70 International groups send solidarity message To Venezuela

More than 70 political and social organisations from Africa, the Americas and Europe sent a solidarity message Saturday to the Bolivarian government denouncing the “violent actions carried out in Venezuela by the opposition.” (Photo: Connormah/ Wikipedia)

CARACAS— More than 70 political and social organisations from Africa, the Americas and Europe sent a solidarity message Saturday to the Bolivarian government denouncing the “violent actions carried out in Venezuela by the opposition.”

The statement began by describing the signers as “all the political organisations, social groups and people that …militate for the defence of just causes and in favour of progressive movements that fight in the world to defend the sovereignty and independence of the peoples, for the achievement of a world of peace, justice and equality.”

It argued that the opposition violence was part of the plan of the “international right wing, with the complicity of the most powerful governments of the world, with the sole purpose of taking control over Venezuela’s energy resources.”

The message declared that the only violations of fundamental human rights that have been committed in Venezuelan territory in recent weeks have been perpetrated by the violent opposition, including the victims of the violent protests “paid by foreign money” and meant to “create an atmosphere of chaos so the international public opinion believes in the necessity of a foreign intervention.”

The communique also condemned attacks against Venezuelan state officials abroad, as well as against social and political leaders “that support peace and dialogue in Venezuela.”

“We express our deepest support and solidarity with the revolutionary people of Venezuela, with its legitimate government and with President Nicolas Maduro, and we are alert and ready to carry out denunciations and solidarity at the international level in defence of the sister Republic of Venezuela and her revolution,” the statement concluded.

Although 17 opposition parties have agreed to discuss the terms of a serious national dialogue with the government, some groups have refused to cooperate with the negotiations and attempt to portray the deaths that have occurred as examples of state repression and evidence of the “dictatorship” that they are aiming to topple, while continuing to urge their supporters to maintain protests that have led to deaths, violence and vandalism.

Maduro confirmed earlier this month that presidential elections would be held as scheduled by the constitution in 2018, while the country’s National Electoral Board has scheduled regional elections for Dec. 10, 2017.