By Ben Tavener
SAO PAULO
The United States rejected an offer by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for a jailed opposition leader to be freed in exchange for a Puerto Rican nationalist.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the two cases could not be compared.
"President Maduro proposes to send into exile opposition figures instead of having a discussion about the real concerns and problems confronting Venezuela," she said Monday, adding that the U.S. had "repeatedly requested" that Venezuela release "all political prisoners."
Before leaving on a world tour in search of financial support and cooperation to counter falling oil prices that have driven the Venezuelan economy into recession, Maduro said during a televised meeting with advisers that he would use presidential powers to release Leopoldo López on the condition that the Oscar López Rivera would be released.
"The only way that I would use my presidential powers to release (López) would be to put him on a plane to the United States, leave him there, and have them bring Oscar López Rivera. Man for man," Maduro was quoted by local media.
Both men claim they are political prisoners. López Rivera was a member of the FALN, a Puerto Rican paramilitary organization that sought independence from the United States. He was jailed by the U.S. in 1981 for seditious conspiracy and faces a 70-years sentence, including an additional 15 years for attempting to escape.
In December, a teleSUR report cited a relative who said that members of the Uruguayan government informed her that after negotiations with the U.S. López Rivera could be released imminently. However, he currently remains in an Indiana state penitentiary.
Leopoldo López, the leader of Venezuelan opposition party Voluntad Popular, became a key figure in anti-government protests in early 2014 that spread to a number of cities across the country.
He surrendered to authorities in Caracas on Feb. 18 to face charges of inciting violence and public disorder during the protests. The more serious charges of murder and terrorism were dropped soon after his detention.
He has denied all charges against him and maintains they are politically-motivated by Maduro's governing PSUV party.
Nearly a year since his incarceration, his ongoing trial continues to be routinely adjourned, with the defense accusing the court of not allowing its witnesses to be heard.
While the 2014 protests had initially called for the government to address rampant crime, widespread shortages of staple products, and media censorship, protesters soon began to call for Maduro to step down.
More than 40 people were killed during the three months of unrest, including anti-government protesters, government supporters, and security forces.
In an open letter published in late December, López called for intervention from the international community, particularly neighboring Latin American nations, to end the "crisis facing my country."
www.aa.com.tr/en
