On 22 April 2018 Venezuelans will go to the polls once again to elect their President.
Incumbent President, Nicolas Maduro, is seeking re-election for a second term. It is essential for the defence Venezuela’s socialist revolution – the continuation of Hugo Chavez’s legacy – that Maduro is re-elected.
The US is determined to ensure that Venezuela’s revolution is overthrown and the coalition around Maduro replaced with the opposition – a range of right wing, violent, neo-liberal forces. The latter political organisations have been funded by the US this past couple of decades to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
Since the election of Donald Trump the US has stepped up its economic offensive against the Venezuela, to encourage disaffection amongst the population. The increasingly harsh sanctions are designed to destabilise Venezuela’s democratically elected government. Sanctions are resulting in major shortages of foodstuffs and medicine.
In his recent tour of Latin America, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson threatened further sanctions to inhibit Venezuela’s capacity to export oil – a measure which could really harm the economy in the run up to April’s Presidential election and beyond. It is an approach reminiscent of the CIA’s economic sabotage of Chile in the lead up to the 1973 coup against Allende, where the goal was to “make the economy scream.” Tillerson also hinted that the US would support a military coup in Venezuela.
These US interventions against Venezuela are an attack on democracy, human rights and self determination.
Progressive people across the world should do all they can to defend Venezuela’s revolution – the Chavistas have advanced the interests of their own population through inspiring social programmes which have improved living standards, and also provided internationalist leadership, consistently showing they are on the side of the majority of humanity.
* Support this forthcoming activity of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
Emergency rally – Keep Trump’s Hands Off Latin America
No to US Sanctions on Venezuela and Nicaragua
6.30pm – 8.00pm Thursday 15 March at Unite the Union in London.
Details available on the facebook event here.