Opposition groups in Venezuela have been waging an economic war similar to that perpetrated against former Chilean president Salvador Allende. Hoarding, smuggling and currency speculation have caused shortages of food and basic necessities and hardship, particularly for poorer people.
Nicol谩s Maduro
Venezuela has been rocked in recent weeks by almost daily protests and counter-protests, as right-wing opponents of socialist President Nicolas Maduro seek to bring down his government.
While the media portrays these events as a popular rebellion against an authoritarian government, supporters of the pro-poor Bolivarian revolution initiated by former president Hugo Chavez say the country is witnessing an escalation in what is an ongoing counter-revolutionary campaign seeking to restore Venezuela鈥檚 traditional elites in power and reverse the gains made by the poor majority under Chavez and Maduro.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez and other ministers from the region kicked off a聽聽of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), on May 2 in San Salvador to discuss recent violence in the South American country.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro officially called for a national Constituent Assembly to be convened during a May Day march in Caracas on May 1. The call is a bid to bring an end to the political crisis between the national government and the opposition-held parliament.
Speaking to the hundreds of thousands of government supporters who took to the streets for International Workers鈥 Day, Maduro said he would invoke article 347 of the constitution to trigger the assembly, which will be responsible for re-drafting the 1999 Constitution.聽
Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters gathered to commemorate International Workers Day on May 1, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced he would call a constituent assembly, effectively remaking the country's constitution.
"Today, on May 1, I announce that I will use my presidential privileges as constitutional head of state in accordance with article 347, to convene the original constituent power so that the working class and the people can call a national constituent assembly," President Maduro said.
Women took to the streeks of Caracas on April 27, demanding an end to violent opposition protests, that day. The rally was supported by dozens of women鈥檚 groups from across the country, after being called by the Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Blanca Eekhout.
鈥淪isters, let's go together to fill the streets with love in the defence of life,鈥 Eekhout said ahead of the march. She added, 鈥淲e will overcome!鈥
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez announced that the country will begin the process of exiting the Organization of American States (OAS).
The announcement came after the organisation's Permanent Council agreed on April 26 to convene a meeting of foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Venezuela, with 19 votes in favour, 10 against, one abstention and one absence.
Venezuela is in flames. Or at least parts of it are.
Since April 4, right-wing opposition militants have carried targeted acts of violence, vandalism and arson. They are deliberately clashing with security forces in a bid to plunge the country into chaos and forcefully remove the elected socialist government.
It is the continuation of an 18 year effort to topple the Bolivarian revolution by any means necessary 鈥 although you may have seen it miraculously recast in the mainstream media as 鈥減romoting a return to democracy.
Four years ago this month, a former bus driver with humble working-class origins became the president of Venezuela.聽
Promising to continue the revolutionary legacy of deceased former president Hugo Chavez, Nicolas Maduro pledged to advance the living standards of Venezuela鈥檚 poor and oppressed.聽
But since taking office in 2013, Maduro and the Bolivarian Revolution his government leads have faced non-stop attacks from Venezuela鈥檚 US-backed right-wing opposition, making advancements difficult.
Tens聽of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of the capital on April 19 in huge pro-government rallies marking the country鈥檚 independence day.聽
Thousands of right-wing opposition also took to the streets in often violent protests. The day after the large pro- and anti-government marches, more right-wing violence broke out. The government accused opposition protesters of attacking public institutions, including a maternity hospital, on April 20. Ten people were also confirmed dead after a riot in Caracas.
As Venezuela and its elected left-wing government faces a series of violent right-wing protests, attacks from the right across the region and threats from the United states, a range of left-wing and solidarity groups in the Asia-Pacific region released the statement below on April 19.
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In defence of the Bolivarian process against right-wing counterrevolution: No to foreign intervention in Venezuela!
After hours of debate, the Organization of American States (OAS) extraordinary session on March 28 came to a close with member-states failing to reach a consensus over Venezuela鈥檚 suspension.
Despite OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro鈥檚 insistent attempts to push for Venezuela鈥檚 expulsion, the 35 member-states expressed mixed opinions regarding the application of the regional body鈥檚 Democratic Charter against the South American country. Needing a two-thirds majority to invoke the charter, the session ended without a vote.聽
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