The United Nations has stated that the reason given by the United States government for the recent invasion of Venezuela and capture of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, is unacceptable.
The position of the United Nations was made known by the spokeswoman for the UN rights office, Ravina Shamdasanie, while addressing newsmen in Geneva on Tuesday.
According to the UN official, countries must not use force against or to threaten the territorial integrity of another nation.
She therefore called on the international community to speak with one voice and condemn the action of the American government led by President Donald Trump.
Shamdasanie said the action of the United States “undermined a fundamental principle of international law.”
“States must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
“And this is what we are seeing,” she said, calling on the international community to “come together with one voice… to make clear that this is an action that in contravention of the international law that was set up by member states, she added.
Naijaonpoint recalls that U.S military forces, forcibly seized Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from their country in the early hours of Saturday.
Shamdasani said while the UN rights office had spent years reporting on the “continued deterioration” in Venezuela, the needed change can’t be achieved by a unilateral military intervention of the U.S government.
She added that the military invasion of Venezuela has made other countries of the world less safe.
According to her, rights violations “cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law”.
“Using human rights arguments as a justification for this kind of military intervention is unacceptable,” she said, adding that she feared the US intervention “will only make the situation worse.”
Shamdasani pointed out that a state of emergency declared by Venezuelan authorities on Saturday allows property seizures, restricts free movement and suspends the right to protest, among other measures.
“Far from being a victory for human rights, this military intervention… damages the architecture of international security, making every country less safe,” she said.
Meanwhile, ousted Venezuela leader, Nicolas Maduro, has pleaded not guilty to the charges read against at a New York Court on Monday.
Naijaonpoint understands he was charged with allegations bordering around narcotics and weapon trafficking.
The embattled Maduro, also added that he still considers himself as the President of Venezuela.
The 63-year-old who insisted that he remains innocent, said he was seized at his home in Caracas by the American military.
“I am innocent, I am not guilty,” Maduro said according to US media inside the courtroom.
The leader also hinted that he was ‘kidnapped’ in the U.S military operation but still considers himself the President of Venezuela.
“I’m still the president of my country,” he added.