Overview
- The manifesto responds to a Delta Force incursion in Caracas last Saturday that resulted in the capture and forced transfer of President Nicolás Maduro.
- It argues the operation violated Article 2.4 of the UN Charter because neither self-defense nor Security Council authorization applied.
- The signatories say the use of force could amount to the crime of aggression under UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 and international criminal law principles.
- They maintain that detaining a sitting head of state by foreign troops is incompatible with customary head-of-state immunity.
- Notable signatories include Baltasar Garzón, Victoria Rosell, Javier Pérez Royo, Xulio Ferreiro and Juan Pedro Yllanes, who call on UN organs and states to clarify facts, assess legal consequences and adopt protective measures.