Antonio Ledezma calls for hunger strike from OAS

Antonio Ledezma Venezuela opposition leader and the elected mayor of the city of Caracas (Alcaldia Mayor), has today declare himself on a hunger strike from the offices of the Organization of American States in Caracas, Venezuela.

Let’s remember that Antonio Ledezma was elected Mayor of the City of Caracas (Alcaldia Mayor) last December. The President Hugo Chavez has not liked the idea of having an opposition mayor in the city of Caracas, important Chavista controlled zone. Chavez promoted through the National Assembly that officially creates an office of governorship of the City of Caracas (Primera Autoridad), and the appointment comes straight from President Chavez.

Antonio Ledezma in his hunger strike requests the OAS, the following:

1. The immediate release of the public funds for the workers of the Mayorship of the city of Caracas
2. To stop the arbitrary dismantlement of the Office of the Mayor of the city of Caracas by the Executive Government.
3. The OAS should designate a high level Commission to travel to Venezuela, with urgency status, to observe the grave situation democracy is going through in Venezuela, and how the national Constitution is violated, specially the office of the Mayor of the city of Caracas and the governorships of Tachira, Zulia, Miranda, Carabobo and Nueva Esparta.
4. To verify in the case of the Mayor Antonio Ledezma, the National government and the rest of its representatives mock Venezuela´s national sovereignty

If Ledezma continues with this hunger strike, it could be groundbreaking and perhaps ignite a social upheaval and could get the international attention on the democracy in Venezuela. In my mind, I can see parallels between Mel Zelaya and Antonio Ledezma. Or better yet, between Zelaya and Hugo Chavez who constantly violates the Constitution of Venezuela and remains, yet, unpunished.