Alex Saab Subjected to Cruel and Inhuman Treatment

Evidence is beginning to emerge that Venezuela’s Special Envoy Alex Saab is being denied his most basic and fundamental rights. This despite protestations from the Cape Verdean President Jorge Carlos Fonseca that Cape Verde was “a model democracy” and “known for upholding the rule of law”.

This is clearly not a view shared by Cape Verde’s new best friends from the United States. The US State Department, in its annual review of human rights and prison conditions in Cape Verde said “Prisoners complained of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Inmates…had limited access to visitors and prison activities. The isolation cells were small, dark, and crowded. Prison conditions were harsh & life threatening”.

Saab has been held in conditions which are hard to understand if, as the Cape Verdean President claims , his country is following international norms. A two metres by two metres cell, no electricity for 23 hours a day, sanitation that would make a Mumbai slum seem luxurious and, given that Saab is a recovering cancer patient, medical care that falls well short of what is required. One can only hope that no Cape Verdean, leave alone Cape Verdean minister, ever finds themselves at the receiving end of such cruel and inhuman treatment.

What is causing concern amongst ordinary Cape Verdeans and many regional people and leaders is the long-lasting damage the current administration’s “Push-to-the-West” and away from Africa will mean for the Island State. A US$250 million shiny new embassy, a strategic listening outpost and a permanent base may carrots that are dangled in front of the Cape Verdean Executive, but the proverbial stick is a heavy one and one whose weight is not going to be felt by ministers and well-heeled civil servants in Praia if the Master’s wishes are ignored..

Just how many of the promised Dollars will find themselves into the local economy? How much will Cape Verdeans benefit? Experience has shown from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan that the answer is very little. Like the cruise ships that were going to bring tens of thousands of eager fat-walleted tourists to the Caribbean if only there were adequate docking facilities but eventually turned out to be a mirage, what happens once they were built?

The cruise operators put-up stalls for trinket sellers who paid a fancy price to become preferred vendors and ply their wares immediately passengers disembarked or just before they reboarded, leaving tourists satiated and unwilling to spend much in the broader community. Large compounds have a habit of importing all their hot dogs, ********* and Cheerios straight from the Land of the Brave and the Home of the Free leaving scraps to be fought over by local suppliers.

More worrying than the lack of any meaningful carrot, is the way that in its rush to please its new colonial masters, Cape Verde has shown a complete disregard for its obligations under the UN Charter, the African Union Charter and several other multi-lateral organisations. Inexcusable, however, is how Cape Verde has forgotten what it means to show compassion and humanity. Those who say that Cape Verde has sold its soul are not wrong.

The "National Review" is a racist, far right wing publication. On 8/31, you published this article.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/iran-u-n-proves-uselessness-103041539.html

The article is written by Fred Fleitz, who is a propaganda specialist. Here are excerpts from Wikipedia on him:

"According to Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow and Washington Post columnist Max Boot, Fleitz "has a record of trafficking in virulent Muslim hatred."[20] In his columns, Fleitz frequently defended fringe anti-Muslim, far-right activists such as Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller.[12]"

This is no longer neutral news reporting. This is why Yahoo news is not taken seriously by anyone and had become a breeding hate ground for the far right wing racists.

Show respect for the leader of our country, the police, public authority figures regardless if you agree or not!!!! You all are promoting hate and further separating the residents of this country! The way the media has portrayed us is we can no longer be friends or civil with one another unless we agree on everything! If we have a difference of opinion or have different beliefs the media is promoting us to condemn the other! Since when did one persons beliefs and feelings become the only way everyone else has to believe?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!! We are all different and we should be able to celebrate the fact we are unique! I’ve seen more segregation, separation, ignorance and racism from the Democratic community in my entire life! I’m a registered, long time, including my family Dem. However, after the last 2 terms of Presidency completely changed my voting status! It’s sad to watch a group completely degraded themselves, belittle others based on their beliefs; run themselves into the ground! I will NEVER vote for a person that is an accused offender, sexually assaulted woman, makes advances, unwanted and completely inappropriate touching to children!!!!!! If that’s what a person does in a NATIONAL PUBLIC forum; imagine the intimidation, fear, actual occurrences and cover-ups that are happening behind closed doors! This is all because people are so deeply full of hate for Trump; they are willingly ignoring ALL of these OUTRIGHT SIGNS!!!!! What is that telling every little girl, boy, man and woman victimized by unwanted/unwarranted advances by someone they should be able to trust!!!!!! So, let me get this straight........ you all think that’s ok? Regardless of Trumps crazy antics none of them outweigh the wrong Biden has done to young children and women thru his entire career!!!!!!!!! Anyone who ignores these signs, is fully admitting they think it’s ok to hide, coverup and agree with *** misconduct!!!!!! RAIIN.org.