Sanctions against Venezuela – a critical view

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18.10.2017 | www.kla.tv/11305

The Venezuelan government has been subject to strong criticism by Western politics and media for several years now. In spite of free elections it is accused of having a lack of democracy. But also by parts of South American governments criticism mounts up. The Foreign Ministers of the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay announced on August 5th, 2017 to abrogate Venezuela's membership in the Economic Union of the South (short Mercosur). Venezuela is said to commit political persecution and thus violates the democracy clause of the alliance, according to the Foreign Ministers of Mercosur. Danilo Astori, Uruguay's Minister for Economy and Finance justified the decision that "the political suspension (meaning exclusion)" of Venezuela became inevitable "since with patience we called for dialogue and for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts" which have led to nothing. Astori's statement led partly to severe disagreement in the ranks of "Frente Amplio", the government coalition of Uruguay. It is worth taking a closer look at these counter voices in the face of the unanimous tenor of politics and leading media: The Communist Party of Uruguay for example said: "We do not share at all the adopted position of our government." The resolution only strengthens the deep-rooted mindset of confrontation. Other political parties have also expressed sharp criticism. Even the Uruguayan Union of Students (FEUU) expressed its "total rejection" of the government's position. It would isolate Venezuela and would not contribute to a negotiated solution. The students also accused the USA of funding destabilizing maneuvers in Venezuela with the aim of spreading chaos in order to justify a military intervention in Venezuela. US President Donald Trump's statement on August 11, 2017 shows that this accusation is not absurd: "We have many options for Venezuela, including military action ... if necessary." Obviously the student union has recognized the handwriting of the US-government behind the violent unrest of the opposition. Likewise Uruguay's Federation of Trade Unions PIT-CNT criticized the exclusion of Venezuela. A statement declares that the sanction would not consider and respect the democratic process, which has been developed in more than 20 elections. Also the latest elections of the Constituent Assembly was a part of it and in spite of the boycott of the opposition it attained a high level of participation. To defend the democratic process in Venezuela does not mean to agree with all decisions and actions of President Maduro's government. In conclusion the Federation stresses the necessity of finding ways of dialogue and understanding and calls for appropriate efforts also from the government alliance "Frente Amplio". Likewise noteworthy is the declaration of the ALBA countries, which also differs quite significantly from the tenor of politics and leading media. The ALBA Alliance was founded in 2004 primarily in opposition to the All-American Free Trade Zone, planned by the USA; it unites Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Cuba, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and The Grenadines as well as Suriname. During a meeting in Caracas the Alliance declared that a covert war is being led against the Latin American governments and nations who strive for independence from the USA. "They want to divide us and impose the economic model of neoliberalism on us, in order to control our wealth in the interest of multinational companies." So far the final ALBA declaration . Among other things, Neoliberalism calls for the dismantling of government control over the companies, as well as for privatization of government tasks, which mainly serves the interest of international big business. So the final ALBA statement is a clear rejection of the common US-American and EU economic policy. These ALBA states are complaining that the measures directed against the government of Venezuela do not offer any solutions in favor of the population of this crisis ridden country. In fact they cause further instability and are an "encouragement for the most violent sectors among the Venezuelan opposition". ALBA renews its call for a constructive dialogue directed at improvements for the political and economic stability. These clear counter-voices from Uruguay and the ALBA countries inevitably raise the question as to how far reaching is the infiltration of US-American influence within those governments which are critical of Venezuela and in leading media.

from hm.

Sources/Links: https://amerika21.de/2017/08/182265/streit-mercosur-venezuela
https://amerika21.de/2017/08/182357/lateinamerika-spaltung-venezuela
https://www.srf.ch/news/international/trump-droht-auch-venezuela-mit-militaereinsatz