Monday, April 6, 2020

"Trump, Hands Off Venezuela!" — Communist Parties blast U.S. aggression against Caracas

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government intensifies its imperialist aggression against Venezuela, by extending economic sanctions and charging legally-elected President Nicolas Maduro and other Venezuelan officials with drug trafficking and terrorism.

Numerous Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world have issued statements condemning this criminal and unacceptable policy of the U.S. government.

The post is under constant update


At a time when the whole world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic and the people of the United States are paying with their lives for the tragic shortcomings of the health system and the anti-popular policies of all governments, the Trump administration does not hesitate to escalate imperialist aggression against the people of Venezuela and the legally elected government of Nicolás Maduro.

On March 26, the US government charged Nicolás Maduro and 12 other current and former Venezuelan government officials with drug trafficking and terrorism, claiming that together with the armed organization of FARC in Colombia they were preparing to transfer 15 tons of cocaine in order to hit the US. These are blatantly ridiculous and provocative accusations aimed at creating a pretext for the imperialists to escalate their attack.

The US State Department then released its new plan to overthrow the government of Nicolás Maduro, called the "Democratic Transition Framework".

Under the pretext of the accusations made by the Trump administration,  on April 1 they announced  that a large-scale naval and air operation "against drugs" would begin in the Caribbean Sea. In fact, in the last few hours, there have been reports of large-scale movements by US forces near the territorial waters and airspace of Venezuela.

The KKE unequivocally denounces the escalation of US imperialist aggression against Venezuela. It demands an end to all aggressive actions against the people of Venezuela and its legitimately elected government.

The KKE once again expresses its solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who are solely responsible for the developments in their homeland, and declares that it will stand by their side in all circumstances. It also expresses its solidarity and support for the CP and the CY of Venezuela.

Section of International Relations of the CC of the KKE.

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The Communist Party USA condemns the U.S. government for instituting criminal charges against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other officials of his government. The announcement issued on March 26 by the U.S. Attorney General alleges that they engage in narco-trafficking We equally reject U.S. allegations that Venezuela’s government is guilty of narco-terrorism.

We note the paucity of evidence offered in support of these charges. Once more we denounce U.S. infringement of the independence of a sovereign nation.  We object also to rewards in the millions of dollars offered to anyone capturing these Venezuelan officials or facilitating their capture. Such an inducement amounts to a clear invitation to thuggery and other kind of criminal behavior that are likely to contribution to turmoil in Venezuela.

This highly inappropriate action of the U.S. government serves to highlight its hypocrisy. Colombia, a tight U.S. ally, is the world’s top cocaine producer. Most cocaine produced there moves on to the United States – the lead consuming nation - via Central America. On the way, U.S. protegee Honduras serves as a major transit point. A very small fraction does proceed through Venezuela, we learn. But it does so under the auspices of Colombian paramilitary thugs ensconced there. 

It makes no sense that a U.S. government, if it were truly dedicated to no more drug dealing, would beat up on Venezuela’s government.

The U.S. government announcement of charges against President Maduro and colleagues mentions drug-trafficking collaboration between Venezuela’s government and a dissident faction of the former FARC insurgency in Colombia. Evidence has yet to materialize as to crimes committed by that group that are subject to U.S. law. Nor has the U.S. government made information available as to their numbers and impact.

From a humanitarian point of view, the U.S. government has obligations as regards Venezuela.  It should offer assistance aimed at slowing the spread in that country of the COVID 19 pandemic. It should end economic sanctions that cause suffering and even deaths. 

Lastly, the CPUSA calls for an end to efforts by the U.S. government to destabilize President Maduro’s government. It’s clear that the recently-announced criminal charges have that potential.  Our analysis indicates that the U.S. motivation in actions like this one is the return of Venezuelan oil reserves to the control of the United States and other powers. Were this not so, the U.S government might see the way to do the right thing, which is to allow President Maduro’s government to reach the accommodation it seeks with opposition forces within Venezuela.  

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Last week, Trump’s Administration charged Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro and senior government officials with drug trafficking and conspiring with terrorists, offering cash rewards of up to 55m dollars for information leading to Maduro. After that, the U.S. deployed Navy ships towards Venezuela. This deployment is one of the largest U.S. military operations in the region in the last decade, and now, Trump has presented a plan to overcome Maduro’s presidency called “Democratic Transition Framework”.

The European Union last Friday welcomed this U.S. plan, said the EU’s diplomatic chief Josep Borrell in a statement on behalf of all 27 members of the bloc. However, this goes against Venezuela’s Constitution and the United Nations Charter, representing an external interference on the sovereignty and freedom of Venezuela. The plan is another attempt to divert attention from the ineffective measures towards stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. as President Trump has prioritize the economic interests over any effort to suppress the coronavirus.

The European Union cannot renounce to have its own independent voice from the U.S., and must call for a sanction ceasefire in Venezuela as in a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us. Besides, it would represent a violation of the international humanitarian law - stablished in the Geneva Convention of 1949 and its additional protocols-, as it goes against the right of medical attention in times of pandemics or armed conflicts.

The EU should pay attention and follow the recommendations of Ms. Alena Douhan, the Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of the Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights of the United Nations. In recent declarations, Ms. Douhan expressed that unilateral coercive measures and legislation are contrary to international law, and international humanitarian law, and highlighted that on longterm, these measures may result in social problems and raise humanitarian concerns in the States targeted. She also claimed the deep-rooted problems and grievances within the international system and in order to ensure multilateralism, mutual respect and peaceful settlement of disputes must be respected.

In light of this context, the PCE:

- Expresses solidarity with the Government of Venezuela and its president
Nicolás Maduro.
- Condemns the EU support and attitude towards the U.S. plan to overcome a
legitimate president in Venezuela.
- Calls upon the EU to stand against any kind of unilateral sanctions, and
especially those against Venezuela.

Partido Comunista de España
Secretaría de Relaciones Internacionales
c/Olimpo 35 (28043) Madrid.

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The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent trumped up charges of narco-terrorism on President Nicolas Maduro and other top government officials of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Putting a price on the head of a legitimate president is a very dangerous precedent. It can only be compared to the past overthrowing of governments and assassination of leaders, including military invasions organised, sponsored and carried out by the United States in Latin America, Asia, Africa and elsewhere.

The world is currently calling for the end of blockades and sanctions imposed on some 39 countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, DPRK, Syria and others to help them deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trump Administration has responded with more sanctions and other atrocities such as the accusations against the government of Venezuela.

Venezuela has seen its resources stolen or frozen by the financial system controlled by the United States. Billions of dollars that belong to the Venezuelan people, which could be used to purchase food, medicines and medical equipment, have been blocked.

The people of the world are suffering with the COVID-19 pandemic and it requires international cooperation to be able to eradicate the pandemic.

The sanctions must be lifted and these latest attempts to overthrow the legitimate government of Nicolas Maduro have to cease.

The CPA joins the international community in demanding that the economic sanctions on Venezuela be lifted and that recognition be given of the legitimate government lead by President Nicolas Maduro.

The CPA stands in solidarity with President Nicolas Maduro, his government and the people of Venezuela in these difficult times of the coronavirus pandemic.

Humanity shall overcome!

Communist Party of Australia, CPA.
International Department.

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PCP strongly condemns the Portuguese Government's undignified support, announced yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the Trump Administration's cynical encroachment and destabilizing operation against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This operation, called "Democratic Transition Framework for Venezuela", is a new and tragic act of aggression against Venezuelan people's rights and sovereignty. 

As with the immediate recognition of the puppet Juan Guaidó, this stance by the Socialist Party [PS] Government is all the more serious since the government choses to be on the forefront of this new aggressive escalation of US imperialism, which faced with the frustration of successive upsets is now trying to use the situation created by the COVID-19 outbreak to try to break the Venezuelan people's patriotic resistance and impose its domination. 

What the Government should do, in the name of solidarity and human rights, is advocate for the immediate end to the US and EU's illegal and unilateral sanctions against Venezuela and against other countries, rather than siding with the cynical and ruthless tactics of sanctions, economic and financial blockade that so afflict the people of Venezuela, and which the US refuses to lift.

PCP condemns with particular vehemence this new act of intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, and reiterates that the Portuguese Government respect the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic and not associate Portugal with imperialism's aggressive plans, in an open clash with international law.

PCP reiterates its solidarity with the workers and people of Venezuela, as well as with the Portuguese community living in this country, whose legitimate interests the Portuguese government abandons with its submission to US imperialism's subversive agenda.