New Evidence on US Ties with Conspiracy in Venezuela

The Venezuelan government today summoned officials of the U.S. and its embassy in Caracas for links to right-wing sectors involved in plans to destabilize the nation.

According to the President of the National Assembly (Parliament), Diosdado Cabello, one of the organizations that stimulate these conspiratorial actions is the National Endowment for Democracy (NED, its acronym in English).

Speaking to Venezolana de Television, the legislative leader said the director of the NED, Miriam Kornblith, met late last month with leaders of opposition parties to resolve matters allegedly linked to financial resources.

Cabello denounced that Kornblith moved to Ciudad Bolivar, Bolivar state, with a totally different appearance from the one with which she arrived at National Airport Maiquetía (Vargas State) and checked into a hotel under the name of Sarah Collins. The trip’s purpose was carrying out the mission assigned by the NED, that of meeting with political and union leaders, as well as the directors of the civil association KapeKape, he added.

The contacts with the couple Raiza Rivas and Armando Figueroa, directors of that organization, dedicated to the attention of indigenous peoples, were intended to provide financing for destabilizing actions against the national government.

Kornblith also met with political leaders and activists of right-wing parties in that jurisdiction, many with aspirations to run for parliamentary elections scheduled for 2015.

He added that in Caracas, the NED director also held talks with Ramon Medina, a member of the opposition Democratic Action, and then traveled to Bogota.

Furthermore, Cabello reported that US diplomats are holding meetings with opposition groups, despite the measure announced by President Nicolas Maduro, on February 27, that they must give notice before any such meetings.

He also mentioned Kathryn Pongonis as one of those officials who violate the provisions of the Vienna Convention, regarding respect for Venezuelan law and non-interference in internal affairs.

Despite these provisions, he said, Pongonis, Deputy Minister of Political Affairs of the US embassy in Caracas, attended a forum on labor unrest in the country.

Pongonis, he added, has shown continued interest in attending trial hearings against Leopoldo Lopez, imprisoned for being the main promoter of violent actions in the streets in early 2014, killing 43 people and more than 800 injured.

Lopez is also charged with being one of the architects of the project La Salida and is being tried for instigating crime, damage and burning of a public building, for conspiracy and funding.