国际英语新闻:Venezuelan truth commission opens probe into economic sanctions

CARACAS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's truth commission is investigating to find out which members of the opposition requested the United States impose economic sanctions against the country, a top official said on Sunday.

The Truth, Justice and Peace Commission, created to clear up crimes committed during months of anti-government protests, including lynchings and vandalism, has launched an investigation into the matter, the president of the committee, Delcy Rodriguez, said.

"At the truth commission, we opened an investigation into those responsible for the financial blockade against Venezuela. This cannot be unpunished," said Rodriguez, who is also president of the controversial National Constituent Assembly (ANC).

The creation of the ANC angered Venezuela's U.S-backed opposition, which holds a majority in the National Assembly (AN), or congress, since the temporary but powerful constituent body takes precedence over the legislature.

Venezuela's coalition of opposition parties tried unsuccessfully to prevent July 30 elections to choose the 545 members of the powerful constituent body.

Having failed to stop the elections, the opposition, which advocates the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro and the ruling socialist party, then boycotted the vote.

According to Rodriguez, the commission "has evidence" that at least one member of the opposition, Julio Borges, the president of the AN, "spent his time requesting intervention and the (financial) blockade against Venezuela."

There are "letters signed by Julio Borges asking for a stop to international investment in the country (and) for blocking Venezuela's access to international loans. They requested it and they have worked tirelessly for intervention in Venezuela," she said.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that "prohibits dealings in new debt and equity issued by the government of Venezuela and its state oil company" and also prohibits "dividend payments" to the South American country's government.

In announcing the new sanctions, the White House said "these measures are carefully calibrated to deny the Maduro dictatorship a critical source of financing to maintain its illegitimate rule."