Statement by the Communist Party of Ireland
10 August 2019
The Communist Party of Ireland once again expresses its solidarity with the people of Venezuela and condemns the latest round of sanctions imposed by the United States and the tightening of its illegal blockade.
The United States has sought to control all of the Americas since the Monroe doctrine was declared in 1823. It has tried to prevent any country embarking on its own chosen path or asserting its independence and sovereignty. Since the election of Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has been subjected to attack, organised by the remnants of the old subservient regime under the direction of the United States.
The Trump regime has intensified the pressure on Venezuela. Refusing to recognise the elected president, Nicolás Maduro, it claims the right to impose its own nominee. Along with its European allies and Latin American client states, it recognises the usurper Juan Guaidó as president.
Guaidó’s efforts to organise a coup d’état have collapsed ignominiously. He has shown himself to be without support in the country—but never mind, he has the support of the USA.
Trump’s response to the defeat of his protégé is to intensify the economic war against Venezuela, with his usual contempt for international law, which forbids any such unilateral sanctions and regards them as acts of aggression. Having already declared sanctions against the CLAPs (the local committees for the production and distribution of food), he has now declared a complete blockade of Venezuela. Clearly he hopes to starve the people into submission.
This is a criminal blockade and totally illegal. Venezuela has the right to determine its own government, the right to decide its own course of social development, and a right to its independence and sovereignty. The Venezuelan people have steadfastly defended the course they have chosen, the Bolivarian Revolution. They deserve the full support of all who value the right to peace, independence, and sovereignty.
