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Detained American Missionaries Leave Venezuela Detained American Missionaries Leave Venezuela
(about 4 hours later)
CARACAS, Venezuela — Ratcheting up tensions with the United States, President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday ordered a sharp reduction in the number of diplomats at the American Embassy here, said Americans would now need visas to enter the country and took other measures to retaliate for sanctions imposed by Washington on Venezuelan officials.CARACAS, Venezuela — Ratcheting up tensions with the United States, President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday ordered a sharp reduction in the number of diplomats at the American Embassy here, said Americans would now need visas to enter the country and took other measures to retaliate for sanctions imposed by Washington on Venezuelan officials.
Mr. Maduro announced the steps at a rally at the presidential palace, hours after four missionaries from North Dakota who had been held and questioned by Venezuelan authorities since Wednesday left the country. It was not clear if they were deported or left voluntarily. Mr. Maduro announced the steps at a rally at the presidential palace, hours after four missionaries from North Dakota who had been held and questioned by Venezuelan authorities since Wednesday left the country.
Venezuela, a major oil exporter to the United States, is mired in a deep economic crisis marked by recession, high inflation and shortages of basic goods and medicines. Mr. Maduro, a leftist whose popularity is slumping, blames capitalist enemies and the United States for the country’s troubles and has accused Washington of plotting a coup to oust him.Venezuela, a major oil exporter to the United States, is mired in a deep economic crisis marked by recession, high inflation and shortages of basic goods and medicines. Mr. Maduro, a leftist whose popularity is slumping, blames capitalist enemies and the United States for the country’s troubles and has accused Washington of plotting a coup to oust him.
The United States denies those allegations and has pressed Mr. Maduro to release arrested opposition politicians and guarantee protections for antigovernment demonstrators.The United States denies those allegations and has pressed Mr. Maduro to release arrested opposition politicians and guarantee protections for antigovernment demonstrators.
Calling for “equal terms between countries, respect between countries,” Mr. Maduro said that the United States must immediately reduce the number of officials at its embassy here. “They have 100 officials, and we have 17 there,” he said.Calling for “equal terms between countries, respect between countries,” Mr. Maduro said that the United States must immediately reduce the number of officials at its embassy here. “They have 100 officials, and we have 17 there,” he said.
If the reduction in embassy staff members includes a significant number of consular officials who process visa applications, it will be more difficult for Venezuelans to get visas to enter the United States.If the reduction in embassy staff members includes a significant number of consular officials who process visa applications, it will be more difficult for Venezuelans to get visas to enter the United States.
Mr. Maduro said that embassy officials must now get permission to meet with Venezuelans, saying, “The conspiratorial meetings in Venezuela are over.” He routinely accuses American diplomats of involvement in plots against him, although without offering proof.Mr. Maduro said that embassy officials must now get permission to meet with Venezuelans, saying, “The conspiratorial meetings in Venezuela are over.” He routinely accuses American diplomats of involvement in plots against him, although without offering proof.
He also said that Americans would now have to obtain visas to enter Venezuela and would have to pay a fee equivalent to that paid by Venezuelans to receive visas to the United States.He also said that Americans would now have to obtain visas to enter Venezuela and would have to pay a fee equivalent to that paid by Venezuelans to receive visas to the United States.
Moreover, Mr. Maduro moved to retaliate for sanctions, including visa restrictions, recently imposed by the United States against Venezuelan officials accused of involvement in human-rights abuses during antigovernment protests last year.Moreover, Mr. Maduro moved to retaliate for sanctions, including visa restrictions, recently imposed by the United States against Venezuelan officials accused of involvement in human-rights abuses during antigovernment protests last year.
He said that he would bar from Venezuela “a list of political leaders from the United States who have violated human rights by bombing the people of Iraq, the people of Syria, the people of Vietnam.” He said it was “a terrorist list that will be headed by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, the ex-C.I.A. chief George Tenet.”He said that he would bar from Venezuela “a list of political leaders from the United States who have violated human rights by bombing the people of Iraq, the people of Syria, the people of Vietnam.” He said it was “a terrorist list that will be headed by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, the ex-C.I.A. chief George Tenet.”
The list, he added, would also include several members of Congress who have been critical of his government, including Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, both Republicans from Florida.The list, he added, would also include several members of Congress who have been critical of his government, including Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, both Republicans from Florida.
Mr. Maduro also appeared to refer to the four American missionaries who were detained on Wednesday in Ocumare de la Costa, a small coastal town west of Caracas, the capital.Mr. Maduro also appeared to refer to the four American missionaries who were detained on Wednesday in Ocumare de la Costa, a small coastal town west of Caracas, the capital.
“We have captured some Americans engaged in undercover activity,” he said, characterizing the activity as “espionage, trying to win over people in towns on the Venezuelan coast.”“We have captured some Americans engaged in undercover activity,” he said, characterizing the activity as “espionage, trying to win over people in towns on the Venezuelan coast.”
He also said that another American had been “captured” in the western state of Táchira, describing the man only as a pilot of Latino origin.He also said that another American had been “captured” in the western state of Táchira, describing the man only as a pilot of Latino origin.
Glenn Guimond, a spokesman for the American Embassy, said he was “unable to make any comment because we have yet to receive any officials diplomatic communication from the Venezuelan government.” Glenn Guimond, a spokesman for the American Embassy, said he was “unable to make any comment because we have yet to receive any official diplomatic communication from the Venezuelan government.”
The four American missionaries flew to Aruba on Saturday morning on their way home, according to Bruce Dick, the pastor of the Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Devil’s Lake, N.D., where they live. Mr. Dick said that the group of missionaries — three men and a woman — had been providing medical aid to the coastal town’s residents and support to a local church.The four American missionaries flew to Aruba on Saturday morning on their way home, according to Bruce Dick, the pastor of the Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Devil’s Lake, N.D., where they live. Mr. Dick said that the group of missionaries — three men and a woman — had been providing medical aid to the coastal town’s residents and support to a local church.
“That’s our only agenda, it’s not politics at all,” Mr. Dick said. “We have no ill will against the Venezuelan government.” “That’s our only agenda; it’s not politics at all,” Mr. Dick said.
“They don’t themselves understand,” he said of the reason they were detained. “They were interviewed by the intelligence service. They were interviewed multiple times.” He said the missionaries were interviewed multiple times, including by the intelligence service.
Don Canton, a spokesman for Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota, said the missionaries were deported for not having the proper visa, citing information from the State Department.