OAS Secretary General at odds with expulsion of human rights activists

Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, said that he was not pleased "personally" by the expulsion of America's director for US-based human rights monitor, Human Rights Watch, José Miguel Vivanco. "Venezuela has a sovereign government, and I can not get involved in internal affairs of the country. But, personally, I did not like the decision", said the Secretary-General from La Paz, where he was participating in the negotiations to overcome the crisis in Bolivia. Insulza, a Chilean national like Vivanco, added that "one can agree or disagree with the statements of a person, but you do not need to expel him or her for that reason," said Insulza. Besides, the Venezuelan government described as "foolish remarks" the statement of Chilean Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto Van Klaveren, who said: "we regret the expulsion of a citizen, a fighter for human rights." In Klaveren's opinion, "it was a disproportionate reaction" and added that his government would ask for an explanation from Caracas.