Against the undermining of academic institutions in Nicaragua and Venezuela

We the undersigned, members of the international scientific community, wish to express our strong concern about the undermining of academic institutions in Nicaragua and Venezuela. Consequently

1.- We categorically reject all violations of human rights, including acts of aggression, against citizens who are exercising their rights of freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. 

2.- We emphasize the need to respect the autonomy of institutions of higher education, as established in the Constitutions of the countries. Universities are a forum for critical thinking, and to achieve their goals in education and research it is essential to foster free debate and dissent without fear of reprisals.

3.- We stand in solidarity with all academic institutions and universities, and specifically the Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua and the Venezuelan Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences. We support their actions to ensure the security of members of the academic communities who are exercising their civil rights as guaranteed by their Constitutions.

Mexico City,  May 30, 2018

 Los firmantes, miembros de la comunidad científica internacional, deseamos expresar nuestra firme preocupación por el debilitamiento de las instituciones académicas en Nicaragua y Venezuela. Por lo tanto

 1. Rechazamos categóricamente todas las violaciones a los derechos humanos, incluyendo actos de agresión, contra ciudadanos que ejercen sus derechos a la libertad de expresión y libre reunión.

2. Enfatizamos la necesidad de respetar la autonomía de las instituciones de educación superior, como está establecido en las Constituciones de esos países. Las universidades son foros para el pensamiento crítico y para alcanzar sus metas en educación e investigación es esencial el fomento del libre debate y disenso sin miedo a represalias.

3. Expresamos nuestra solidaridad con todas las instituciones académicas y universidades, y en especial por la Academia de Ciencias de Nicaragua y la Academia de Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales de Venezuela. Apoyamos sus acciones para garantizar la seguridad de los miembros de las comunidades académicas que están ejerciendo sus derechos civiles en el marco de sus Constituciones.

Ciudad de México, 30 de mayo de 2018

Juan Asenjo, Professor, Past-President (2010-2016), Chilean Academy of Sciences

Claudio Bifano, Professor, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Member of the Venezuelan Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences

Martin Candanedo, Professor, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Member of the Panamanian Association for the Advancement of Science

Michael Clegg, Professor Emeritus University of California, Irvine, Member US National Academy of Sciences

E. William Colglazier, Senior Scholar and Editor-in-Chief, Science & Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Professor Luiz Davidovich, Institute of Physics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Prof. Dr. Enrique Forero, Emeritus Scientist, Member of the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences 

John G. Hildebrand, Ph.D., Regents Professor of Neuroscience,  University of Arizona, Tucson, Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences 

Jorge A Huete-Pérez, PhD, University of Central America, Nicaragua, and Member of the Academy of Sciences of Nicaragua

Professor Pedro León, Member of the Costa Rican Academy of Sciences

Professor Winston Mellowes, Member of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences

Jeremy N. McNeil, C.M., The Helen Battle Professor of Chemical Ecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Member of the Royal Society of Canada

José-Luis Morán-López, President of the Mexican Academy of Sciences

María del Camen Samayoa, Member of the Academy of Medical Physical and Natural Sciences of Guatemala

Professor Gioconda San Blas, Emeritus Researcher, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Member of the Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Venezuela

Juan Tirao, Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Argentina

Roberto J. J. Williams, Fellow of ANCEFN, Argentina

Fabio Zuluaga, Foreign Affairs, Colombian Academy of Sciences

Source of photograph: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkUX20XCYAAQkJ4.jpg