Carlos Ayala Corao has an impressive resume. He is an international human rights lawyer, former Vice-Chairman of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, a professor, and a member of the Andean Commission of Jurists. But Mr. Corao also works for Baumeister and Brewer, whose clientele is far from downtrodden. A firm with clients who have been implicated in the briefly-successful 2002 coup.

Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, are demanding that the Chavez government drop its investigation into a possible link between international human rights lawyer Ayala Corao and the coup that briefly deposed Hugo Chavez in 2002.
However, research has unearthed some possible reasons why Mr. Corao is under suspicion:
Mr. Corao is an international human rights lawyer, a former member of the IACHR, and a member of the Andean Commission of Jurists. However, Mr. Corao also works for Baumeister and Brewer, Consultant Lawyers. His name is and a brief biography are displayed here:

 http://www.brewercarias.com/baumeister/english.shtml

"CARLOS MANUEL AYALA CORAO. admitted, 1979. Education: Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (Law Degree); Georgetown University Graduate School, Washington, D.C. (Master in government, 1981). Advisor to the General Prosecutor's Office. President of the Interamerican Commisssion for Human Rights and member (1996-2000). Associated Judge in the First Administrative Court (1987-1988). Member of the Faculty Council at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Director of the Legal Advise Office of the Congress (1989-1991). Professor: Constitutional Law, Universidad Central de Venezuela and Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, 1981-, Administrative Law, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, 1981-, and Graduate Law School, 1988-, Author "Jurisprudencia de Derecho Urbanístico 1947-1987", "El Regimen Presidencial en América Latina y los Planteamientos para su Reforma" (1992) Member: Bar Association of the Federal District & Miranda State. LANGUAGES: English and Spanish. PRACTICE AREAS: Constitutional; Administrative; State and Municipal Law, and Telecommunications Law."



And who does Baumeister and Brewer represent? This information is also available on their site:

"The following are some of the companies and entities we have rendered our services to:

Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG); CVG-Bauxiven; CVG-Interalumina;CVG-Ferrominera del Orinoco; CVG-Aluminios del Caroní S.A. (ALCASA); CVG-Venezolana de Aluminio Venalum; Banco de Venezuela and Sociedad Financiera de Venezuela; Grupo Banco Venezolano de Crédito S.A.C.A.; Grupo Banco Federal C.A.; Cremerca; Banco Capital C.A Constructora Vincler; Otepi; Cementos La Vega; Cementos Caribe; Farmatodo; Corporación Rincón C.A.; Mitsubishi International Corporation (USA); Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan); Mitsubishi Venezolana C.A.; Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA); Lagoven S.A; Pequiven; Corpoven; Sivensa S.A.; Fior de Venezuela S.A.; Sistema Económico Latinoamericano C.A. (SELA); ; Crocoven S.A. (Venezuela); Quantum Chemical Corporation (formerly National Distillers and Chemical Co; United States); Western Union Telegraph Company (United States); D.R. Insurance Company (United States); Dorintal Insurance Company (United States); Scientific Atlanta Corporation Inc. (United States); The Lincoln Electric Company Inc. (United States); American International Underwritters AIU, (United States); New Hampshire Insurance Co. (United States); Cigna Insurance Company of Europe SA-NV (Belgium); International Oil Insurers -IOI-(London); Industrial Risk Insurers -IRI- (United States); Instituto de Seguros del Estado (Chile); Freeman Fox and Partners (United Kingdom); Sedgwick James S.A. (United Kingdom); Cummis Engine Co. (United States); Laing Group (United Kingdom); Graham Miller Group Ltd. (United Kingdom); Harry Winston Inc. (United States), Fondo de Inversiones de Venezuela; Puerto del Litoral Central; Urbanizadora La Lagunita; Vencerámica; Metro de Valencia C.A.; C.A. La Electricidad de Caracas; Alimentos Kraft de Venezuela C.A.; Phillip Morris (USA); Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela CANTV; Línea Aeropostal Venezolana; Pinco Pittsburgh C.A; Vinagrera Venezolana C.A.; Universidad Católica del Táchira; Hotel Tamanaco C.A.; Rothfos Corporation (USA-Germany); Cunningham IAP (United Kingdom); Thomas Howell Group (United Kingdom); PNUD-World Bank (Health Project); Grupo Visión, Banco Noroco, Seguros Noroco; Convida; Norsk Hydro (Norway); Comalco Limited (Australia); Altos Hornos de Mexico AHNSA y Grupo Acerero del Norte (México), Telecomunicaciones IMPSAT S.A., C.A.N.T.V., Telcel Celular C.A., Telecomunicaciones Movilnet, Corporación Digitel, Hicks Muse Tate Furst, Diamond Gas de Venezuela, among others."
...
"The Firm's Trial Experience includes the representation of a great number of local and foreign companies.
....
We have also a broad practice in the corporate area, assisting several Industrial and Commercial Companies, Banks, Insurance Companies and Service Providers in their various needs for legal counseling. In this area, we have a vast experience in carrying on due diligence processes, for both corporate and privatization purposes.
....
Among the privatization processes that we have participated we may mention the following: airlines Viasa and Aeropostal; Banco de Venezuela, Aluminum Industry (CVG- ALCASA-BAUXILUM-CARBONORCA-VENALUM) Steel Industry (CVG Sidor)."

Some of these companies were involved in the Chavez coup and the strikes that followed. PDVSA, for example. Perhaps Mr. Corao is being investigated by Venezuela's judiciary because his law firm does consulting work for companies who plotted the overthrow of the President of Venezuela. This does not mean Mr. Corao himself is guilty of any crime whatsoever. However, it is certainly a valid basis for an investigation.

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