Daniel Gasparri, the head of聽Venezuela鈥檚 mission in Australia, said the country remains under attack from the United States.
In a video message to a public forum on April 21 organised by the聽Venezuela聽Solidarity Campaign (VSC), he said the US and its European allies are imposing what they call 鈥渟anctions鈥 but which are really 鈥渦nilateral coercive measures鈥.
Apart from the economic blockade, Venezuela is also dealing with armed attacks from Colombia. VSC member Joe Montero told the meeting that because of these paramilitary incursions, the Venezuelan聽government has given people guns and training to defend themselves. More than three million people have joined the Bolivarian militia 鈥 citizens who have volunteered to help in the defence of Venezuela against US-backed aggression
Yonaton Vargas, a member of the Bolivar and Zamora Revolutionary Current, spoke by video link from聽Venezuela, saying the country聽faces 鈥渃onstant aggression from the Colombian oligarchy and US imperialism鈥. He said US troops are stationed at seven bases in Colombia, as well as bases in Curacao and Aruba, the Dutch-ruled islands off Venezuela鈥檚 coast. Vargas said that citizen鈥檚 assemblies are helping people organise against the provocations.
Francisco Dominguez, national secretary of the聽Venezuela聽Solidarity Campaign in Britain, who joined the forum from London, described the US blockade as a 鈥渃rime against humanity鈥. He said the US has confiscated nearly US$40 billion worth of聽Venezuelan聽assets. Britain and other European countries have done likewise.
The sanctions prevent聽Venezuela聽from receiving crucial chemicals needed to convert crude oil into petrol. He said despite this, President Nicolas Maduro has not been overthrown, as the US hoped, and it has coped with the COVID-19 pandemic better than its neighbours.
There have only been 1800 deaths from COVID-19 in Venezuela, compared with more than 350,000 in Brazil, he said.聽Venezuela聽has also sent oxygen to Brazil.
Helen Whooley, also from VSC, said the group鈥檚 plans include raising funds for a childcare centre in聽Venezuela and to campaign for Australian government recognition of the Maduro government. Currently, Australia recognises the self-proclaimed 鈥減resident鈥 Juan Guaido. VSC is planning a delegation to visit聽Venezuela聽next year.
Maritime Union of Australia member Kevin Bracken reported on solidarity motions passed by the MUA and the International Transport Workers Federation. Len Cooper spoke on behalf of the International League of People鈥檚 Struggle. Video messages were received from MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin and activists in Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.