On the Global Day of Action in Solidarity with the People of Venezuela, celebrated on April 19, the World Peace Council (WPC) and the International Solidarity Committee for Peace (COSI-Venezuela) held a webinar with the participation of representatives from world social organizations to strongly reject the multiple aggressions and the criminal blockade imposed by the United States Government against the South American country.
Margaret Flowers, member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. Peace Council, expressed her respect for, admiration and solidarity with the Venezuelan people, and asserted that “Venezuela is a leader in Latin America in the struggle against US imperialism.”
“There are many tactics that the United States and its Western imperialist allies are using, from interference in elections, coup attempts, assassination attempts, to the severe economic war that’s being waged against Venezuela,” Flowers said.
“You are showing all of the world an example of how to stand up with dignity against imperialism,” applauded the U.S. social fighter when talking about the Venezuelan people and Government.
In his statement, the President of the Simón Bolívar Institute for Peace and Solidarity among Peoples (ISB), Carlos Ron, thanked the participants for “this effort of solidarity of the World Peace Council and all its member organizations that, with Venezuela, its Revolution and this historical process that celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2021, are part of a particularly important moment such as the Battle of Carabobo […] which consolidated the Venezuelan independence and made it irreversible.”
Ron recalled that Commander Hugo Chávez used to stress the importance of this bicentenary for the liberation process of the Latin American countries, and urged to celebrate this date “not only as a memory of past glories, but as a platform for a new boost to know where we are and where we’re heading to […] This is an important milestone, not only for the Venezuelan people, but for all humankind.”
The ISB president highlighted that this moment, when it’s been proven that capitalism is incompatible to the human species, is when the world must reunite and define what path popular movements and the planet should take “in the face of this model’s inefficacy to give a response to the people.”
Ron highlighted the Venezuelan people’s resistance against the hybrid war and imperial attacks, and said: “How do we see solidarity with Venezuela? First, we must always oppose military intervention and attacks against the country […] Even though there hasn’t been an invasion, or a conventional military attack against Venezuela, we have seen different expressions of aggression, even military ones.”
Second, Ron pointed out that solidarity needs to be expressed against unilateral coercive measures “because they are illegal, violate international law and have subjected the Venezuelan people to suffering and hardships.” Third, he mentioned the defense of participative, protagonist democracy to respect the people’s will to elect their system of government.
Finally, Ron said that solidarity with Venezuela must focus on defending the country that’s building a new model.
“We are moving towards a communal society, a different project, an alternative to neoliberalism and capitalism […] We want you to defend Venezuelan not only because it’s been attacked by imperialism, but also because it represents a project for the future of humankind,” he stressed.
Likewise, the Secretary General of COSI-Venezuela, Gabriel Aguirre, recognized the actions of the World Peace Council to condemn the aggressions against Venezuela, and thanked the organization’s calls to strengthen solidarity with the South American nation.
“Today, we call on all the progressive, democratic forces defending peace to strengthen their struggle, increase international solidarity and move forward with the construction of a world of greater justice for humankind,” added Aguirre.