Dear all,
quite recently (16:35 CET) Pepe Escobar posted on facebook (1) that Uruguay and Mexico took the initiative of proposing a non-intervention dialogue conference on Venezuela set for February 7. Vital: The UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres supports it, as well as China, Russia, Bolivia, Cuba and a few Caribbean nations.
This initiative corresponds with the Open Letter by over 70 scholars and experts condemning the US-backed coup attempt in Venezuela (2). The subscribers emphasize:
„… Neither side in Venezuela can simply vanquish the other. The military, for example, has at least 235,000 frontline members, and there are at least 1.6 million in militias. Many of these people will fight, not only on the basis of a belief in national sovereignty that is widely held in Latin America ― in the face of what increasingly appears to be a US-led intervention ― but also to protect themselves from likely repression if the opposition topples the government by force.
In such situations, the only solution is a negotiated settlement, as has happened in the past in Latin American countries when politically polarized societies were unable to resolve their differences through elections. There have been efforts, such as those led by the Vatican in the fall of 2016, that had potential, but they received no support from Washington and its allies who favored regime change. This strategy must change if there is to be any viable solution to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.
For the sake of the Venezuelan people, the region, and for the principle of national sovereignty, these international actors should instead support negotiations between the Venezuelan government and its opponents that will allow the country to finally emerge from its political and economic crisis.“
Coincidentally the „Veterans for Peace“ called to resist the U.S. Coup in Venezuela:
„… Veterans For Peace is outraged at the unfolding coup d’etat in Venezuela, which is clearly being orchestrated by the U.S. government. Two hundred years of blatant U.S. intervention in Latin America must come to an end. Veterans For Peace was founded in 1985, in part prompted by the U.S.-backed “contra” war in Nicaragua, and U.S. support for the rightwing government in the bloody civil war in neighboring El Salvador. We did not want to see another Vietnam War in Central America.
Years of increasingly crippling U.S. sanctions have succeeded in destabilizing the Venezuelan economy and created great unrest, division and migration. The U.S. government encouraged Venezuelan opposition parties to boycott last year’s election. Now they are calling the election fraudulent, and attempting to install a little-known politician more to their liking. This is part of a dangerous game that the U.S. continues to play throughout Latin America.
President Trump’s National Security Advisor John Bolton has called Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba the “Troika of Tyranny,” and boasted that they have now “met their match.” Right-wing Cuban American Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, said to be deeply involved in orchestrating this coup, has implied that U.S. military intervention may be next. Responding to questions about possible military intervention, President Trump says that “all options are on the table.” Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have openly encouraged the Venezuelan military to stage a coup and U.S. officials have even met with potential coup leaders. Right-wing governments in Colombia and Brazil could also possibly be involved in U.S.-coordinated military action against the democratically elected government of Venezuela. (…)“ (3)
Notes
(1)
(2)
(3)
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/our-work/position-statements/veterans-call-resist-us-coup-venezuela
The Veterans-of-Peace Statement and the Open Letter by over 70 scholars and experts are attached (pdf).
Additionally attached an article written by Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers: Venezuela: What Activists Need To Know About The US-Led Coup; Popular Resistance, Jan 27, 2019 – URL: https://popularresistance.org/venezuela-what-activists-need-to-know-about-the-us-led-coup/
Best regards,
Martin Zeis,
Stuttgart, 31.01.2019
e-Mail: martin.zeis@gmxpro.net
Open_Letter-by-70-Scholars-and-Experts-Condemns-US-Backed-Coup-Attempt-in-Venezuela24Feb2019.pdf
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