Venezuela approves law to jail those backing U.S. 'piracy'

by · UPI

Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced approval of a law aimed at guaranteeing freedom of navigation and international trade in response to what the government describes as acts of piracy, blockades and other attacks on the high seas.

The "Law to Guarantee Free Navigation and Trade Against Piracy in the World's Seas" was approved by Venezuela's National Assembly of Venezuela during an extraordinary session Tuesday, digital outlet El InformadorVE reported.

The law imposes prison sentences of 15 to 20 years on anyone who supports acts of "piracy, blockade or other illicit international actions" against Venezuelan vessels.

The announcement comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas.

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In mid-December, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump ordered what it described as a "total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a move that has led to the seizure of two vessels and pursuit of a third.

According to the approved legal text, the measure seeks to protect Venezuela's sovereign right to trade freely by sea in response to what lawmakers describe as "foreign aggressions."

During the session, Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Giuseppe Alessandrello said the law is a tool to "defend the country's territorial and economic integrity" against measures that, in his view, undermine the free movement of goods and resources.

"International law establishes that a blockade in peacetime is an illegal act. Only the United Nations Security Council can authorize it," said the ruling party lawmaker, according to digital outlet Efecto Cocuyo.

Speaking at an event broadcast on state television channel VTV, Maduro described the legislation as "a special law to enforce global agreements that prohibit the assault of vessels, piracy and all crimes against international trade."

"This test that life is putting us through is what we needed to make an economic leap and free ourselves from oil dependence," Maduro said, referring to the seizure of oil tankers by U.S. forces.

Maduro said he raised the issue Tuesday with the U.N. Security Council, denouncing what he called "acts of piracy committed by the government of the United States aimed at seizing the energy resources of Venezuelans under military threats."

The president also said commercial agreements with U.S. energy company Chevron demonstrate that contracts signed in Venezuela are guaranteed.

"Under our law and the Constitution, all signed contracts, not only in hydrocarbons, will be fully honored," Maduro said.