Thai gov. to tax (remitted) income from abroad for tax residents starting 2024 - Part II

[rooster59]

Venezuela frees U.S. missionary Josh Holt after two years

By Jonathan Landay and Angus Berwick

 

FILE PHOTO: Joshua Holt, a U.S. citizen and Mormon missionary, is pictured in this still image taken from a selfie video which he posted on Facebook during a riot at the Helicoide detention center in Caracas, Venezuela, obtained by Reuters May 16, 2018. MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY FACEBOOK JOSHUA HOLT/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON/CARACAS (Reuters) - American missionary Josh Holt, held by Venezuela without trial on weapons charges since 2016, was heading home with his wife on Saturday after the South American country's socialist government unexpectedly released him.

 

They were being accompanied by U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, who met on Friday with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Corker's office said.

 

The freeing of the Mormon missionary from Utah came despite deepening U.S.-Venezuelan tensions that in the last week saw tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, Washington's refusal to recognise the May 20 re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and the imposition of new U.S. sanctions on Caracas.

 

Speaking at a news conference in Caracas, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said Holt and his wife, Thamy, were freed as part of efforts by Maduro's government to maintain "respectful diplomatic relations" with Washington.

 

"This type of gesture ... allows us to consolidate what has always been our standpoint: dialogue, agreement, respect for our independence, respect for our sovereignty," Rodriguez said.

 

Holt and his wife had been charged with espionage, violence and spreading activities against Venezuela's constitutional order, he said.

 

They were expected to arrive in Washington on Saturday evening and join Holt's family at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter.

 

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch said in a statement after Trump's tweet that Holt's release followed two years of intense lobbying, working with two presidential administrations, countless diplomatic contacts around the world, and Maduro himself.

 

"I could not be more honoured to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family," Hatch said.

 

A source familiar with the issue who asked to remain anonymous said there was no quid pro quo or agreement to ease U.S. sanctions tied to Holt's release, and that Trump was not involved in the final negotiations.

 

FAMILY HAILS 'MIRACLE'

 

In a statement on Facebook, Holt's family gave thanks "to all who participated in this miracle," but asked to be allowed to meet him and his wife before giving any further statements or interviews.

 

Matt Whitlock, a spokesman for Hatch, said the Utah Republican called Maduro last week after hearing of riots by inmates at the intelligence agency headquarters where Holt was held. In a Facebook post during the uprising, Holt had pleaded for freedom and said people were trying to break into his cell to kill him.

 

"Josh had posted videos and pled for help so Senator Hatch made one final plea directly to President Maduro that set wheels in motion," Whitlock wrote in an email to Reuters. "Chairman Corker went down mid-week to close the deal, and his staff have been instrumental in moving the ball forward."

 

Venezuelan authorities arrested Holt in June 2016 while he was in Venezuela for his wedding, and he was held without trial at the headquarters of intelligence agency Sebin, a Caracas complex known as the Helicoide.

 

His family says Holt was framed on the weapons charges and the United States accused Caracas of using him as a bargaining chip in sanctions talks.

 

In televised comments earlier this month, the No. 2 official in Venezuela's ruling Socialist Party, Diosdado Cabello, described Holt as "the head of U.S. espionage in Latin America" and said that he would remain behind bars.

 

The United States accuses Maduro's government of stifling democracy, repressing the opposition and massive corruption. Maduro says Washington is conspiring to topple him and seize the OPEC member's large oil reserves.

 

He blames a U.S. "economic war" for Venezuela's fiscal woes, including hyper-inflation and food and medicine shortages that have triggered mass emigration.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-27

[Credo]

Since it is highly unlikely that she has a spousal visa and I doubt she intends to return to Venezuela, then I presume she will be arrested on the spot when she lands and put in custody like the ones crossing from Mexico.

 

[geriatrickid]

13 hours ago, Credo said:

Since it is highly unlikely that she has a spousal visa and I doubt she intends to return to Venezuela, then I presume she will be arrested on the spot when she lands and put in custody like the ones crossing from Mexico.

 

You presume incorrectly. Thamy Holt and her daughter could have been allowed entry into the USA under the commonly used United States Refugee Admission Program. I believe that the process started  two years ago and was completed one year ago with her space allocated under the 110,000 refugee quota of 2017. If the  spousal visa proceeded because of the two year period in which they were married ,than the  application could easily be transferred. The efforts to gain the release of the morbidly obese Mr. Holt commenced during the  previous Obama administration.

 

As much as you would like to impose your bias, legitimate refugees still gain entry into the USA. Do not confuse  economic migrants with those who are genuine refugees.  There is no doubt that  Thamy and her daughter would have been persecuted had they remained in Caracas. The fact of the matter is that the woman and her child were genuine refugees and  the family has qualified sponsors if need be and will not present an economic burden to the USA. They will integrate very easily. Few immigrants to the USA have millions of active supporters as these people did because the full Mormon Church was an active sponsor. The Mormons are very community orientated and when there is someone in need they respond in a unified and cohesive singularity.

 

[Credo]

1 hour ago, geriatrickid said:

You presume incorrectly. Thamy Holt and her daughter could have been allowed entry into the USA under the commonly used United States Refugee Admission Program. I believe that the process started  two years ago and was completed one year ago with her space allocated under the 110,000 refugee quota of 2017. If the  spousal visa proceeded because of the two year period in which they were married ,than the  application could easily be transferred. The efforts to gain the release of the morbidly obese Mr. Holt commenced during the  previous Obama administration.

 

As much as you would like to impose your bias, legitimate refugees still gain entry into the USA. Do not confuse  economic migrants with those who are genuine refugees.  There is no doubt that  Thamy and her daughter would have been persecuted had they remained in Caracas. The fact of the matter is that the woman and her child were genuine refugees and  the family has qualified sponsors if need be and will not present an economic burden to the USA. They will integrate very easily. Few immigrants to the USA have millions of active supporters as these people did because the full Mormon Church was an active sponsor. The Mormons are very community orientated and when there is someone in need they respond in a unified and cohesive singularity.

 

My remarks are facetious, they are not biased.   If you can enter the US as an immigrant, then that is how you are to enter.   Refugee status, and those allotted slots are reserved for those who can't enter as an immigrant.  I wonder if the same courtesy would be extended to anyone who couldn't be used for political means?

[gk10002000]

Missionaries should get zero consideration.  They travel to places uninvited with the intent to convert people.  Place an ad in a newspaper, open a web sight, or whatever, but I find it abhorrent when people presume that their faith or religion or beliefs are what other people should conform to.

[geriatrickid]

7 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Missionaries should get zero consideration.  They travel to places uninvited with the intent to convert people.  Place an ad in a newspaper, open a web sight, or whatever, but I find it abhorrent when people presume that their faith or religion or beliefs are what other people should conform to.

Mr. Holt was invited. He could not gain a visa to enter without the invitation.In order to enter the country, a missionary must obtain a specific "missionary visa". The applicant is vetted and must be approved for entry. Mr. Holt didn't just show up and say, Surprise, surprise, surprise, I am here in my magical underpants ready to preach the hokum of my church.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, geriatrickid said:

The efforts to gain the release of the morbidly obese Mr. Holt commenced during the  previous Obama administration.

Why so judgemental? I saw him when he was thanking Trump for his release, and he did not seem exceptionally large.

Even if he is obese, that seems to be the norm in the US where even some police officers are too fat to run.