The U.S. State
Department, the oligarchy and the Venezuelan right, together with the
regional and European right have not let up in their attempt to destroy
the enormous achievements accomplished by the Bolivarian Revolution of
Venezuela and the Government of Nicolas Maduro.
The
main objective that drives them, constantly and permanently, is to put
into practice various methods of war in order to take control of the
vast natural resources of the country, especially oil. Since Chavez, all
those resources have been put in the hands and stewardship of the
Venezuelan people.
It
is the first time in two hundred years of history that this has
happened, thanks to the emancipatory and anti-imperialist efforts of
Commander Hugo Chávez - a direction continued by the Government of
Maduro. The oil income is now at the disposal of huge projects aimed at
benefiting those who were always forgotten and humiliated; the people,
workers, farmers, blacks and native people.
Also
for the first time in the history of Venezuela, illiteracy has been
eradicated; more than 1,500,000 affordable homes have been built,
education, culture and sports now reaches every corner and mountain top
of the country and is no longer just a privilege to be enjoyed by the
rich. Women have recaptured their dignity and today they occupy
important positions at all levels of the life of the country, including
the armed forces. Social missions have been multiplied to give a roof,
work and land to those who never had anything.
The
generosity of Chavez did not forget a single Latin American. His work
and vision changed the map of Latin America and the Caribbean. Along
with the resistant and blockaded Cuban Revolution, the solidarity of
Fidel and Chavez carried out the largest and most beautiful feats of the
century. It was not just Venezuela and Cuba, but all poor people of the
Americas. In just a few years, through Operación Milagro and the
literacy program Yo Si Puedo, millions of poor Latin American and
Caribbean were able to see, read and write.
Regional
bodies of integration such as Mercosur strengthened, progressive
governments in the region and were supported so they could put an end to
the historical dependence on the IMF and the World Bank. It was a clear
and loud message of NO MORE that was sent to the FTAA and in that ALBA,
UNASUR and the Bank of the South were born. Huge efforts were made to
start the dialogue of peace between the Colombian Government and the
FARC, which, after five years of talks, ended 50 years of war in that
country. For the first time in history a regional body without the
presence of imperialism was created in January of 2014 in Havana when
CELAC was born declaring Latin America and the Caribbean a "Zone of
Peace".
All
of this was accomplished in less than two decades when there was not
really a moment of true peace. Imperialism just could not stand what was
happening.
So
they plotted and invented a humanitarian crisis, by urging the
Venezuelan right and the oligarchy to hide and destroy food and medicine
while the imperialists themselves prevented shipments of these vital
items. They gave cover to the cowardly terrorist imperialist right who
have systematically refused to engage in dialogue while failing to
organize even one "peaceful demonstration" that even remotely matched
the size that the legitimate government of Maduro has been able to bring
together.
Instead
they have resorted to the most inhumane extreme tactics by funding,
providing and sponsoring mercenaries that kill in the most horrendous
ways any young man who looks like they could be a supporter of Chavez.
Many times the color of their skin is enough to be set on fire.
It
has been one hundred days of declared war during which an
unconstitutional referendum and a so-called parallel government of the
"opposition" took place. They have even begun to organize and appointing
a future government with absolutely no constitutional basis.
The
Trump administration has threatened Venezuela with severe sanctions if
it does not desist from conducting the upcoming Constituent Assembly.
Meanwhile the lap dog of the empire, Luis Almagro, who heads the
Organization of American States (OAS) has demanded a "humanitarian"
intervention by the United States. One with the same humanity of those
interventions into Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria that has left
millions dead and still counting. The sniveling right wing governments
of the region and Europe are pathetically joining the choir.
Imperialism,
along with its servants and allies are pulling out all the stops to
prevent the realization of the Constitutional Assembly taking place on July 30
which is the largest and most significantly representative exercise any
nation could conduct. Basically Maduro is putting his trust in the
people by empowering them to defeat the fascist coup. No wonder the
imperialist are so hell bent on stopping it.
The
Empire and the retrograde right fear the Constituent Assembly because
it will be the most genuine expression of people power. To support it is
not only to defend the sovereign right of the Bolivarian people to
decide their own fate in peace. It is also to preserve ours.
We
make a call to all our friends in the solidarity movement, to the
committees all over the world that for a long time have supported the
Cuban Revolution and other people's struggle, the honest men and women,
to be permanently alert and mobilized to denounce the imperial right
that will attempt to impede the vote to the Constituent Assembly.
This week, on July 28, will mark the 63rd birthday of Hugo Chavez and July 26 will be the 64th
anniversary of Fidel's assault on the Moncada Barracks; the best way we
can pay tribute to these two heroes of our time is to renew our
commitment to the Cuban and Bolivarian Revolutions and their right to
exercise their sovereign right to life, peace and dignity.
#Constituent Assembly Yes!!
#Interference No!!
#Venezuela Has to Be Respected!!
#The Constituent Assembly Goes!!
International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity
July 24, 2017
