Maduro’s final blow against NGOs

The Maduro regime wants, once and for all, to deliver a final blow to Venezuelan NGOs.

Since last July 28, the day the regime stole the elections and with it the voice of the people, the repression has been brutal. To date, there are reports of 25 people dead, thousands imprisoned for alleged acts of terrorism, a campaign of “neighborhood snitching” for people to turn in their neighbors who speak ill of Maduro or the regime, and a media blackout so that what happens there stays there.

But that’s not enough. A week ago, Maduro ordered the suspension of the National Assembly’s recess to fast-track the approval of the Law on the Control, Regularization, Activities, and Financing of NGOs and Non-Profit Social Organizations, better known as the Anti-NGO Law. On August 15, this law was unanimously approved and it only awaits the Executive’s publication in the Official Gazette to be enforceable.

The official text of this law is not yet available to the public. Is that surprising? It’s not. In Venezuela, for years, no public service has worked well, including justice, and something as basic as making bills public and debated by citizens also doesn’t happen.

Some social organizations have reconstructed the text based on what they’ve heard, and these are some relevant points we know: first, all non-profit social organizations must re-register and include new requirements related to data on assets, donors, and financial statements. That is, their registration must start from scratch and be approved by the regime. In addition, the creation of “fascist associations” or those that promote “intolerance or hatred” is prohibited. Finally, organizations are prohibited from receiving economic resources or contributions for “terrorist purposes.” Failure to comply with any of these requirements can result in sanctions such as fines, preventive suspension measures without prior procedure, dissolution of the organization, expulsion from the country, among others.

Without going any further, what does a fascist association, the promotion of hatred, or having terrorist purposes mean? After all the acts of repression and Maduro’s recent statements, in which he has referred to protesters as “fascists” and stated that protesting is a “criminal act” that “incites chaos,” it is expected that for the regime, any organization that thinks differently, protests, or criticizes will fall into these categories. This puts them at high risk of losing international funding on which they depend, of disappearing due to the cancellation of their registration, and of having the lives and integrity of their members threatened.

Read also: The mathematics of fraud in Venezuela

Venezuelan civil society is persistent and brave. They have done the impossible to put an end to the regime. They have resisted for years, they went to the polls, they organized to collect the ballots, they counted their votes, and they are demanding in the streets, despite the fear, that the popular mandate be respected. Let’s hope that people from outside will lend them a hand. That world leaders and important human rights organizations do not abandon them. That the presidents of Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico have more character in the face of this systematic violation of rights. The strength of this people is tireless, but they need international and regional support to stop the Maduro regime’s final blow.