Social movements and unions in Canada have condemned the government's decision of backing the illegitimately self-proclaimed "interim president" Juan Guaido and the U.S.-backed coup attempt against Constitutional President Nicolas Maduro.
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"What is happening in Venezuela is a usurpation of the democratic process (...) It is deeply disturbing that the Canadian government has chosen to support this US-backed coup, which is in direct violation of international law," wrote the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in an official statement released on Thursday.
On the other hand, the Toronto & York Region Labour Council (TYRLC) also expressed its deep concern "by the recent actions of the Government of Canada in escalating" the political situation in Venezuela. "Canada has joined leaders of the United States and Brazil to endorse (...) Juan Guaido after he declared himself interim President of Venezuela."
The social movements and unions agree that the actions of "interference and harassment from the United States and its allies, including Canada," are focused on the appropriation of Venezuelan wealth, mainly its oil. "It is clear that President Trump plans the escalation of interference in oil-rich Venezuela, including the possibility of military intervention," stated the TYRLC.
"Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has publicly stated that the U.S. has a lot at stake in Venezuela’s political crisis, specifically citing the country’s oil and the benefit it could bring to the US," stated the CUPW. "Let us not be fooled. The US support of this coup is about one thing: oil," the statement said.
The CUPW reminded in their statement, that in the past the U.S. government has "intervened and disrupted democratically elected governments in the Americas and elsewhere in the world." However, "the people in Latin America have not forgotten the horrific history of military rule in the region," and therefore, will not accept the return of those regimes and will reject any interventionist efforts made against Venezuela or any other country in the region.
Both statements agreed that the Venezuelan political situation and economic difficulties are "a direct result of economic sanctions levied against Venezuela by the United States, in hopes of triggering a change in government." The Bolivarian government led by President Nicolas Maduro has been fighting to find solutions to the "criminal economic war" waged against the South American country.
On January 23, opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido illegitimately declared himself as "interim president" of Venezuela, and was quickly backed by the U.S. government, the Organization of American States (OAS), and by some other countries, mainly by the members of the so-called Lima Group. For Canadian social movements, it is imperative that these governments "abstain from seeking regime change and intervening in the sovereign affairs of Venezuela." Because "Venezuelans are capable of running their country without interference and harassment from the United States and its allies."