President Nicolas Maduro greets
supporters outside the Miraflores Palace
for a pro-government rally in Caracas, Venezuela. People on both
sides of
Venezuela's political divide again took to the streets this
weekend.
Venezuela Calls U.S. and Canada More Repressive (Pagina 12, Argentina)
"The Venezuela government blamed violence in the streets on
the United States. ... Venezuela Ambassador to the OAS Roy Chaderton
repudiated the interventionist acts of the U.S.against
Venezuela. ... In response to accusations by the U.S. and Canada about the repression
of student protesters, Chaderton said foreign agents had
infiltrated and participated in demonstrations. ... He recalled that in 2012, Canada's
government ordered the repression of student protests in Quebec, which resulted
in a large number of wounded, and that also in 2012, during New York demonstrations
against Wall Street, more than 700 students were arrested. He also pointed to
images of recent police repression of students in Oakland, California, when a
large amount of pepper spray was used against demonstrators."
Retired Venezuelan Army General Angel Vivas, at his home in Caracas, Venezuela, Feb. 23. President Nicolas Maduro has ordered his arrest for statements on YouTube and Twitter. Maduro said Vivas is instigating violence.
According to the
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, Obama’s declarations are based on "misinformation
and unsubstantiated assertions." Caracas deplores the situation in which "a
free and sovereign Latin American and Caribbean nation is being continuously
attacked."
The
government of Venezuela rejected yesterday U.S. President Barack Obama’s assertions
about the situation in the country, saying that they represent a new
interference in the domestic affairs of Venezuela. The statement issued by the Venezuela
Foreign Ministry asserts that Obama’s assertions are built on "misinformation
and unsubstantiated assertions" and deplores that "continuous
assaults are being launched against a free and sovereign Latin American and
Caribbean nation, the politics of which are a result of the
democratically-expressed will of its people."
The
statement also accuses the United States of financing, encouraging and defending
"opposition leaders who promote violence," and declares that the
Venezuelan government will continue "taking all necessary measures to prevent
U.S. agents from sowing violence and destabilizing the country."
From
Mexico, Obama
had condemned the violence in Venezuela and asked the government of NicolásMaduro to listen to the "legitimate
grievances" of its people, instead of distracting the world’s attention by
expelling U.S. diplomats under false pretenses. The president urged his
Venezuelan counterpart to release protesters arrested during opposition rallies
and engage in real dialog.
"Rather
than trying to distract from its own failings by making up false accusations
against diplomats from the United States, the government ought to focus on
addressing the legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan people," Obama said
in Toluca, during a meeting with North American leaders.
The
Venezuela government blamed violence in the streets on the United States, and on
Sunday announced the expulsion of U.S. diplomats Breenan
Marie McCusker, Jeffrey Gordon Elsen
and Kristofer Lee Clark from the country. Meanwhile, Maduro said that the United States has made "unacceptable"
demands on him to engage in dialog with the opposition and halt legal action
against opposition leader LeopoldoLópez.
For
his part, Venezuelan Ambassador to the Organization of American States Roy Chaderton, repudiated the interventionist acts of the
United States against the sovereignty of Venezuela.
"The
fact that I'm not paranoid doesn't mean no one is stalking me," he said, recalling
that in recent decades, the U.S. economy has been based on the predominance of the war
industry.
"Venezuela
is undergoing a democratic revolution and we are paying a high price for it -
and will continue to do so. Our people already know social justice, based on law
and the arms of the Bolivarian Armed Forces. They are inspired by the democratic
and participatory values that are the legacy of Hugo Chávez."
In
response to accusations by Canada and the United States about the repression of
student protesters, Chaderton said that foreign
agents had infiltrated and participated in demonstrations, and that even Molotov
cocktails were used against police, public institutions and services. He recalled
that in 2012, Canada's government ordered the repression of student
protests in Quebec, which resulted in a large number of wounded, and that also
in 2012, during demonstrations against Wall Street in New York, more
than 700 students were arrested.
He
also pointed to images of recent police repression of students in Oakland,
California, when a large
amount of pepper spray was used against demonstrators. The ambassador
regretted that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights failed to take a position
on these incidents. Chaderton asserted the
sovereignty of the Venezuelan government, which, only ten months ago, was democratically
elected by the people until 2019 - a government that has also won 21 out of 24
governorships and received 56 percent of vote in municipal elections held just
eight weeks ago.
A pro-government demonstrator shows his colors during a march in
Caracas, Feb. 22.
In
fact, the Venezuelan government complained to the Community of Latin American
and Caribbean States (CELAC) about U.S. interference in
its domestic affairs, and the meddling of the media of that country in the
Venezuela situation. Even before the protests and tense political situation of
the past two weeks, Venezuela Foreign Minister ElíasJaua denounced U.S. interference in the domestic affairs of
his country to ambassadors of CELAC member states
[Jan. 28-29]. Chancellor Jaua said that the goal of
the unrest is a coup against President Maduro. Jaua accused U.S. officials at various levels of promoting
violent groups and giving them financial support through "front
organizations."
Posted By Worldmeets.US
"The
government is facing a planned action to generate violence and destabilize our
country," Jaua added.
Yesterday,
Minister of Interior and Justice Miguel Rodríguez Torres denounced a plan designed several
years ago, according to which former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and former U.S. ambassador to Caracas Otto Reich sought to sow
chaos in Venezuela in order to justify intervention.
"The
plan was already being rolled out; they undermined months of dialog and went into
the streets to set the country on fire. Otto Reich was giving political
instructions," he warned. "But there is no way out of crisis through murder."
