Election of the OAS Secretary General: Between the survival and destruction of the organization

OPINION: Election of the OAS Secretary General: Between the survival and destruction of the organization



By Carlos E. Ponce

Senior Fellow, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

Senior Lecturer, Columbia University

Publisehd in Spanish:
https://eltiempolatino.com/news/2020/mar/06/opinion-eleccion-secretario-general-oea-oas/


A new election for the secretary general for the Organization of American States (OAS) is just around the corner. The competition is between the incumbent Secretary General Luis Almagro and one candidate who pose an existential threat to very existence of the Organization. This candidate is the former Minister of Defense and a close-confidante of former Ecuadorian autocrat Rafael Correa, María Fernanda Espinosa.

Espinosa was named by two Venezuelan satellites and apologists for the narco-dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and is close to Maduro. In Espinosa’s favor is her false, but eloquent speech, designed to appeal to technocrats and civil society about institutional reform. These organizations forget that during her tenure in Rafael Correa's government, Ecuador vigorously attacked the Inter-American Human Rights System. Her government systematically violated human rights and the freedom of expression. They overlook her refusal to call Venezuela for what it is; a dictatorship. She has the support of Argentina and Mexico. So far, Canada was actively supporting the candidacy of Hugo de Zela from Peru, but he is not running anymore, and Canada still oppose Mr. Almagro. It is a dangerous game they play which endangers the very existence of the OAS. Espinosa's triumph would turn the Organization into a pawn in the ideological game that seeks to castrate the regional organization, and could give the United States the perfect excuse to limit or terminate its financial support. This would be a resounding victory for Maduro, Ortega and Castro. For civil society it will be the destruction of the Inter American Human Rights System.

It seems that many have forgotten what the OAS was like under the most bland and harmful general secretary of the OAS, former Secretary General José Miguel Insulza. Under Insulza, the several autocratic governments tried to control and diminish the work of the Inter American Human Rights Commission and reduced the OAS to a dysfunctional voiceless organization. Some civil society organizations may be frustrated that Secretary General Almagro has not seemingly devoted the same time and energy to their countries that he has devoted to Venezuela and Cuba. They argue he should have paid more attention to their countries human rights situations but that is more the role of the Inter American Human Rights Commission. This misconception overlooks several important details. First, the dimension of the Venezuela crisis: Venezuela's brutal dictatorship has systematically violated human rights and committed crimes against humanity. Further, it has forced the migration of more than 5 million Venezuelans, a tsunami that is being felt by countries across the hemisphere. It is the magnitude of the crisis that makes it a regional problem. The second is that, as Secretary General, Almagro has had an open to door to all voices and visions regardless of political stripe or ideology. Unlike his predecessor, Almagro has respected and empowered the Inter-American Human Rights System. Where would the OAS and the IACHR be if they fell into the hands of someone co-responsible for the attacks against the System or who is committed to stopping the OAS role in solving the Venezuela crisis? This is not a rhetorical question; this would be a serious mistake.

Those who are disappointed that Almagro is not their all-encompassing "savior", freeing the region from all evil upending centuries of political ignorance, exclusion, populism, violence, and control by interest groups, are forgetting their history. They do not remember that only five years ago, the OAS was minimally relevant and played only a marginal role defending democracy and human rights in the region. Almagro has brought the OAS back to relevance and in doing so has raised the expectation that the institution would make good on its commitment to the principles upon which it was founded. Unfortunately, in this region that hope has a high cost.

In this game, the double-standard of countries like Canada is very dangerous. On the one hand, they speak of a rules-based international order grounded in the respect for democracy and human rights. On the other, they seek to undermine and eliminate the only multilateral voice in the Americas that turns these words into action. They claim to champion a free Venezuela, while at the same time supporting the very actors that oppress it. Canada openly supports Cuba's dictatorship, not only diplomatically, but by embracing its propaganda and sending millions of Canadian tourist dollars to the island which further props-up the military. They provide generous support to Cuban Regime programs, even after Cuba was found to have attacked Canadian diplomats. They criticize Almagro for his defense of “more rights for more people” while campaigning for a candidate who will ensure that the OAS no longer acts in any meaningful way. It is time for Canada’s government to decide between supporting Cuba and Venezuela candidate and destroy the OAS or end the nonsense and fully support Luis Almagro.

Luis Almagro’s heart is in the right place. Like all leaders, he has made some mistakes, but he is not afraid to get into the ring and fight. I was one of from civil society who actively supported his campaign for the OAS five years ago. I supported him because I knew that he would vigorously defend democratic principles and not be cowed by ideological or partisan dogmas. He has proven me correct.

Almagro cannot wave a magic wand that will solve the endemic problems of the region. He took the helm of a dysfunctional organization that was left in a crisis by Insulza, like a patient needing attention in an intensive care unit. It is tough running an organization that is made-up of an increasing number of authoritarian governments, or governments that prefer to turn a blind eye. His posture toward Cuba is clear and he has been blunt about Cuba’s nefarious influence in the region. That is why the hand that rocks the cradle behind Canada and others, who oppose Almagro, also seems to come from Havana. Luis Almagro’s principles have given life to an organization that had lost is meaning and purpose.

The OAS is not simply looking to fill a job on March 20, 2020; the OAS is hoping to continue fighting for the democratic rights of all people and wants an ally in the fight against encroaching authoritarianism in the region. The OAS either strives for that or disappears under Espinoza to the cheers of Castro, Maduro, Ortega and their accomplices in the Caribbean.


Note: This article is the opinion of the author and does not reflect the opinion of the organizations or institutions for which he works nor collaborates for.