After Modi, rights group turns to Chavez record

Human Rights Watch (HRW), the international civil liberties monitor so critical of Narendra Modi — its assessments were cited during the Gujarat CM’s visa refusal — has now indicted Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who visited India in March.

In its findings released on April 5, HRW accused Chavez of victimising leading human rights lawyer Carlos Ayala and attempting to frame him. ‘‘This is a clear cut case of political persecution, targetting someone who has been an effective critic of the Chavez government’s human rights record,’’ a release said.

Pointing to previous HRW findings, the report accused Chavez of packing the Venezuelan Supreme Court. ‘‘This has severely weakened judicial independence,’’ it said. In May 2004, after ‘‘pro-opposition rulings’’, Chavez’s government enacted a controversial law enlarging the court from 20 to 32 members. The 12 new judges are his appointees.