Again, 50,000 Venezuelans protest prolong detention of Alex Saab in Cape Verde
No fewer than 50,000 Venezuelans have
stormed the streets to protest the prolonged detention of Alex Saab, by the Cape Verdean government at Caracass, the country’s capital,
The protesters trooped out enmasse for the second time in less than three weeks, Alex Saab was arrested on his way to Iran.
It was gathered that the protesters who are in hundreds had previously on 31st of January protested on the same course.
The protesters, now again gathered in large numbers on Saturday at a coordinated protest organized by the country’s opposition party leaders, demonstrated their displeasure over Saab’s detention in the African island nation, Cape Verde with several placards owing to hashtag #FreeAlexSaab
The protesters also shifted the demonstration to the Venezuelan office of the Nigerian Embassy to register their displeasure over the case.
The protesters made this move in translation of the case being heard in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
This newspaper had reported how Saab, who was alleged by the U.S government to have been involved in money laundering, was arrested and detained in Cape Verde.
His extradition was requested by the Donald Trump led United States government over allegations of money laundering, a move the Venezuelan government faulted with claims that the businessman is its special envoy on a ‘humanitarian mission.
The Venezuelan government claimed that before his arrest, Saab had been on a mission to get food and medical supplies, stopping over in Cape Verde where he was arrested by security operatives.
There have been several legal battles between Venezuela, Saab’s lawyer and the Cape Verdean government over the detention of the diplomat.
However, the Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID), an opposition party, has blamed the Jorge Carlos Fonseca led government for dragging the country into an international conflict with Venezuelan over Alex Saab’s continued detention.
The party also described the country’s interest in the case as “obscure” and prayed the government to allow the institutions of justice function without internal or external political pressure.
The opposition party also haggle and warned the government on the implication of non adherence to international law, including multilateral and bilateral agreements.
“ Cape Verde needs to pay attention to obscure diplomatic maneuvers, pressures of any kind or truculent and unreasonable promises”, calling on the country to “apply the laws of the Republic with respect for international law, including multilateral and bilateral agreements ”of which it is a part.
The Supreme Court of Justice of Cape Verde, on Friday denied Mr Saab’s habeas corpus’ insisting that the diplomat is already free.
Mr Saab’s house arrest application was recently granted following the ECOWAS ruling
