Venezuela
Ultima Noticias: Two and a half million people have mobilized in support of the President In recent weeks, more than two million people have mobilized in favor of the Maduro administration. “From August 07 to 13, there were 43 mobilizations in which more than 102 people participated,” he said. “There is a mobilized and conscious people. Make no mistake!” highlighted the president. Maduro denounced the “invisibility” of the marches by the media.
Orinoco Tribune: Despite Adversities, Majority of Venezuelans Support Chavismo Oscar Schémel, Hinterlaces’ president, stated that more Venezuelans are currently supporting Chavismo than the opposition. “Even with the serious economic hardships that affect the quality of life of Venezuelans, today there are more people supporting Chavismo than the opposition. It is not true that Chavismo is defeated or exhausted.” Hinterlaces reported 33% of Venezuelans define themselves as Chavistas and 13% declare themselves as opposition supporters.
Ultima Noticias: Venezuelan President Receives Credentials of New Ambassadors President Maduro received the letters accrediting the designated ambassadors of Chile, Colombia and now France, a further breakthrough in the struggle against the blockade. The diplomats ratified the willingness of their governments to work together with Venezuela to continue promoting bilateral relations and cooperation.
Ultima Noticias: US, Main Threat to Peace in Latam – Venezuelan Defense Minister He pointed out that, so far this year, Washington has deployed 11 military exercises in the region through the Southern Command and denounced that the increase in military activity implies the intention of keeping Latin America subordinated to its interests.
TeleSur: President Maduro demands the return of CITGO He demanded the return of the company Citgo, a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), after denouncing that it was stolen by the US government. “The United States is not a safe country to make investments, to make purchases of companies, to have economic activity. The United States gave Citgo to the extremist right-wing opposition and, simply, they are stealing a company that is worth more than $12 billion and that belongs to Venezuelans,” he stressed.
SanctionsTribunal.org: Preliminary Statement and Findings of the Venezuela Fact-Finding Mission Laura Franco, Coordinator of Exchange and Cooperation at the Simon Bolivar Institute told us “this is not a neoliberal economy, it is a war economy.” We see the most recent incitement towards “regime change” with the announcement of a $15 million reward for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This bounty recalls those issued for the heads of state of Iraq and Libya shortly before their violent removal and assassination and the destruction and looting of these states. We have witnessed the resilience and creativity of the communes, building independent economic capacity and development based on collective production.
Political Prisoner Alex Saab
AFGJ: U.S. delays Alex Saab’s trial until June 2024 The defense team of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab appealed on December 28, 2022 the ruling the previous week, which denied him the status of a diplomat. On March 15, 2023, it presented forceful arguments for the appeal. However, the Court of Appeals waited three months —until June 13, 2023— to acknowledge those arguments. The US government keeps delaying the case, with it is expected that the hearing on the appeal will be held by June 2024, assuming that the Department of Justice does not request a new extension of the deadlines.
Cuba
Tom Whitney: Cuba’s Worsening Food Crisis Means US Blockade Must End Now, Not Later Cubans individually had consumed only 438 grams of animal protein per month in 2022, and in May 2023, only 347 grams; recommendations call for ingestion of 5000 grams monthly. Not enough chickens were raised; poultry meat and eggs were scarce. Yields of corn, soy, sorghum and other crops are reduced and animal feed is mostly unavailable. Pork production is down, milk is unavailable to adults, and fewer cattle are being raised. Pasturage is poor, due to drought and no fertilizer. The output of state-controlled food producers is low. Cattle-stealing has reached new heights, 44,318 head so far this year. Now at a watershed moment in Cuba, a new direction is necessary, one all about persuading, organizing, and unifying left-leaning political groups and anti-war, anti-empire activists of all stripes. Leadership is needed.
Nicaragua
Rick Sterling: Book Review of Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance Dan Kovalik has written a book which reviews the history of intervention and resistance up to the present day. He includes his own experiences from several decades visiting Nicaragua. Kovalik addresses the criticisms of Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas which are sometimes heard in the West. There are many references and interesting quotations from North Americans and Europeans who live in Nicaragua. The book also includes many references to movies, songs and poetry. Anyone interested in Latin American history or US foreign policy should add this book to their reading list.
TeleSur: Nicaragua Denounces US Exploitation of Latin American Resources Commander of the Nicaraguan Army, Julio César Avilés Castillo said the US “intends to exploit the natural resources of Latin America and the Caribbean, to the detriment of the development of our peoples, for which reason this region constitutes one more geostrategic front, that it does not intend to leave out of its control.” US policy towards the region “is aimed at maintaining its hegemony and control and the implementation of its national security strategy to counteract what it calls the growing presence of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in this important region of the world.”
Events
Thursdays: WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean with Teri Mattson (or watch here or here)
September 5: Nicaragua: Truth Versus Lies Organized by the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group. John Perry; Abigail Espinoza Muñoz, active FSLN member, former councillor in Masaya; Roger McKenzie, International Editor, Morning Star.
Delegations/Tours
Sept 8-17, Sept 29-Oct 8, December 1-10, Dec 8-17: Witness for Peace delegations to Cuba
November 20-29: Bolivia, Food Sovereignty, Popular Democracy & Indigenous Resistance
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