Cuba
Cuban President Diaz-Canel Speech to Russian Duma “Cuba strongly condemns the sanctions that are imposed today unilaterally and unfairly on the Russian Federation. The causes of the current conflict in this area must be found in the aggressive policy of the United States and in the expansion of NATO towards Russia’s borders, which Cuba has systematically denounced in international forums. Cuba, as it has expressed on many occasions, is in favor of a negotiated solution to the current conflict.”
Peoples Dispatch: President Putin Honors Castro’s Legacy on the Anniversary of his Death and the Unveiling of a Statue in his Memory (photos of the statue)The Russian president stressed that the monument is inaugurated in the square that already bears the name of Fidel Castro, whom he referred to as “outstanding statesman and politician, founder of the modern Cuban state.” His whole life was dedicated to “the self-sacrificing struggle for the triumph of the ideas of good, peace and justice, for the freedom of oppressed peoples, for a dignified life for ordinary people and social equality,” Putin recalled. He added that Fidel Castro “is rightly considered one of the most famous and charismatic leaders of the 20th century, a truly legendary personality.”
Coup Operation in Bolivia
Peoples Dispatch: “Bolivians will not allow a new coup d’état to take place” The indefinite strike called by the conservative opposition sectors in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department has been ongoing for almost a month. Their primary demand, regarding the Population and Housing Census, was resolved last weekend, nevertheless, they continue to remain in the streets against the progressive President Luis Arce and the government of the ruling Movement Towards Socialism party. The strike, which began on October 22, has not only affected the livelihood of the residents of Santa Cruz, but has also caused great distress to the population due to the climate of violence and insecurity in the department. The strike has been marked by acts of violence, vandalism, racism and discrimination against those who oppose it.
“The MAS government’s actions have not been enough. A tough president with a hard hand should have enforced the rights of the majority of the citizenry, whose rights were being violated. Citizens’ rights to access health, access education, other fundamental human rights, their rights to physical integrity, to peace were violated. The Ministry of Government has not been up to the task, just as the Bolivian Police. Additionally, the Bolivian Police Command was meeting with Luis Fernando Camacho, while a group close to the governor and the Santa Cruz Civic Committee vandalized the headquarters of the Confederation of Peasant Workers in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The social organizations felt vulnerable and defenseless as the central government should have mobilized the police, should have mobilized the Ministry of Government, the Ministry of Justice to put an end to the violence with the legal resources available.”
Kawsachun News: Bolivia: Far-Right Protesters Attack Ambulances & Health Workers Bolivian guarimbas. Right opposition groups in the city of Santa Cruz are violating international law by attacking health workers and hindering the passage of ambulances. The city’s police have registered more than 20 cases of physical attacks against health workers and ambulances, many of them resulting in patients being unable to reach a medical center. Protesters say they want the national census to be brought forward six months, and their preferred tactic is to block roads and demand payment from anyone who wants to pass through. Those who fail to comply are assaulted by young men armed with sticks and baseball bats.
Venezuela
Steve Ellner review of Extraordinary Threat: The U.S. Empire, the Media, and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela Part 1 of the book’s three parts is titled “Extraordinary Myths (Advanced Versions)” and deals with recent developments involving the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration and its recognition of Juan Guaidó as the nation’s president. The second part consists of five regime change schemes engineered by the opposition with support from Washington, beginning with the April 2002 abortive coup. The authors argue Chávez and Maduro were overly lenient toward major coup plotters, as demonstrated by the “wide ranging amnesty” granted in 2007 to those implicated in the April 2002 coup. Part 3 is titled “Extraordinary Deceit (an Analysis)” and includes chapters on reporting characterized by systematic deceptiveness.The authors are occasionally critical of the Chavista government, but in these cases they contextualize the issues, and in doing so hold Washington responsible for the underlying problems.
TeleSur: Sao Paulo Forum: Latin American and Caribbean Currency Proposed President Maduro raised the need for debate to create an integrated multi-currency system for Latin America and the Caribbean. “There are those who propose the use of a single currency; let’s debate it; it would be extraordinary,” asserted President Maduro, while explaining that Venezuela has experience with a multi-currency system, which has allowed the diversification of the economy of the Venezuelan people. “We have to look inwards, towards our deepest America; there has to be a change in our behavior, in our leaders to hear and understand each other, to agree on the construction of a common economic space.” He also highlighted the favorable scenario that is developing in Latin America. “We are facing a favorable wave for the peoples, for the anti-neoliberal model, for the advanced pro-independence model” while rejecting “the opprobrious systems of persecution, blockades and sanctions that some peoples of the world are experiencing.”
Al Mayadeen: Iran-Venezuela relations developed despite western sanctions Iran and Venezuela have strengthened ties within the framework of the two countries’ 20-year development roadmap, according to the head of Iran and Venezuela’s Joint Economic Commission. “The Islamic Republic of Iran and Venezuela as two independent countries with close and common positions regarding many regional and international issues such as independence, the right to self-determination, multilateralism, and the need to deal with oppressive sanctions, as well as the development and deepening of bilateral cooperation, have the necessary cooperation in all scientific, economic, industrial, agricultural, energy and cultural dimensions.”
Orinoco Tribune: Diosdado Cabello, Vice President of the PSUV, Opens 19th Congress of Latin American and Caribbean Continental Student Organization in Caracas Cabello participated in the opening of the 19th Congress of the Latin American and Caribbean Continental Student Organization. In welcoming the young people, Cabello stated that Venezuela is the homeland of the student and anti-imperialist movements. Cabello welcomed 10,000 young people to the congress, with 1,000 international guests, 1,500 Venezuelans, and 7,500 students who will connect online during the event. “Welcome to your Homeland. Venezuela is the Homeland of student movements, of anti-imperialist movements,” Cabello said.
Nicaragua
FAIR (John Perry): For Corporate Media, Sandinistas’ Electoral Success Proves Their Repressiveness Why, one might ask, would the Post be interested in municipal elections in a small Latin American country, if not to support Washington’s attempts to discredit its government? The reality, that the elections again demonstrate that there is a thriving democracy in Nicaragua, has to be twisted into an argument that they represent a “consolidation of the totalitarian regime of Daniel Ortega.” Given that in the 2021 general election, the Sandinistas won 75% of the vote, Sunday’s result was fully expected. It reflects both the governing party’s success in stabilizing the country after the violent coup attempt in 2018, the enormous program of social investment it is carrying out.
Events and Delegations
Thursdays: WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean with Teri Mattson
November 27: Toronto Rally against the US Blockade of Cuba
November 27: Mass Peace Action: End the U.S. Embargo & Blockade of Cuba
November 30: A Brief History of Chavismo, an Orinoco Tribune Editorial Conversation with Q&A
December 1: Economic Warfare and Sanctions: US Intervention in Venezuela with Oscar Lopez Rivera, Camilla Saab, William Camacaro, others
December 10: Sanctions, A Wrecking Ball on the World Economy
January 28: Latin America Conference, London
Travel to Cuba with Witness for Peace
Travel to Nicaragua with Casa Ben Linder Tours: Women in Nicaragua
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