After Posada Carriles Declared “Not Guilty” Venezuela Demands US Extradite Him

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, through a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, reiterated to the United States its extradition request the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, who was declared not guilty of migratory crimes in a trial at the Texas court .

Posada Carriles is wanted by Venezuelan justice system for his responsibility in the blowing up of airplane Cuabana de Aviacion in 1976, causing the death of 73 people.

The full statement follows:

The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, expressing the feeling of its people, strongly states its indignation for the farce staged in el Paso, Texas, for continuing to protect terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. He was accused and now declared innocent in the trial for the unusual criminal charges of obstruction of justice and illegal immigration, when in fact his guilt has to do with proven terrorist acts.

The U.S. Department of Justice, before the rejection and indignation brought about by this outrageous judicial farce, stated that it is “disappointed” with the sentence of the court. Nevertheless, over the last five years it has done nothing to allow the initiation of the extradition process requested by Venezuela, which is supported by the innumerable victims of the terrorist acts of Luis Posada Carriles. The U.S. government protection of Posada Carriles has become an emblematic case of U.S. double standards in the international fight against terrorism.

Before this verdict, the Bolivarian Government reiterates the extradition request of Posada Carriles -first presented to the U.S government in 2005- so he can be sent to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, where he must be prosecuted for the criminal offense of qualified homicide, related to the terrorist attack in which 73 people were killed in the Cubana de Aviacion flight 455, on October 6, 1976.

In this regard, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas on Monday, April 11, to deliver a diplomatic note reiterating the extradition request to Venezuela of Luis Posada Carriles and demanding the U.S. government immediately present the request before the U.S. judicial system, in compliance with the Extradition Treaty signed between Venezuela and the U.S..

Luis Posada Carriles is a terrorist, a fugitive of the Venezuelan justice system. The U.S. government has no other alternative than fulfilling its international obligations, since otherwise it would be once again responsible for abating terrorism.

Caracas, April 8, 2011