The Associated Press, December 8, 2009 CARACAS, Venezuela A group of college students ended a hunger strike after 17 days following a meeting Tuesday with Organization of American States representatives to air their concerns about human rights in Venezuela. Student leader Julio Rivas said the protest achieved its objective and the three OAS officials visiting from Washington agreed to relay their concerns to OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza.A dozen students started the protest Nov. 21 outside the OAS office in Caracas, aiming to press the body to look into their complaints, including allegations that President Hugo Chavez's government abuses the legal system to persecute opponents."Today we have an official OAS commission that came to receive the complaint of human rights violations, of repression and political persecution," Rivas said.In a statement, Insulza said OAS officials were relieved the students ended the hunger strike, "because that way talks regarding a possible visit from the Inter-American Human Rights Commission can be taken up."Insulza noted such a visit would have to be authorized by Chavez's government and said he hoped the administraiton would allow him to personally visit Venezuela...
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