Venezuelan government joy as Aruba frees former military intelligence head

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuelan government joy as Aruba frees former military intelligence head

President Maduro's supporters jubilant after Hugo Carvajal is released instead of facing extradition to the US

Reuters in Caracas
theguardian.com, Sunday 27 July 2014 20.58 EDT

Venezuela's former military intelligence head Hugo Carvajal, wanted by the United States over drug accusations and arrested four days ago on the Caribbean island of Aruba, was released on Sunday.

Instead of being extradited to the US, the retired general flew home after the Netherlands government ruled he had diplomatic immunity, his lawyer and Venezuelan officials said.

Jubilant Venezuelan officials at a congress of the ruling Socialist Party celebrated the release as a "victory" over their ideological foes in Washington who wanted to extradite him.

"He's returning free and victorious. It's a triumph for sovereignty and legality," president Nicolás Maduro said, praising the "bravery" of the Dutch government.


Carvajal, who ran military intelligence from 2004 to 2008 during the presidency of the late Hugo Chávez, was held on Wednesday at Washington's request after flying to the semi-autonomous island that is part of the Netherlands.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/28/venezuelan-government-joy-aruba-frees-carvajal

[Judi Lynn]

1. Venezuela gives 'hero's welcome' to freed general Carvajal

28 July 2014 Last updated at 12:13 ET
Venezuela gives 'hero's welcome' to freed general Carvajal

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has welcomed the release of Gen Hugo Carvajal, who had been detained on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.

Mr Maduro praised the Dutch government for freeing Gen Carvajal, whom the US accuses of links with drug trafficking.

The president hugged and joked with Gen Carvajal at a socialist party congress in Caracas.

The general, an ex-chief of military intelligence, had been appointed by Venezuela as its consul to Aruba.

US blacklist

Gen Carvajal, who was a close ally of the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, was arrested in Aruba on Wednesday.

More:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-28520775

[Judi Lynn]

2. Article in Spanish, from a TV news station. You can put in in an online translation thingie,

to get an idea of how the story played out. Interesting!

Hugo Carvajal ya se encuentra en Venezuela, tras haber sido liberado en Aruba

Publicado el 27 de jul de 2014 3:37 pm |













http://www.noticias24.com/venezuela/noticia/248315/anuncia-que-carvajal-sera-liberado-y-regresara-al-pais-en-las-proximas-horas/