Clandestine visit by Venezuelan President’s son in Nepal raises eyebrows

Gajendra Basnet

July 15, 2019

5 MIN READ

Clandestine visit by Venezuelan President’s son in Nepal raises eyebrows

Nicolas (3rd from left) poses for photograph with Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (2nd from right) and others in Kathmandu.

KATHMANDU: Venezuelan President’s son Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra, who arrived in Nepal clandestinely along with his three ministers on Saturday, has received high honors in Nepal.

The leader from the South American country currently facing sanctions by the United States has received a VVIP security with escorting vehicles.

Guerra, 29, is a member of the National Constituent Assembly, considered “illegitimate” by the United States, and was designated by his father to be the director of the Inspectors Corps of the Presidency.

The US has warned that Nepal’s closeness with Venezuela and North Korea could impact the US-Nepal relation.

US State Department source, who also looks after South Asia, including Nepal preferring anonymity told Khabarhub, “Why and for that intention he is in Nepal?, adding that they are closely observing activeness of the government authorities for Guerra’s visit.

Saying that the ruling party is riling the US, he said that it would impact assistance to Nepal. He said that his country was keenly observing Nepal’s closeness with hardliner Communist countries.

Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra (3rd from left) with NCP leader Bamdev Gautam (3rd from right) pose for photograph in Kathmandu.

Venezuela is going through its worst political tension since last January when Maduro was sworn in for another six-year term as chief executive, which was not accepted by the opposition nor by much of the international community. In response, opposition leader and National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president of the nation.

The United States was the first country to recognize Guaido as interim head of state, and was later joined by some 50 other countries, most of them in Latin America.

Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and General Secretary of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Bishnu Poudel have refused to meet Guerra.

Nicolas (3rd from right) with NCP spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha (4th from right) pose for a group photo in Kathmandu.

However, Guerra met NCP Spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha, Secretariat member Bamdev Gautam, NCP Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The 11-member delegation on Monday visited the Federal Parliament in Nepal today and took stock of the parliamentarian practices. The visiting Venezuelan delegates and Nepali parliamentarians discussed Nepal-Venezuela relations. The Venezuelan delegation also held a meeting with the parliamentarians from the ruling party. He also attended a dinner party along with Chairman Dahal and leaders Gautam and Nepal.

It is claimed that Guerra and his team came to Nepal upon invitation from NCP’s youth association. But, sources at Baluwatar said that the government and the party had not extended the invitation.

Analysts say Guerra came to Nepal to appease the leaders of the ruling party oppose U.S. sanctions and show solidarity with his father’s regime.

Nepal and Venezuela established diplomatic relations in 1987. However, no high-level visits from both countries have taken place since date.

Earlier, NCP Chairman Dahal had issued a statement denouncing the US’ ‘intervention’ in Venezuela. The US Embassy in Kathmandu had asked the government to clarify its position on the issue following the issuance of such a statement by the former prime minister.

Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement had said that there should not be any external intervention on Venezuela and Venezuelans are capable to decide their future.