Upholding Venezuela's Sovereignty and the International
Rule of Law Is a Matter of Principle
 
Left: security agents outside Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC, May
16, 2019; Right: agents illegally enter the embassy on the morning of
May 16, 2019.
On the morning of May 16, U.S. Secret Service and
Department of State special security agents broke down a door to gain
entry to the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. They arrested the
four members of a group of activists calling themselves the Embassy
Protection Collective who had remained inside the building after
electricity and water were cut off and the delivery of food and
medicine was blocked as U.S. authorities imposed a siege against them.
The last diplomatic staff vacated the building on April 24 as a result
of Venezuela and the U.S. breaking off diplomatic relations. In an
attempt to protect the embassy from being taken over illegally by coup
forces, the activists had been living and working in the building since
April 10 with the express permission and as guests of its rightful
owner, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. In spite
of this they were removed by force and charged with trespassing, and
the embassy has now been handed over to a representative of the
imposter Juan Guaidó who has illegitimately proclaimed himself
the "interim president" of Venezuela and leader of a phantom parallel
government which the U.S. says it recognizes.
Activists were assaulted by police in front of the Venezuelan embassy
in the days leading up
to the May 16 raid.
In anticipation of the course of action the U.S.
government
eventually pursued, the activists issued a statement on May 13
explaining the dangerous precedent it would set and how they
intended to respond to it.
Urgent Message to U.S. State Department --
Embassy
Protection Collective, May 13, 2019
This is the 34th day of our living in the Venezuelan
embassy
in Washington, DC. We are prepared to stay another 34 days, or
however long is needed to resolve the embassy dispute in a
peaceful way consistent with international law.
 This memo is being sent to
the U.S. and Venezuela as well as
members of our Collective and allies. We are encouraging people
to publish this memo as a transparent process is needed to
prevent the U.S. from making a unilateral decision that could
impact the security of embassies around the world and lead to
military conflict.
There are two ways to resolve the issues around the
Venezuelan
embassy in DC, which we will explain.
Before doing so, we reiterate that our collective is one
of
independent people and organizations not affiliated with any
government. While we are all U.S. citizens, we are not agents of
the United States. While we are here with permission of the
Venezuelan government, we are not their agents or
representatives.
We are here in the embassy lawfully. We are breaking no
laws.
We did not unlawfully enter and we are not trespassing.
1. Exiting with a Protecting Power Agreement
The exit from the embassy that best resolves issues to
the
benefit of the United States and Venezuela is a mutual Protecting
Power Agreement. The United States wants a Protecting Power for
its embassy in Caracas. Venezuela wants a Protecting Power for
its embassy in DC. Such agreements are not uncommon when
diplomatic relations are severed.
A Protecting Power Agreement would avoid a military
conflict
that could lead to war. A war in Venezuela would be catastrophic
for Venezuela, the United States, and for the region. It would
lead to lives lost and mass migration from the chaos and conflict
of war. It would cost the United States trillions of dollars and
become a quagmire involving allied countries around the
world.
We are serving as interim protectors in the hope that
the two
nations can negotiate this resolution. If this occurs we will
take the banners off the building, pack our materials, and leave
voluntarily. The electricity could be turned on and we will drive
out.
We suggest a video walk-through with embassy officials
to show
that the Embassy Protection Collective did not damage the
building. The only damage to the building has been inflicted by
coup supporters in the course of their unprosecuted
break-ins.
2. The United States violates the Vienna
Convention, makes
an illegal eviction and unlawful arrests
This approach will violate international law and is
fraught
with risks. The United States would have to cut the chains in the
front door put up by embassy staff and violate the embassy. We
have put up barriers there and at other entrances to protect us
from constant break-ins and threats from the trespassers whom the
police are permitting outside the embassy. The police's failure
to protect the embassy and the U.S. citizens inside has forced us
to take these actions.
The Embassy Protectors will not barricade ourselves, or
hide
in the embassy in the event of an unlawful entry by police. We
will gather together and peacefully assert our rights to remain
in the building and uphold international law.
Any order to vacate based on a request by coup
conspirators
that lack governing authority will not be a lawful order. The
coup has failed multiple times in Venezuela. The elected
government is recognized by the Venezuelan courts under
Venezuelan law and by the United Nations under international law.
An order by the U.S.-appointed coup plotters would not be
legal.
Such an entry would put embassies around the world and
in the
United States at risk. We are concerned about U.S. embassies and
personnel around the world if the Vienna Convention is violated
at this embassy. It would set a dangerous precedent that would
likely be used against U.S. embassies.
If an illegal eviction and unlawful arrests are made, we
will
hold all decision-makers in the chain of command and all officers
who enforce unlawful orders accountable.
If there is a notice that we are trespassing and need to
vacate the premises, please provide it to our attorney Mara
Verhayden-Hilliard, copied on this memo.
We have taken care of this embassy and request a video
tour of
the building before any arrests.
We hope a wise and calm solution to this issue can be
achieved
so escalation of this conflict can [be] avoided.
There is no need for the United States and Venezuela to
be
enemies. Resolving this embassy dispute diplomatically should
lead to negotiations over other issues between the nations.
Demonstration in Washington, DC on May 18, 2019.
This article was published in
Volume 49 Number
18 - May 18, 2019
Article Link:
Upholding
Venezuela's Sovereignty and the International Rule of Law Is a Matter
of Principle
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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