Asian socialists: `Stop the threats against Venezuela now!'

Joint statement initiated by Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM), Working People’s Association (PRP), Indonesia, and Socialist Alliance, Australia. See below for latest signatures.

[If your organisation would like to sign this statement, please email int.psm@gmail.com.]

August 1, 2010 – We, the undersigned organisations, view with serious concern the possibility of military aggression towards the people of Venezuela by the Colombian government, which could be supported by the United State of America using its seven military bases recently installed in Colombia.

This matter has arisen from the recent events when the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was accused on July 22, 2010, at the extraordinary session of the Organization of American States in Washington by the Colombian government of promoting, supporting and maintaining a relationship with armed organisations from Colombia, such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN). The accusations were only based on images which have never been substantiated or subjected to verification.

These current moves by the right-wing Colombian government are clearly an attempt backed by the US to justify a pre-emptive attack on Venezuela and its people. There has been a pattern of false allegations against Hugo Chavez’s government in recent years as part of US-backed campaign to dismantle the revolutionary process taking place in Venezuela.

Since the election of President Hugo Chavez in 1998 and the beginning of Bolivarian revolutionary process, Venezuela has posed a great challenge to the US imperialist domination in Latin America as well as capitalist establishment in the region. The revolutionary process – with popular democratic participation in Venezuela carrying the banner of “Socialism in the 21st century” – has been an inspiration to people around the world seeking alternatives to neoliberal capitalist world order.

Considering the historical interference of the United States in internal matters of other countries and regions, such as in Iran and the Korean Peninsula, we are fearful that the US may exploit the current Venezuela-Colombia crisis as an entry point to carry out military aggression against Venezuela as it has done many times elsewhere in the past. The attack on Venezuela has the aim to crush the revolutionary process taking place in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, and to re-enact US imperial doctrine in the region. We are very aware of the potential impact that these negative actions could have on the Venezuelan people and its ongoing revolutionary process and on the international community.

As these apprehensions are very real, we would like to expresses our continuous support to the democratic and peaceful revolutionary process in Venezuela and we would like to extend our solidarity to the people of Venezuela who are striving to build a better world.

We call upon:

• the Colombian government to stop its constant lies, malicious allegations and threats against Venezuela and engage with Venezuela to resolve the crisis with peaceful diplomatic means in order to rebuild its relations with the rest of the region;

• the US government to shut down all its military bases and installations in Latin America as well as other parts of the world;

• all governments with conscience to fully support the Venezuelan government’s insistence on its right to sovereignty and strongly denounce any US-backed military action against the people of Venezuela.

• all people and organisations that support social justice and genuine democracy to support any solidarity action that may needed to defend Venezuela and the revolution in Venezuela against constant military threats.

[If your organisation would like to sign this statement, please email int.psm@gmail.com.]

Signed by:

Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)

Working People’s Association (PRP), Indonesia

Socialist Alliance, Australia

Political Committee of the Poor People's Democratic Party (KPRM-PRD), Indonesia

People's Democratic Party (PRD), Indonesia

Women Mahardhika, Indonesia

Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation

Labour Party Pakistan

National Trade Union Federation, Pakistan

Philippines-Venezuela Solidarity Network

Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Labouring Masses), Philippines

Labor Party (Partido ng Manggagawa), Philippines

Bukluran ng Mangagawang Pilipino**

Transform Asia Institute, Philippines**

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon, Philippines**

Kongreso sa Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lunsod, Philippines**

Bukluran ng Kababaihan para sa Pagbabago, Philippines**

Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, Philippines**

SANLAKAS, Philippines**

International Institute for Research and Education, Manila, Philippines

Katipunan ng Kabataang Kadre (Society of Young Cadres), Philippines

Socialist Worker New Zealand

All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions

Network of Progressive Youth, Burma

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union

Scottish Socialist Party

Revolutionary Communist Group, Britain

Rock Around the Blockade, Britain

[** Organisations that signed statement circulated by the Philippines-Venezuela Solidarity Network based on this document.]