Tarek William Saab
Prosecutor General of Venezuela
Assumed office
5 August 2017
Disputed with Luisa Ortega Díaz
Preceded byLuisa Ortega Díaz
President of the Republican Moral Council of Venezuela
Assumed office
2015
Preceded byGabriela Ramírez
Ombudsman
In office
22 December 2014 – 5 August 2017
Preceded byGabriela Ramírez
Succeeded byAlfredo Ruiz
Governor of Anzoátegui
In office
2004–2012
Preceded byDavid De Lima (MVR)
Succeeded byAristóbulo Istúriz
Member of the National Assembly
In office
30 July 2000 – 31 October 2004
Member of the National Constituent Assembly
In office
1999–2000
Personal details
Born (1963-09-10) 10 September 1963
El Tigre, Anzoátegui, Venezuela
Political partyFifth Republic Movement (MVR) (before 2007)
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) (from 2007)
ProfessionPolitician, lawyer, author

Tarek William Saab Halabi (Spanish pronunciation: [taˈɾek 'wiljam ˈsa:β], Arabic: طارق وليام صعب حلبي; born 10 September 1962) is a Venezuelan politician, lawyer and poet. He was a leader of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) party founded by Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela, who publicly called him "The Revolution's Poet". He was the Governor of Anzoátegui from 2004 to 2012, and a member of the Committee for Justice and Truth since 2013. In December 2014, he was elected "People's Defender", or Ombudsman, by the National Assembly for 2014–2021 term. Saab was appointed as President of the Republican Moral Council of Venezuela by the People's Power in 2015. On 5 August 2017, the National Constituent Assembly appointed him as Attorney General in substitution of Luisa Ortega Diaz.[1]

Early life and education

Tarek William Saab was born on 10 September 1962 into a Syrian and Lebanese Druze family.[2][3] Saab began his Law School studies in 1985 in Santa Maria University, but for undisclosed reasons he did not graduate in the regular 5 years (his class was graduated in 1990), but graduated as an attorney in 1992.

Career

After Hugo Chavez took office he was a member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted in 1999 the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. In 2000, he was elected a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly.

During the coup d'état of April 2002, Saab was imprisoned by security forces after a crowd of protesters had gathered around Saab's home, threatening him and his family. He was held incommunicado for several hours.[4]

In October 2002, Saab was head of the foreign policy commission of Venezuela's National Assembly, and was refused an entry visa to the United States. Reuters reported that Saab told local television he had been denied the visa because a U.S. State Department report "identified him as 'an individual linked to international subversion'". According to Venezuela's El Universal, Saab said he been denied the visa because of alleged ties with international terrorist organizations, which he denied any association with.[5] Saab is an outspoken critic of Israel.[2]

Governor of Anzoátegui

Anzoátegui State Governor Election, 2004 Results
Source: CNE data
CandidatesVotes %
Tarek W. Saab18720957%
Antonio Barreto13812042%

Saab was elected Governor of Anzoátegui in the 2004 regional elections, and re-elected in 2008.

In 2005 Saab was accused by critics within his own party (MVR) of participating in electoral fraud in the primary elections for 2005 local elections.[6] His predecessor as governor of Anzoátegui, David de Lima, accused Saab of using his position for political persecution,[7][8] after Saab's wife accused De Lima of mismanagement.[9][10]

Ombudsman

In 2014, Saab was elected to the post of ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo) by the parliament, for a term of seven years, with opposition considering the election unlawful on procedural grounds. During the 2014 Venezuelan protests, Saab was criticized for siding with the government on human rights issues. The Washington Post stated that he "is viewed as an apologist for the unpopular government of President Nicolás Maduro".[11][12]

Prosecutor General

On 5 August 2017 the National Constituent Assembly appointed him Attorney General[1] after former Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega Díaz was removed from office for allegedly being part of the "counterrevolution".[13] This occurred months after Saab stated himself that he had "no gut, no encouragement, no willingness to be Attorney General" and that he wanted to be Prosecutor "not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow".[14]

OHCHR also noted that in August 2017, the Attorney General dismissed several members of the Directorate for the Protection of Fundamental Rights of the Public Prosecutor's Office, whose role is to investigate human rights violations committed by the security forces. The attorney general dismantled the Criminalistic Unit Against the Violation of Fundamental Rights, created in 2014 to collect forensic evidence in cases where members of the security forces were accused of human rights violations; the director of this unit and several of its forensic experts reportedly fled the country after receiving death threats, according to the report. According to a 2018 UN report the Public Prosecutor's Office has lost its capacity to conduct independent forensic examinations in cases of human rights violations committed by members of state security.[15]

On 14 June 2018, the National Constituent Assembly appointed Saab as president of the Truth Commission, considering the appointment of the constituent Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela's Vice-President.[16][17]

On 22 June 2018, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a report entitled Human Rights Violations in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: A Downward Spiral That Seems to Have No End,[15] in which it noted that since William Saab was appointed Attorney General in August 2017, investigations against security personnel for the commission of crimes against humanity had decreased. In the report, the OHCHR noted that the new internal policy within the Public Prosecutor's Office under William Saab was that any investigation related to a security agent had to be personally approved by the attorney general, which had a negative impact on the independence of prosecutors. The report also reads that in some cases, prosecutors were dismissed or removed from cases, as was the case with the prosecutor investigating the death of Rubén González, allegedly killed by a Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) bullet on 10 July 2017, who was removed from the case when she was about to question the GNB officers allegedly involved in the killing.[15]

On 2 February 2023, the National Bolivarian Police of Nueva Esparta state arrested two men implicated in an assassination attempt on several high-ranking officials of the Public Prosecutor's Office, including Saab, whose foiled attempt had been ordered by Jhonatan Marín, a former mayor of Guanta municipality, accused of corruption in Venezuela and convicted of bribery in the United States.[18][19][20][21][22]

In April 2023, Saab said 51 people had been detained in connection with a corruption investigation at the state oil company PDVSA and the metal conglomerate Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana (CVG).[23]

Sanctions

In July 2017, the United States Treasury sanctioned thirteen senior officials of the Venezuelan government, including Saab, associated with the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly elections for their role in undermining democracy and human rights.[24][25] Tarek William Saab has been sanctioned by several countries and is banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a "close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime".[26][27]

In September 2017 Canada sanctioned 40 Venezuelan officials, including Saab, .[28][29] The sanctions were for behaviors that undermined democracy after at least 125 people were killed in the 2017 Venezuelan protests and "in response to the government of Venezuela's deepening descent into dictatorship".[28] Canadians were banned from transactions with the 40 individuals, whose Canadian assets were frozen.[28]

On 18 January 2018, the European Union sanctioned seven Venezuela officials, including Saab, singling them out as being responsible for deteriorating democracy in the country.[30] The sanctioned individuals were prohibited from entering the nations of the European Union, and their assets were frozen.[31]

In March 2018, Panama sanctioned 55 public officials, including Saab,[32] and Switzerland implemented sanctions, freezing the assets of seven ministers and high officials, including Saab, due to human rights violations and deteriorating rule of law and democracy.[33]

On 20 April 2018, the Mexican Senate froze the assets of officials of the Maduro administration, including Saab, and prohibited them from entering Mexico.[34]

Literary work

Tarek began writing poetry at the age of fourteen, when he studied at the Liceo Briceño Méndez in El Tigre, Anzoátegui, publishing poems in the Antorcha newspaper of that city. In the 1980s, his poems reached the pages of Papel Literario de El Nacional.[35] The influence of the American poets of the beat generation such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and the hippie counterculture movement were influential in the beginnings of Tarek William Saab's poetry, as were his readings of the German novelist Herman Hesse.[36]

In 1993 he was selected by a jury to represent Venezuela at the "Foro Literatura y Compromiso" (Literature and Commitment Forum) held in Mollina/Malaga (Spain).[37]

His book "Los Niños del Infortunio" was written after he was invited by Cuban President Fidel Castro, during an interview in Havana in 2005, to visit the Cuban medical mission in Pakistan. It was presented at the Cuban capital's book fair the following year, in the presence of Castro and Hugo Chávez. Chávez dubbed him El Poeta de la Revolución (The Poet of the Revolution).[38]

Books

Saab has written numerous publications, including Los ríos de la Ira (1987), El Hacha de los Santos (1992), Príncipe de Lluvia y Duelo (1992), Al Fatah (México, 1994), Angel Caído Angel (1998), Cielo a Media Asta (2003), Cuando Pasen las Carretas (2003), Poemas selectos (Colombia, 2005), Los niños del infortunio (Cuba, 2006. China, 2007), Memorias de Gulan Rubani (Caracas, 2007), Un paisaje boreal (Valencia, 2008. Caracas, 2009), Hoguera de una adolescencia intemporal (Caracas, 2022).[39]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Venezuela's pro-government assembly fires dissident prosecutor". Reuters. 5 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 Padgett, Tim (2009-01-18). "Latin America Looks for a Fresh Start with Obama". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  3. ↑ "The Post". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  4. ↑ Tarek Saab detained by security forces, state.gov; accessed 8 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Nacional y Política, eluniversal.com; accessed 8 July 2015.
  6. ↑ El Universal, "Chávez' MVR members report electoral fraud", eluniversal.com; 19 April 2005.
  7. ↑ Daily News, eluniversal.com, 10 October 2005.
  8. ↑ Daily News, eluniversal.com. 11 October 2005.
  9. ↑ El Tiempo - El Periódico del Pueblo Oriental, eltiempo.com.ve; accessed 7 July 2015.
  10. ↑ TSJ Regiones - Decisión Archived 2012-02-24 at the Wayback Machine, vargas.tsj.gov.ve, February 2005.
  11. ↑ "Venezuela crisis: Son criticises rights ombudsman father in video". BBC News. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Miroff, Nick (27 April 2017). "A top Venezuelan official's son makes video plea for his dad to 'end the injustice'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  13. ↑ "Diosdado asegura que Fiscal General fue removida por ser un apéndice de la "contrarrevolución"". La Patilla (in European Spanish). 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "El día en que Tarek William Saab dijo que jamás sería fiscal general (Video)". La Patilla (in European Spanish). 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 "Informe de la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos" (PDF). OHCHR. Jun 2018.
  16. ↑ "ANC designa al Presidente de la Comisión para la Verdad, la Justicia, la Paz y la Tranquilidad Pública - Legis". www.legis.com.ve. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  17. ↑ "William Saab fue designado por ANC Presidente de la comisión de la verdad | Infoenlace.net" (in Spanish). 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  18. ↑ "Ex aliado de Chávez condenado a la cárcel en Miami". AP NEWS. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  19. ↑ "Exalcalde chavista Jhonnathan Marín condenado a 27 meses de cárcel en Miami". Voz de América (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  20. ↑ "Detenidos dos hombres por un presunto atentado contra el fiscal de Venezuela". SWI swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  21. ↑ "Detenidos dos hombres por presunto intento de atentado contra el Fiscal Tarek William Saab". Noticiero Venevisión. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  22. ↑ "Dos sujetos investigados por atentado contra el Fiscal General de la República fueron detenidos | Doble Llave" (in Spanish). 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  23. ↑ Armas, Mayela; Buitrago, Deisy (2023-04-05). "Arrests in Venezuela probe of oil company PDVSA climb to 34". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  24. ↑ Lane, Sylvan and Rafael Bernal (26 July 2017). "Treasury sanctions target Venezuela president's allies". The Hill. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  25. ↑ "Treasury Sanctions 13 Current and Former Senior Officials of the Government of Venezuela" (Press release). U.S. Department of the Treasury. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  26. ↑ "Maduro encabeza lista de 200 venezolanos que no pueden entrar al país" [Maduro tops list of 200 Venezuelans who can not enter the country]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). 30 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  27. ↑ "Primera parte de lista de colaboradores de Maduro que no pueden ingresar a Colombia" [First part of list of Maduro collaborators who can not enter Colombia] (in Spanish). RCN Radio. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 "Canada imposes sanctions on key Venezuelan officials". CBC Canada. Thomson Reuters. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  29. ↑ Zilio, Michelle (22 September 2017). "Canada sanctions 40 Venezuelans with links to political, economic crisis". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Also at Punto de Corte and El Nacional
  30. ↑ "Quiénes son los 7 funcionarios de Venezuela sancionados por la Unión Europea y de qué se les acusa". BBC Mundo (in Spanish). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  31. ↑ "EU imposes sanctions on 7 senior Venezuelan officials". Associated Press. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  32. ↑ "Los 55 funcionarios sancionados por Panamá por 'blanqueo de capitales'". El Nacional (in Spanish). 30 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Also at Panama Economic and Finance Ministry Archived 2019-04-05 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ↑ "Swiss impose sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials". Reuters. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Also at Diario Las Americas
  34. ↑ "México rechaza elecciones en Venezuela y sanciona a siete funcionarios". Sumarium group (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2018. Also at VPITV
  35. ↑ Miope, El (2016-06-26). "Tarek William Saab: "Ser poeta me ha hecho una bisagra para el entendimiento"". El Miope (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  36. ↑ Informe25.com, Publicado por. "Tarek William Saab: "La política es dinámica y nosotros nos crecemos en las dificultades"". Retrieved 2023-02-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ↑ "Tarek William Saab, poesía sin músculo | Clímax". elestimulo.com (in Spanish). 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  38. ↑ "Tarek W. Saab. El poeta chavista". El Universal (in Spanish). 2017-08-06. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  39. ↑ Tarek William Saab profile, analitica.com; accessed 7 July 2015.
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