Miguel Diaz

Miguel Diaz, "director of the South America Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and director of the U.S./Argentine Caucus, a private business promotion group."

Writing for Voltarire in 2004, it was observed at a U.S. Senate Committee meeting on Foreign Relations that: "By far the most critical testimony came from Miguel Diaz, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee, who alleged that the Chavez administration is "selectively arresting opposition leaders, torturing some members of the opposition and encouraging, if not directing, Bolivarian Circles to beat up members of congress and voters with impunity." The ex-CIA employee also avowed that the "Chavez government lies shamelessly" and that "not all who come to power through elections are democrats." Without producing any evidence to support these unsubstantiated allegations, Diaz went on to state that that he believes that Chavez "poses a great threat, now more than ever, and the community of democracy should take him seriously." Diaz clamored for the U.S. to take a more proactive role in Latin America and to let Venezuelan electoral authorities know that "the eyes of the world are on them" and that "any perception of wrongdoing will result in bloodshed." He further referred to those supporting Chavez as "desperate."" [1]

• Member, Human Rights Watch Americas Advisory Committee