Crisis in Venezuela: The World Reacts

As the forces backing President Nicolas Maduro and National Assembly member and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido continue to marshal their respective forces in their struggle to establish control of what can only be described as a divided Venezuela, and as the United States seems bent on coercing its allies in Canada and the right-wing nations of Latin America to support a policy of regime change in that country, the international community has increasingly voiced its opinion on the crisis.  The extreme right seems to be represented by the Lima Group of Latin American nations, including the latest ally of US President Donald Trump in Brazil, in calling for the outright overthrow of what they term an “illegitimate” Maduro-led government, with support from the United States, Canada and a few European states.  The left is largely represented by many academics who have signed open letters to the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS), such as Noam Chomsky, former leftist heads of state such as Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, a variety of Socialist governments (Russia, China) and several grassroots, revolutionary and Socialist organizations.  The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seem to be in the middle, with OAS leaning toward backing Guaido and CARICOM, though divided itself between Guaido and Maduro, generally insisting in unison on a peaceful resolution to the crisis that listens to the people of Venezuela, respects the nation’s sovereignty and avoids bloodshed.  Here, we will discuss some of the international community’s response, so far, to the Venezuela crisis.

The United States Shows Its Face

On January 22, US Vice President Mike Pence officially announced the US’s support for the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the ascension of National Assembly member Juan Guaido to the Presidency. The New York Times announced Pence’s statement in an article by Edward Wong and Ana Vanessa Herrero, “US VP Pence Officially Backs Guaido’s Effort to Oust Maduro”, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/world/americas/venezuela-usa-nicolas-maduro.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer:

“Nicolás Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power,” Mr. Pence said. “He’s never won the presidency in a free and fair election, and he’s maintained his grip on power by imprisoning anyone who dares to oppose him.”

Mr. Maduro fired back hours later, saying that he had ordered “a total and absolute revision” of Venezuela’s relationship with the United States. Speaking on state television, he asked: “Who elects the president of Venezuela? Mike Pence?”

A week later, Trump announced sanctions against Venezuela’s oil, as reported in a January 29 article by Karen DeYoung, Steven Mufson and Anthony Faiola for The Washington Post, “Trump administration announces sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil industry”, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/trump-administration-announces-sanctions-targeting-venezuelas-oil-industry/2019/01/28/4f4470c2-233a-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html?utm_term=.9f88b59ea61d:

The Trump administration on Monday escalated its efforts to force Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, blocking all U.S. revenue to Venezuela’s national oil company and calling on members of its armed forces to switch their allegiance to the man the United States now recognizes as Venezuela’s head of state.

Any attempt to harm remaining U.S. diplomats in Venezuela, or violence against the newly recognized president, Juan Guaidó, “will be met with a significant response,” White House national security adviser John Bolton said. …

The measures announced Monday place sanctions on ­PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company, freezing $7 billion in U.S.-based assets and blocking more than $11 billion in revenue that would otherwise flow from oil sales over the next year, Bolton said.

Virtually all of those assets belong to Citgo, the U.S.-based PDVSA subsidiary that owns three refineries in the United States and a nationwide network of pipeline and gas stations, and employs thousands in this country.

International Reaction to the Venezuela Crisis

The German international broadcast Web site Deutsche Welle (https://www.dw.com/en/venezuela-crisis-how-the-world-sees-it/a-47205881) compiled a listing of countries that supported Guaido (the US, the right-leaning Lima , the Organization of American States and Canada), those that stopped short of backing Maduro’s ouster but appeared to back Guaido (Great Britain, France and the European Council) as well as those that continue to recognize Maduro (Cuba, Bolivia, Mexico, Russia, Turkey and China).

Russia’s condemnation of US sanctions and its decision to back Maduro was discussed in The Washington Post‘s January 29, 2019 article “Russia slams U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and promises to back Maduro” by Anton Troianovski (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-slams-us-sanctions-on-venezuela-and-vows-to-back-maduro/2019/01/29/71eb5fe4-23be-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.46b0afcc35c0).

The Organization of American States (OAS), while having already established its pro-Guaido position, released a Resolution back on June 5, 2018 (prior to Guaido’s rise to popularity and declaration of himself as president) which called for the Venezuelan government to allow humanitarian aid and to commit itself to “representative democracy”, as stated in detail on their Web site http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=S-032/18:

Resolution on the Situation in Venezuela
June 5, 2018
(Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 5, 2018)

CONSIDERING that the Charter of the Organization of American States recognizes that representative democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace, and development of the region and that one of the purposes of the OAS is to promote and consolidate representative democracy;

REAFFIRMING the right of the peoples of the Americas to democracy and the obligation of their governments to promote and defend it;

BEARING IN MIND that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; access to and the exercise of power in accordance with the rule of law; the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret balloting and universal suffrage as an expression of the sovereignty of the people, the pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, and the separation of powers and independence of the branches of government are, among other things, essential elements of representative democracy;

TAKING NOTE of the report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights “Democratic Institutions, the Rule of Law and Human Rights in Venezuela,” published on February 12, 2018, which reflects the political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in that country;

RECALLING that, through its resolution CP/RES. 1095 (2145/18) of February 23, 2018, the Permanent Council requested the Government of Venezuela to reconsider the convening of presidential elections and to implement the measures necessary to prevent the worsening of the humanitarian situation, including accepting the assistance offered by the international community;

CONSIDERING that the aggravation of the political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis that has caused a deterioration in the standard of living in that country is generating an increasing emigration of Venezuelan citizens and is having impacts on the capacity of some countries of the Hemisphere to meet their different needs, including those pertaining to security, as evidenced at the meeting of the Permanent Council held on April 30, 2018;

RECALLING that resolution CP/RES. 1078 (2108/17) of April 3, 2017, declared that an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional order of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela had occurred;

UNDERSCORING that diplomatic initiatives offered by the Permanent Council and undertaken by several member states have either been rebuffed by the Venezuelan Government, or failed until now,

RESOLVES:

1. To declare that the electoral process as implemented in Venezuela, which concluded on May 20, 2018, lacks legitimacy, for not complying with international standards, for not having met the participation of all Venezuelan political actors, and for being carried out without the necessary guarantees for a free, fair, transparent and democratic process.

2. To reaffirm that only through a national dialogue with the participation of all Venezuelan political actors and stakeholders can national reconciliation be achieved and the necessary conditions agreed upon for holding a new electoral process that truly reflects the will of the Venezuelan citizens and peacefully resolves the current crisis in that country.

3. To reiterate that an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional order of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has occurred, as stated in resolution CP/RES. 1078 (2108/17) of April 3, 2017.

4. To urge the Government of Venezuela to take steps to guarantee the separation and independence of the constitutional branches of power and restore the full authority of the National Assembly, the rule of law, and the guarantees and liberties of the population.

5. To urge the Government of Venezuela to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and to implement epidemiological surveillance measures in its country to prevent the aggravation of the humanitarian and public health crisis, particularly against the reappearance of diseases such as measles, malaria, and diphtheria

6. To invite the member states to implement measures to address the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela, including supplying medicines, as well as considering contributions to the competent international organizations to strengthen the institutional capacities of the recipient countries.

7. To instruct the Permanent Council to identify, in coordination with the relevant inter-American and international institutions, the appropriate measures to support the member states that are receiving an increasing number of Venezuelan migrants and refugees.

8. To call upon the member and permanent observer states to implement, in accordance with their respective legal frameworks and applicable international law, the measures deemed appropriate at the political, economic, and financial levels to assist in the restoration of democratic order in Venezuela.

9. To remain seized of the situation in Venezuela in order to support diplomatic actions and additional measures that facilitate the restoration of democratic institutions and social peace, and that promote full respect for human rights and full adherence to the rule of law, within the constitutional framework of Venezuela and in a manner consistent with its international obligations and commitments.

10. To apply, in strict accordance with the letter and spirit of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the mechanisms for the preservation and defense of representative democracy provided under its Articles 20 and 21.

1)The delegations of Antigua and Barbuda and Bolivia stated that they will submit footnotes.

http://scm.oas.org/ag/documentos/Documentos/AG07680E06.doc
Reference: S-032/18

On January 29, the OAS, through its Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, also urged the Venezuelan government to ensure the protection of Guaido and his family, stating that it believes that “his life, personal integrity and personal freedom are at ‘urgent and grave risk.’ It is asking that Venezuelan authorities adopt the measures necessary to protect the president of the National Assembly, who declared himself interim president of the country” (https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/The-Latest-India-closely-following-crisis-in-13560640.php). The site also shares several developments in the crisis, including Russia’s offer to mediate, Maduro’s stated willingness to discuss the dispute in his country, critics of Guaido calling his true intentions into question, and UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet calling for independent investigations into violence linked to protests in Venezuela and the holding of “immediate talks to defuse the increasingly incendiary atmosphere.”

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), divided as to its initial support of the OAS position on Venezuela, met with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to seek the establishment of a “roadmap to peace” on January 29. CARICOM also released a statement on the crisis (https://newsday.co.tt/2019/01/25/full-caricom-statement-on-venezuelas-political-crisis/) on January 25.

Full CARICOM statement on Venezuela’s political crisis
The following is the full statement issued tonight on the outcome of the meeting.

STATEMENT BY THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF CARICOM ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SITUATION IN THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA

The following Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago; Foreign Ministers of Grenada and Suriname; meeting by video-conference on 24 January 2019, issued the following statement.

“Heads of Government are following closely the current unsatisfactory situation in Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, a neighbouring Caribbean country. They expressed grave concern about the plight of the people of Venezuela and the increasing volatility of the situation brought about by recent developments which could lead to further violence, confrontation, breakdown of law and order and greater suffering for the people of the country.

Heads of Government reaffirmed their guiding principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of states, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for human rights and democracy.

Heads of Government reiterated that the long-standing political crisis, which has been exacerbated by recent events, can only be resolved peacefully through meaningful dialogue and diplomacy.

In this regard, Heads of Government offered their good offices to facilitate dialogue among all parties to resolve the deepening crisis.

Reaffirming their commitment to the tenets of Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter which calls for Members States to refrain from the threat or the use of force and Article 21 of the Charter of the Organization of American States which refers to territorial inviolability, the Heads of Government emphasized the importance of the Caribbean remaining a Zone of Peace.

Heads of Government called on external forces to refrain from doing anything to destabilize the situation and underscored the need to step back from the brink and called on all actors, internal and external, to avoid actions which would escalate an already explosive situation to the detriment of the people of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and which could have far-reaching negative consequences for the wider region.

Heads of Government agreed that the Chairman of Conference, Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis would seek an urgent meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General to request the U.N’s assistance in resolving the issue.”

Friday, 25 January 2019: Carla Bridglal

An article on Telesur English (https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/500-Public-Figures-Sign-Letter-Supporting-Peace-in-Venezuela-20190207-0002.html) tells about a letter signed by 500 public figures from 27 Latin American and European countries, including former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, that was sent to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Uraguayan President Tabare Vasquez, both of whom were scheduled to attend the first meeting of the International Contact Group on Venezuela in Montivideo, Uraguay on February 7. For more on that letter, check the link above.

Other organizations which perhaps have not received the acknowledgement of the international diplomatic community and whose statements are thus often ignored by the “mainstream media” also made statements, from a letter by an organization called the Jamaica Peace Council (https://jamaicapeacecouncil.wordpress.com/2019/01/29/letter-get-out-of-venezuelas-internal-affairs/) to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel, which released this statement on January 25:

The Communist Party of Israel (CPI) strongly condemns the blatant intervention of US imperialism and its allies in the internal affairs of Venezuela aiming to remove the elected President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro.

It is clear that the United States is seeking to take advantage of Venezuela’s economic problems, which were essentially also caused by its embargo policy, to roll back into the age of right wing and fascist puppet regimes. As in the past, Latin America, which the USA regards as its backyard, is to be turned into a haven of reaction and fascism in the service of US corporations. The immediate recognition of the self-proclaimed “interim president” by the USA and other right wing governments is contrary to any international law and proves the directing of this coup attempt by the imperialists.

The plan of regime changes in Venezuela is going for a long time. The present US move to recognize the opposition leader Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez as interim President and to call upon other Latin American countries to follow USA is a new pattern of regime change which will jeopardize the peace and stability in the entire Latin America and particularly can pushing Venezuela into a civil war.

The imperialist design of creating dual powers in Venezuela will deepen the social divide and undermine the authority of the State thereby endangering its sovereignty. Moreover, the US military intervention is looming large over Venezuela. However, the Armed forces in Venezuela expressed their resolve to meet any such challenge.

The Communist Party of Israel hopes that with the popular support of Venezuelan people, President Maduro will be able to defeat all imperialist machinations. The CPI urges upon the governments of Israel and other Middle East countries not to support any effort of Trump administration to destabilize the elected governments in Latin America especially in Venezuela against the will of the people.

The Communist Party of Pakistan also expressed its concern:

Communist Party of Pakistan is profoundly concerned about the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The recent rogue attempts to oust the legitimate President Nicolas Maduro from power is against all the international norms.

President Nicolas Maduro is elected through an election, testified by, a contingent of international observers. to be fair and free.

The consistent covert and overt attempts of the Trump administration to destabilize the democratically elected government of Venezuela and illegitimately endorsing the presidency of self proclaimed undemocratic [Juan] Guaido is an act of cowardice and unprecedented breach of the diplomatic norms, as well as a clear violation of UN charter.

Communist party of Pakistan strongly condemns this wicked behavior of the imperialist United States of America.

It is highly encouraging that the brave people of Venezuela, the Army and Judiciary stand by the democratically elected government.

Communist Party of Pakistan solutes the struggle and resolute standing of the people of Venezuela. We are confident that the people of Venezuela be victorious through its unity and the shenanigan forces of imperialism and capitalist barbarism will be defeated for all times to come.

In profound solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

Politbureau
CP Pakistan 🇵🇰

The Activist Left Responds

The Web site Breaking News reported that former United Nations rapporteur Alfred de Zayas stated that the actions of the US amounted to “economic warfare” against Venezuela in the article “Former UN Rapporteur Denounces US ‘Economic Warfare’ against Venezuela”, https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/former-un-rapporteur-us-sanctions-against-venezuela-causing-economic-and-humanitarian-crisis-900603.html:

A former United Nations rapporteur has criticised the US for engaging in “economic warfare” against Venezuela which he claimed was the real reason for the economic and humanitarian crisis facing the country.

Alfred de Zayas, who last year became the first UN rapporteur to visit Venezuela for 21 years, also suggested in his recently published UN report, that US sanctions on the country are illegal and could amount to “crimes against humanity” under international law.

Mr de Zayas, an American lawyer, writer, historian and former secretary of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), presented his Venezuela report to the HRC in September.

In the report, Mr De Zayas recommended, among other actions, that the International Criminal Court investigate economic sanctions against Venezuela as possible crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute. …

Speaking to The Independent yesterday Mr de Zayas also suggested his research into the causes of the country’s economic crisis has so far largely been ignored.

“When I come and I say the emigration is partly attributable to the economic war waged against Venezuela and is partly attributable to the sanctions, people don’t like to hear that. They just want the simple narrative that socialism failed and it failed the Venezuelan people,” Mr de Zayas told The Independent.

Mr de Zayas went on to suggest that sanctions are part of a US effort to overthrow the Venezuelan government and install a friendlier regime.

“I’ve seen that happen in the Human Rights Council, how the United States twists arms and convinces countries to vote the way they want them to vote, or there will be economic consequences, and these things are not reflected in the press,” he told The Independent.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world and other abundant natural resources including gold, bauxite and coltan.

“If you crush this government and you bring in a neoliberal government that is going to privatise everything and is going to sell out, a lot of transitional corporations stand to gain enormous profits and the United States is driven by the transnational corporations,” the former UN special rapporteur told The Independent. …

In his report, Mr de Zayas expressed concern that those calling the situation a “humanitarian crisis” are being “weaponised” to discredit the government and make violent overthrow more “palatable”. …

“Only the Venezuelans have a right to decide, not the United States, not the United Kingdom … What is urgent is to help the Venezuelan people through international solidarity – genuine humanitarian aid and a lifting of the financial blockade so that Venezuela can buy and sell like any other country in the world – the problems can be solved with good faith and common sense.”

Mr de Zayas is one of 70 signatories of an open letter, along with Noam Chomsky and over 70 other academics and experts, who have condemned what they described as a US-backed coup attempt against the Venezuelan government.

Open Letter to the US: Stop Interfering in Venezuela’s Internal Politics

The Web site Common Dreams (https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/24/open-letter-united-states-stop-interfering-venezuelas-internal-politics) posted an open letter to the United States urging it to “stop interfering in Venezuela’s internal politics, a letter which was signed by 70 activists, journalists and academics, including Mr. de Zayas and professor Norm Chomsky. We include the letter in its entirety below, and the full list of signatories can be reviewed on the Common Dreams Web site.

Thursday, January 24, 2019 by Common Dreams

An Open Letter to the United States: Stop Interfering in Venezuela’s Internal Politics
If the Trump administration and its allies continue to pursue their reckless course in Venezuela, the most likely result will be bloodshed, chaos, and instability.

by Noam Chomsky, Laura Carlsen, Miguel Tinker Salas, Greg Grandin

The following open letter—signed by 70 scholars on Latin America, political science, and history as well as filmmakers, civil society leaders, and other experts—was issued on Thursday, January 24, 2019 in opposition to ongoing intervention by the United States in Venezuela.

The United States government must cease interfering in Venezuela’s internal politics, especially for the purpose of overthrowing the country’s government. Actions by the Trump administration and its allies in the hemisphere are almost certain to make the situation in Venezuela worse, leading to unnecessary human suffering, violence, and instability.

Venezuela’s political polarization is not new; the country has long been divided along racial and socioeconomic lines. But the polarization has deepened in recent years. This is partly due to US support for an opposition strategy aimed at removing the government of Nicolás Maduro through extra-electoral means. While the opposition has been divided on this strategy, US support has backed hardline opposition sectors in their goal of ousting the Maduro government through often violent protests, a military coup d’etat, or other avenues that sidestep the ballot box.

“Actions by the Trump administration and its allies in the hemisphere are almost certain to make the situation in Venezuela worse, leading to unnecessary human suffering, violence, and instability.”

Under the Trump administration, aggressive rhetoric against the Venezuelan government has ratcheted up to a more extreme and threatening level, with Trump administration officials talking of “military action” and condemning Venezuela, along with Cuba and Nicaragua, as part of a “troika of tyranny.” Problems resulting from Venezuelan government policy have been worsened by US economic sanctions, illegal under the Organization of American States and the United Nations ― as well as US law and other international treaties and conventions. These sanctions have cut off the means by which the Venezuelan government could escape from its economic recession, while causing a dramatic falloff in oil production and worsening the economic crisis, and causing many people to die because they can’t get access to life-saving medicines. Meanwhile, the US and other governments continue to blame the Venezuelan government ― solely ― for the economic damage, even that caused by the US sanctions.

Now the US and its allies, including OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro and Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, have pushed Venezuela to the precipice. By recognizing National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the new president of Venezuela ― something illegal under the OAS Charter ― the Trump administration has sharply accelerated Venezuela’s political crisis in the hopes of dividing the Venezuelan military and further polarizing the populace, forcing them to choose sides. The obvious, and sometimes stated goal, is to force Maduro out via a coup d’etat.

The reality is that despite hyperinflation, shortages, and a deep depression, Venezuela remains a politically polarized country. The US and its allies must cease encouraging violence by pushing for violent, extralegal regime change. If the Trump administration and its allies continue to pursue their reckless course in Venezuela, the most likely result will be bloodshed, chaos, and instability. The US should have learned something from its regime change ventures in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and its long, violent history of sponsoring regime change in Latin America.

“The US should have learned something from its regime change ventures in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and its long, violent history of sponsoring regime change in Latin America.”

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.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License

Related posts will share information from Justice Initiative on the crisis in Venezuela, including a commentary by Greg Palast on the influence of White Supremacy as a driver of the efforts to unseat Maduro and destabilize Venezuela, and an Open Letter written by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to the people of the United States. Look for these posts in the next few days.