Winnipeg joined other cities across Canada this Sunday, November 23 at 1pm for a solidarity Hands Off Venezuela rally. The action was coordinated with the Canada Wide Peace and Justice Network (CWPJN) and was part of a series of emergency protests taking place taking place across Canada between November 15 and 23.
Since September the US has launched 21 military strikes in the Caribbean, killing at least 83 people. The US government has been striking civilian boats in Venezuelan waters in what amounts to a violation of International law. American war planes have also entered Venezuelan air space.
Community members called on Canada to end its silence and speak out against US violations of International Law. In its public statement, the CWPJN points out that as Venezuela is a United Nations member state, American threats against it are a violation of Article 2 of the UN charter.
CWPJN is alarmed at the expanding presence of US military forces in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. US President Donald Trump claims the US ships are on a mission to fight drug trafficking and tackling “narco-terrorists”.
Pino Arlacchi, former Secretary of the UN Office on Drug and Crimes, said the American goal of these attacks is to seize control of Venezuela oil reserves.
As of November 2, the US had deployed 10,000 troops in the southern Caribbean, along with guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, Black Hawk helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft and nuclear-capable bombers.
Now, the CWPJN is calling on people to support the rights of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean to sovereignty and self-determination. The organization is also condemning Prime Minister Mark Carney for his government’s silence while a sovereign nation is attacked. They point to the fact that Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, has refused to condemn the US attacks on international waters or defend international law.
Last week Venezuela’s Ministry of Defense said 200,000 troops are now in training to prepare for ongoing threats by the U.S. military.
The Hands Off Venezuela rally was organized by Peace Alliance Winnipeg, the Manitoba Cuba Solidarity Network, United in Action, the Communist Party of Canada-Manitoba and Araucaria.
You can read the CWPJN statement here.