International Commission, YCL-LJC
Caracas, June, 2016
On the occasion of the Solidarity Mission for Venezuela organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth from the 6th to the 7th of June, the YCL-LJC Canada expresses its full solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution, the Venezuelan people, its representatives and in particular its youth, one of the main forces for the future and the strengthening of the Revolution.
Since the election of Comandante Hugo Chavez in 1998, the Imperialists made it clear that they would not tolerate any kind of opposition to their plans and aims in Latin America. They went as far as orchestrating a coup d’etat in 2002 that eventually failed because of the popular support of the legitimate government. Imperialism has tried to use Chavez’s death as a lever to destabilize the country, lending full support to ultra-right groups and personalities such as Corina Machado and Henrique Capriles. These are supporters that will use any means necessary to overthrow an anti-imperialist government, as we saw through their full support of the reactionary, ultra-violent, anti-government riots, the guarimbas.
The “Continental Right” has also seized upon challenges faced by the Venezuelan people such as a necessity goods shortage, corruption, the black market, etc. as a way to channel people’s anger against the Government. However, it has become clear that the vast majority of these problems were created through hoarding, speculation and black market corruption, by sectors of the bourgeoisie who share interests with the US and their allies in crushing all social reforms gained over the past 18 years.
Today, with the setback of last December’s elections, the right-wing forces are in better shape than ever to reach their goal of fomenting a coup d’état. As President Nicolas Maduro stated in a press conference last May, their goal was never to take power through democratic channels; what they want, is to destabilize the country by any means possible.
The fact that their propaganda is being relayed by the international corporate press, means that now more than ever, anti-imperialist and revolutionary youth must maintain and strengthen their solidarity with Venezuela.
The Bolivarian Revolution is a beacon to all progressive people not only in Venezuela, but in the whole Latin American region and even throughout the world. First of all, because of the pro-people character of the Bolivarian Government – for example, the building of 1 million of social housing units, the establishment of a network of regulated price markets, the accomplishment of all the Millennium Goals, the expansion of free health and education, as well as a drastic 40% cut in the poverty rate. Some of these social rights have not been granted in Canada. At the international level, the main accomplishment is the important role played by Venezuela against imperialism. This can be illustrated by the creation of ALBA, the only genuine international alliance based on solidarity, full support for socialist Cuba and all progressive forces throughout Latin America. We also must highlight the role played by Venezuela in building the anti-imperialist youth movement by hosting the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students in Caracas in 2005.
In this situation, the YCL-LJC Canada calls all progressive youth of our country to stand in full solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution and condemn all imperialist interference in Venezuela, focusing first and foremost on our own government. We must recall that RCMP agent, Nancy Birbeck, employed by the Canadian Embassy in Caracas, was ‘inspecting’ airports for the creation of contingency plans, which the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela linked to the failed February 2015 coup attempt. We also denounce the recent attempt by the President of OAS, to interfere and shred the sovereignty of Venezuela, in total contradiction with the Inter-American Democratic Charter. This latest attempt was based on false information spread by corporate media.
The plans of the imperialist powers, including Canada, for Venezuela are clear. They are similar to the plans for Brazil, Ukraine and Syria: with the capitalist economic crisis deepening, they are committed to use any means possible to insure their control over resources, markets and cheap labour. Our role, as internationalists, is to counter these plans by building mobilization and by outlining that the main enemy of youth and working people across Canada is not Venezuela, but imperialism, starting with Canadian imperialism.
Long live the Bolivarian Revolution!
Long live International Solidarity!
The International Commission of the YCL-LJC Canada