Toronto Community Forum Asserts
Firm Support for Venezuela

An Emergency Community Forum was held in Toronto on February 20 to discuss the unfolding events in Venezuela and the need to stand with the Maduro government and Venezuelan people as they courageously face the crisis imposed on their sovereign nation by U.S. imperialism, along with Canada and the Lima Group, which is aimed at instigating war and regime change in Venezuela. Close to 100 people participated in the event organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network with the support of many other organizations.

Raul Burbano, who co-chaired the forum, was part of the Canadian observer team that was present at the May 2018 elections in which the Venezuelans people voted President Nicolás Maduro to a second term. In opening comments, he highlighted the disinformation spread by the Canadian government and media -- including the CBC -- that presents a false picture of the reality of Venezuela in order to justify regime change. Burbano noted that the U.S. imperialists have brazenly pointed out that stealing Venezuela's natural resources would benefit the U.S. economy and resource multinationals. He also informed that President Maduro had, on a principled basis, tried to work with the so-called Venezuelan opposition in last May's elections, including agreeing to have observer teams from the UN and the OAS present. At the last minute, directed by their U.S. sponsors, the opposition boycotted the elections, in an effort to undermine and de-legitimize what was clearly a free and fair election with the broadest participation of the people. Mr. Burbano also emphasized that the attempts by the U.S. and Canada to recognize Juan Guaidó -- who has no popular base in Venezuela and who has clearly stated that he stands for the privatization of state-controlled resources and imposing a neo-liberal regime on the Venezuelan people -- has no basis in the Venezuelan Constitution nor in international law, and is therefore illegitimate.

Cikiah Thomas of the Global Afrikan Congress, focused his comments on the role that the U.S. has played around the world as an imperialist aggressor and warmonger. He noted that U.S. involvement in Africa, as over many decades in Latin America, has been to plunder the natural resources, impoverish the people and undermine any state that aspires to self-determination and independence. He noted that almost every African country today has a military base so that the U.S. can protect its geopolitical interests in the region. In speaking to the positive stand taken recently by CARICOM (Caribbean Community) nations at the UN in support of Venezuela, Mr. Thomas noted that this stand was a direct result of the peoples of the Caribbean nations writing to and calling upon their governments to assist the Venezuelan people in their hour of need. He observed that there is a long-standing tradition among the peoples of the Caribbean to assist one another when help is needed. He noted that the peoples of the Caribbean recalled that in the 2008 world economic crisis, it was President Hugo Chávez who rendered them immeasurable assistance through PetroCaribe and other initiatives. Mr. Thomas also emphasized that the Bolivarian revolution has positively impacted the most marginalized sections of Venezuela society, including the Indigenous and Black populations.

"Hands Off Venezuela!" picket held in Toronto earlier in the day, February 20, 2019.

Runako Gregg of the Caribbean Solidarity Network spoke on the connection of the peoples of the Caribbean with the Venezuelan Bolivarian Project and Canada's criminal role with the illegitimate Lima Group today. He recalled Canada's role in overthrowing the democratically elected government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti (1996-2004) which, while in power took many pro-social measures to assist the Haitian people. This popular government was overthrown in 2004 with Canadian peacekeepers present and since then the U.S. and Canada in tandem have continuously violated the sovereignty of the Haitian people, not only militarily, but also through a slew of NGOs that have worked hand-in-glove with U.S. imperialism and the Canadian state to undermine and oppress the Haitian people. Mr. Gregg stated it is important to stand with the Venezuelan people now, and stop the U.S., Canada and the Lima Group from taking control of Venezuela and imposing a foreign occupation like in Haiti.

Coromoto Jaraba, a TeleSUR reporter, skyped in from Caracas, Venezuela and gave an on-the-ground report of the situation in Venezuela. She emphasized that the brutal economic sanctions imposed on Venezuela have created great harm to the Venezuelan economy and made it difficult for the Maduro government to ensure the basic needs of the people. She called the sanctions an illegal act of war against the Venezuelan people. Ms. Jaraba also spoke about the high democratic standards of the various elections organized by the Venezuelan government which have been certified time and again by international observers as transparent and a true expression of the popular will of the people. She emphasized that Nicolás Maduro is president by choice of the majority of the people of Venezuela, with a greater majority than any leader of the U.S., Canada or the EU can claim.

Following the presentations there was a lively discussion and appeals for people to go all out to mobilize their neighbours and friends to oppose the path of sanctions, interference and intervention in the internal affairs of Venezuela. Everyone was invited to participate in the International Day of Solidarity With Venezuela on Saturday.

This article was published in

Volume 49 Number 6 - February 23, 2019

Article Link:
Toronto Community Forum Asserts Firm Support for Venezuela

    

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