The
Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Cuba condemns the escalation of
pressures and actions by the U.S. government in preparation for a military
adventure under the guise of a “humanitarian intervention” in the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, and calls on the international community to mobilize in
order to prevent its consummation.
Between
February 6 and 10 of 2019, several military transport aircraft have flown to
the Rafael Miranda Airport in Puerto Rico, the San Isidro Air Base in the
Dominican Republic, and other strategically located Caribbean Islands, most
certainly without the knowledge of the governments of those nations. These
flights took off from U.S. military facilities where Special Operation Troops
and U.S. Marine Corps units operate. These units have been used for covert
operations, even against leaders of other countries.
Media and
political circles – including within the U.S. – have revealed that extremist
figures of the government with a long history of actions and slander aimed at
causing or instigating wars, such as John Bolton, U.S. National Security
Advisor; and Mauricio Claver-Carone, Director of the National Security
Council’s Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, counting on the connivance of
Marco Rubio, Senator of the anti-Cuban mafia in Florida, designed, directly and
thoroughly organized, and funded, from their posts in Washington, the attempted
coup d’etat in Venezuela by means of the illegal self-proclamation of a
President.
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Auckland letter for a “Hands Off Venezuela” day of action March 16th
After the
resistance mounted by the Bolivarian and Chavista people against the coup,
evidenced by the mass demonstrations in support of President Maduro, and the
loyalty of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces, the U.S. government has
intensified its international political and media campaign, and strengthened
unilateral economic coercive measures against Venezuela, among them the
freezing of Venezuelan funds in third countries banks, worth billions of
dollars, and the theft of the this sister nation’s oil revenue, causing serious
humanitarian damage and harsh deprivation to its people.
In addition
to this cruel and unjustifiable plunder, the U.S. intends to fabricate a
humanitarian pretext in order to launch a military attack on Venezuela and, by
resorting to intimidation, pressure, and force, is seeking to introduce into
this sovereign nation’s territory alleged humanitarian aid – which is one
thousand times inferior as compared to the economic damages provoked by the
siege imposed by Washington.
The usurper
and self-proclaimed “President” shamelessly announced his disposition to call
for a U.S. military intervention under the pretext of receiving the
aforementioned humanitarian aid, and has described the sovereign and honorable
rejection of that maneuver as a crime against humanity.
High-ranking
U.S. officials have been arrogantly and blatantly reminding us all, day after
day, that when it comes to Venezuela, “all options are on the table, including
military action.”
In the
process of fabricating pretexts, the U.S .government has resorted to deception
and slanders, presenting a draft resolution at the UN Security Council which,
cynically and hypocritically expresses deep concern for the human rights and
humanitarian situation…, the recent attempts to block the delivery of
humanitarian aid, the millions of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, the
excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, the breakdown of regional
peace and security in Venezuela, and calls for taking the necessary steps.
It is
obvious that the United States is paving the way to forcibly establish a
humanitarian corridor under international supervision, invoke the obligation to
protect civilians and take all necessary steps.
It is worth
recalling that similar behaviors and pretexts were used to by the U.S. during
the prelude to wars it launched against Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Libya, which
resulted in tremendous human losses and caused enormous suffering.
It is
impossible to forget the sad and painful history of U.S. military interventions
perpetrated more than once in Mexico, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Haiti,
Cuba, Honduras, and most recently Grenada and Panama.
As was
warned by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz on July 14, 2017, “The aggression and
coup violence against Venezuela harm all of Our America and only benefit the
interests of those set on dividing us in order to exercise their control over
our peoples, unconcerned about causing conflicts of incalculable consequences
in this region, like those we are seeing in different parts of the world.”
History will
severely judge a new imperialist military intervention in the region and the
complicity of those who might irresponsibly support it.
What is at
stake today in Venezuela is the sovereignty and dignity of Latin America and
the Caribbean and the peoples of the South. Equally at stake is the survival of
the rule of International Law and the UN Charter. What is being defined today
is whether the legitimacy of a government emanates from the express and sovereign
will of its people, or from the recognition of foreign powers.
The
Revolutionary Government calls for an international mobilization in defense of
peace in Venezuela and the region, based on the principles established in the
Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, which was
adopted by heads of state and government of CELAC in 2014.
It likewise
welcomes and supports the Montevideo Mechanism, an initiative promoted by
Mexico, Uruguay, the Caribbean Commonwealth (CARICOM), and Bolivia, which seeks
to preserve peace in Venezuela based on the principles of non-interference in
the internal affairs of states, legal equality of states, and the peaceful
resolution of conflicts, as stated in its recent declaration.
It welcomes
the positive consideration given to this initiative by President Maduro Moros
and the international community, and expresses its concern given the U.S.
government’s categorical rejection of the dialogue initiatives promoted by
several countries, including this one.
The
Revolutionary Government reiterates its firm and unwavering solidarity with
Constitutional President Nicolás Maduro Moros, the Bolivarian Chavista
Revolution and the civic and military unity of its people, and calls upon all
peoples and governments of the world to defend peace and mount a joint
opposition, over and above political or ideological differences, to a new
imperialist military intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean, which
will damage the independence, sovereignty and interests of all peoples from the
Rio Bravo to Patagonia.
Havana,
February 12, 2019.