Sri Lanka, Oct. 14 -- Maria Corina Machado (58), who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, got it for her indefatigable fight for democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. This South American country, like many others in the Global South, has had elected leaders who turned out to be dictators, including the current President, Nicolas Maduro.



Venezuelan leaders from Hugo Chavez onwards were populist men. They won their elections on leftist platforms and also set in motion policies for the benefit of the common man on the pattern of Fidel Castro of Cuba. But at the same time, they were power hungry, intolerant of dissent and brazenly misused State institutions.

They ruined Venezuela, which went from being the wealthiest count...