WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean
News:Politics
Alex Saab, Sanctions and the Extra-Judicial Reach of the US
Guest: John Philpot, senior criminal litigation attorney. A member of the Barreau du Québec since 1984, he has practiced Criminal Law in Montreal since 1984 and International Criminal Law since 1998.
From “Alex Saab vs. Empire: How the US is Using Lawfare to Punish a Venezuelan Diplomat” By Roger Harris of broadcast partner Task Force on the Americas (MintPress May 24, 2021):
“Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union for Venezuela Alex Saab was on a humanitarian mission flying from Caracas to Iran to procure food and gasoline for the Venezuelan CLAP food assistance program. Saab was detained on a refueling stop in the African nation of Cabo Verde and has been held in custody ever since June 12, 2020.
Saab’s “crime” — according to the U.S. government, which ordered the imprisonment — was money laundering. That is, Saab conducted perfectly legal international trade. Still, his circumventing of the U.S. sanctions – which are designed to prevent relief to the Venezuelans – is considered by Washington to be money laundering.
After a two-year investigation into Saab’s transactions with Swiss banks, the Swiss government concluded on March 25 that there was no money laundering. Saab is being prosecuted because he is serving his country’s interest rather than that of the U.S. Saab was born in Colombia but now holds Venezuelan citizenship. The U.S. does not recognize Saab’s diplomatic status.”
Joining us this episode to discuss this case of Extra-Judicial Reach of the United States and to provide an update on the Alex Saab case is John Philpot. John is an experienced international defense attorney before international criminal courts (ICC, ICTR) and in Canada. He has been active in Africa, Latin America and Europe as well as in Canada.
Links referenced in this episode:
Registration for the Meng conference 22 September
http://hamiltoncoalitiontostopthewar.ca/event-release-meng/
An ongoing international appeal of over 15,000 signatures, sent to the US president and the president and prime minister of Cabo Verde:
https://solidaritycenter.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=23&reset=1
An archive of articles, statements and reference materials on the developing case:
https://afgj.org/free-alex-saab
May 19 webinar panel featuring two of Saab’s lawyers, Cabo Verde’s Geraldo da Cruz Almeida and Nigeria’s Femi Falana, in addition to activists William Camacaro, John Philpot, Stanfield Smith and Sara Flounders:
https://youtu.be/TZXfO0dZXiQ
August 10 webinar hosted by Massachusetts Peace Action:
https://youtu.be/dAjgIvhOrvQ
Social media campaign to #FreeAlexSaab:
https://afgj.org/urgent-call-alex-saab-social-media-campaign
We Don't Deserve This: the impact and consequences of US sanction
https://sanctionskill.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SanctionsReport_v1.pdf
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