, and we must tell you that we are concerned that recent events in Venezuela call into question that respect."........................