This is a no win situation for the regime. If it bars access to two democratically elected ex-presidents it will show itself as having things to hide from international scrutiny on Human Rights (1). If it allows Piñera and Pastrana into Lopez cell, then we will have an international credible first hand account.
Below a few tweets to try to show you the mood and tell you the story.
It starts with Maduro's insults towards the visitors, reported of course by Maria Corina Machado
Maduro no sólo insulta a exPdtes Piñera,Pastrana y Calderón;también ofende a Chile,Colombia y México y a sus pueblos
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) January 23, 2015Of course, a few chavistas protesting the visitors had to be seen. Chavistas protesting against Human Rights, there you go!
#25E Oficialistas intentaron sabotear llegada de los ex presidentes a Ramo Verde http://t.co/tUfHzdFtrg pic.twitter.com/6WghBBtcZA
— Diario Contraste (@DiarioContraste) January 25, 2015Opposition democratic representatives waiting for Piñera and Pastrana
INFORMA @AmericoDeGrazia: Los Diputados en Ramo Verde listos para acompañar expresidente para visitar @leopoldolopez pic.twitter.com/kFyy3Ht7vu
— Reporte Confidencial (@RConfidencial) January 25, 2015Some international recognition for the opposition INSIDE Venezuela
.@AndresPastrana_ y @sebastianpinera entran a Ramo Verde para reunirse con @leopoldolopez http://t.co/WcQ487pGp7 pic.twitter.com/lmnAiPqeGR
— Contrapunto (@contrapuntovzla) January 25, 2015Pastrana: the minimum to be expected for a political prisoner is visitation rights
El mínimo acto de DD.HH. es tener derecho a visitar un preso: Pastrana pic.twitter.com/Uz0EVH9AF1
— Reporte Policial (@RPolicial) January 25, 2015Pastrana waiting in his car for access to the jail. All the world press in front. PR disaster for the regime (not that it cares much at this point I guess)
Cerca a Ramo Verde a la espera.El que se cansa pierde @leopoldolopez pic.twitter.com/9fza1Ugxwy
— Andrés Pastrana A (@AndresPastrana_) January 25, 2015Pastrana demands the phone number of Miraflores presidential palace
RT @FUrreiztieta: Expresidentes Pastrana pide el número de Miraflores para que autoricen el paso a la visita de Lopez pic.twitter.com/5UN1QmMYVU
— colette capriles (@cocap) January 25, 2015Entry is refused. The regime choosing the worst option. Surprise? Not!
En vivo por @vivoplaynet: informa @liliantintori que no se permitió ingreso de Pastrana y Piñera para visitar a López pic.twitter.com/XsEclk0Otu
— Gabriel Bastidas (@Gbastidas) January 25, 2015And there you go. Pastrana "if this happens to two ex presidents what can the Venezuelan people expect?"
Pastrana en vivo por @vivoplaynet: Si esto nos pasa a dos expresidentes, ¿qué pueden esperar los venezolanos? pic.twitter.com/8g4HfNk8JP
— Gabriel Bastidas (@Gbastidas) January 25, 2015Piñera states that the vice president blocked the event (of course, Maduro run away cowardly to Saudi Arabia to avoid doing it himself)
Piñera en vivo por @vivoplaynet: Se nos ha negado la posibilidad de visitar a López a pesar de gestiones con VicePdte pic.twitter.com/hFlxZPrEue
— Gabriel Bastidas (@Gbastidas) January 25, 2015Reminding the world that during Venezuela's democratic years Chavez received visits from whomever. But under chavista neo-totalitarianism, there is no such thing for political prisoners.
"Recibir visitas preso es un DDHH. Chávez recibió visitas hasta de periodistas" @liliantintori por @vivoplaynet pic.twitter.com/leKsdYDQ6P
— Gabriel Bastidas (@Gbastidas) January 25, 2015And to conclude: Piñera "if Maduro wants to be respected, he should learn to respect first". Lapidary!
#25E El ex presidente Sebastián Piñera:"Sí Maduro quiere respeto debe aprender a respetar primero" pic.twitter.com/0Mnh0clKEw
— Místerpopo celestial (@antenax2) January 25, 2015----------------------------------Piñera and Pastrana have now a first hand account, a direct witness position on repression in Venezuela. They saw the Nazional Guards everywhere, they were both somewhat threatened by diverse hecklers and possibly by "security", they experienced personally the harshness and autism fo the regime, etc, etc.
This was of course done on purpose as it is inconceivable that Piñera and Pastrana would have tried such a thing without consulting their governments, and maybe others. This is a clear message to the Venezuelan regime. I am afraid they are not getting it. I am afraid they have resigned themselves to become the lone pariah of our continent now that even Cuba is trying to get out of that status.
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1) democratically elected is stressed here as both Pinera and Pastrana won from the opposition. Thus, technically, with odds against them.
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