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The Pennsylvania United Nations Conference PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE Table of Contents Letter from the Crisis Director Page 2 Letter from the Chair Page 3 Background Page 4 Committee Structure Page 4 Positions Page 5 Committee Goals Page 9 1 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE LETTER FROM THE CRISIS DIRECTOR Dear Delegates, My name is Hope Bodenschatz, and I’m delighted to be your Crisis Director for the Venezuela in Crisis: Organization of American States committee. I’m a freshman double majoring in Economics and Community, Environment, and Development. I am a lifelong Penn Stater; I was born to two Penn State alumni and raised in State College, so I definitely bleed blue and white! I have always had a strong interest in history and government, but this is my first year in Model UN, as well as my first experience with PUNC. I served as Co-Chair of the Scramble for Africa committee during PHUNC this year. Outside of PSIADA, I am a Liberal Arts Envoy, the programming chair for the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, and a member of Empower Orphans. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, playing the piano, singing, and spending time with family and friends. I’m excited to meet all of you in March. I’ve had a great time preparing this committee and am looking forward to some lively and thought-provoking debate! Sincerely, Hope Bodenschatz 2 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE LETTER FROM THE CHAIR Greetings delegates! My name is Byron Molina. I’m currently a senior originally from Miami, FL. Last PUNC, I was the Head of Committee for Standard Oil: America’s Oil Addiction. I’m also acting Vice President of Away Conference for PSIADA. Aside from my interest in Model UN, I am also involved in Penn State’s Economics Association as a Research Associate. In my free time, I enjoy weightlifting, target shooting, and video games when my academic schedule allows. I’m excited to be Chairing this committee and can’t wait to see the rest of you in March. I look forward to helping make this committee fun for everyone. Respectfully, Byron Molina 3 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE BACKGROUND INFORMATION Venezuela at Present In 2014, Venezuelans took to the streets to protest urban violence, inflation, and a lack of basic goods. Over the next two years, the situation deteriorated. In September of 2016, the largest protest took place: over 1 million Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas calling for a recall election of Nicolas Maduro. In December, as the economy continued to slide, Maduro banned the use of the 100 Bolivar note and began printing 500 to 20,000 Bolivar notes. Since that time, the situation has gradually worsened, and the economy has faced soaring inflation. With Maduro’s government on the verge of collapse, Henrique Capriles Radonski, often considered to be the face of the opposition movement and aided by other leaders of the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD) coalition (a conglomeration of Venezuelan opposition political parties), staged a successful coup in the spring of 2018. While the people rejoice at the prospect of a new government that will provide for their security and prosperity, there is much work to be done to stabilize the country. If the Venezuelan opposition officials who worked together during their fight for control of the government cannot work together to determine who among them will become the next president, anarchy could rule in Venezuela, leaving the citizens vulnerable to issues of economics, national security, and international influence. Members of the Organization of American States and the United Nations meet with the foremost Venezuelan opposition leaders to decide the fate of Venezuela and who will lead the country onward. Additional information: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19652436 The Organization of American States The Organization of American States convenes as a general assembly of 35 states. They generate policy in order to settle border conflicts, negotiate truces, and improve trade and communication. They are historically anti-communist and supportive of US foreign policy and military intervention. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE Committee Composition The mix of Venezuelan and international crises this committee will encounter will require equal representation of Venezuelan officials of differing political parties and other international delegates from the Organization of American States and the United Nations. Thus, the MUD coalition, advised by the United Nations, has called together seven Venezuelan officials of differing political parties who were previously involved with MUD, seven representatives from member states of the Organization of American States, and one United Nations representative. Portfolio Powers Each of the Venezuelan delegates will have certain powers of the press, ability to set precedent within their political parties, and power based upon their current position in or outside of the government. The Organization of American States representatives will represent their country’s interests during the conference and can send crisis notes recommending military, financial, or other actions from appropriate officials in their respective countries, which may or may not be approved. The United Nations representative has the ability to recall and enforce existing international law to maintain decorum and productive debate among delegates; like the OAS 4 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE representatives, the UN representative has the ability to send crisis notes asking for United Nations resources. Directives passed by the Venezuelan delegates will constitute Venezuelan national and foreign policy, and directives passed by international delegates (Venezuelan delegates and others) will constitute international law and precedent that is considered binding to the states involved in the committee. Debate and Crisis This committee is composed of international voices and will face international crises; however, debate should be focused on the stabilization of Venezuela while protecting the security and sovereignty of all nations. As discussed in “Portfolio Powers,” delegates should communicate with crisis to determine powers and the stances of their colleagues and superiors not present at the committee. Crisis updates will direct the debate with briefings on the current situation in Venezuela, and delegates should respond to these crises with cohesive action in addition to anticipating, discussing, and preventing future crises. Voting Procedure Conference: Venezuelan directives (constituting Venezuelan foreign policy) are defined as those with only Venezuelan signatories and sponsors and will only be voted upon by the Venezuelan representatives (each representative will have one vote). International directives (constituting international law binding to the states present at this conference) are defined as those with at least one international signatory or sponsor and will be voted upon by all delegates. Day 1: Each Venezuelan official will cast one vote on Venezuelan and international directives. The United Nations representative and each OAS representative will cast one vote on international directives. Days 2-4: Venezuelan officials will cast one unanimous vote on international directives; each will cast one vote on Venezuelan directives. The United Nations representative and each OAS representative will cast one vote on international directives. DELEGATE POSITIONS Venezuelan Opposition Leaders Henry Ramos Allup Party: Acción Democrática Henry Ramos Allup is a lawyer and politician with many years of experience in politics. He is charismatic and knows how to reach the Venezuelan people. He was elected president of the National Assembly in 2015 with a landslide victory of the opposition coalition Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD) in the parliamentary elections. The president of the National Assembly has powers similar to the Speaker of the House in the U.S. Congress. Ramos Allup is the Secretary General of the Acción Democrática party. In January 2008, leaders of all the political parties that opposed Hugo Chávez’s government formed the MUD coalition. The coalition has continued to act as a united front against Nicolás Maduro since he became president 5 PUNC X: THE PENNSYLVANIA UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE in 2013. Currently Ramos Allup serves as the assembly representative for the District Capital, Caracas. The Acción Democrática party stands for pluralism, solidarity, equality, social justice, liberty, honesty, and democratic socialism. Julio Borges Party: Primero Justicia (co-founder with Capriles Radonski and López) Julio Borges has been the key face of the opposition for many years. He has been the assembly representative for Miranda since 2000 and is now the president of the National Assembly. He ran for president in 2006 but later dropped out of the race in support of Manuel Rosales. He was involved in the 2015 plot to stage a coup d’état. He is currently planning military involvement to combat “dictatorship,” which created friction between the National Assembly and the Socialist Party. The Primero Justicia party values freedom, progress, equality, solidarity, justice, and participation. They want to design a government with no privileges and where everyone has opportunity. The Primero Justicia party also believes strongly in defending human rights. Henrique Capriles Radonski Party: Primero Justicia (co-founder) Henrique Capriles Radonski is a more recent leader of the opposition party. He is currently the Governor
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