Events of January 23 sparked the beginning of a US-led attempt at a coup d’etat in Venezuela.
Evidence has since come to light to show that the White House and local hard-right groups had been planning it well in advance, and that the coup was discussed with numerous governments in the region, including Brazil and Colombia.
The objective? Remove the elected president Nicolas Maduro and replace him with Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself “interim president” on January 23 and promises to be more sympathetic to US interests in the region.
Since, patriotic and revolutionary forces in Venezuela have been mobilising to firstly defend national sovereignty and the country’s right to self-determination in the face of the illegal imperialist intervention, but also to prepare themselves for future battles.
Mainstream media, which frequently loops images of opposition supporters, often overlooks such groups and activites.
As such, VA brings you a collation of grassroots statements, voices, and pictures of Venezuelans voicing their rejection of the US-led coup.
Some examples of grassroots and local voices which reject US-led attempts to overthrow the democratic government in the country.
Support From the Communes
Veneuela’s communard movement has also been vocal in reiterating their backing of the elected President Maduro and opposing the pretensions of imperialism.
The influential Voces Urgentes collective, also from Lara State, equally reiterated the constitutionality of President Maduro.
“This is how the march in defence of the homeland and sovereignty by the Simon Planas commune movement in Sarare goes! We are those of the ‘Commune of nothing’ of Chavez. Yankee go home! Nicolas Maduro is the legitimate president!”
The Adrian Moncada Commune, which brings together 22 Communal Councils also in Lara state, fixed a similar position.
“Time and again we show that the streets, as well as the countryside and all truly patriotic areas, belong to Chavismo. We back Nicolas Maduro and the peace of our country.”
El Maizal commune in Lara state publish photos from a large mobilisation they held a few days later.
“This was the march and Anti-imperialist Court held today #27 January, showing that the streets belong to Chavismo and ratifying our commitment to the defence of our sovereignty and the backing of Nicolas Maduro. We are the combative people of Bolivar and Chavez.”
They also tweeted that:
“We are forced to be permanently mobilised, and to show that we are fully in support of Nicolas Maduro and reject the Yankee intervention which is threatening our sovereignty.”
PSUV Marches
The ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) have also been holding a number of rallies across the country to foster support for the government.
“Colonialism and imperialism are a consequence of large capital, denominated as imperialism and as an active expansion of the potential which a capitalist economy develops. This expansion looks to dominate our territory both politically and militarily.”
Tupamaro leader Jose Pinto also tweeded:
“The gringos want to take over our Nation State, we can’t allow this and we must make the defence of our nation a common cause. We, as Tupamaro, will demonstrate our irreverence in the streets and alongside the people, together we will be victorious.”
Other Parties Allied to Government Weigh In
The Homeland for All party (PPT) also opposes the intervention.
“In response to the imperialist colonialist aggression, PPT will not give in.”
“We reject the violent acts of the Venezuelan right which have been seen in Barinas [where at least two deaths were reported on Wednesday night, both Chavista’s and both seemingly at the hands of right wing mobs]. We are a peaceful people. We will not allow our sovereignty and independence to be compromised. Yankee go home.”
Support from the Communist Party
Venezuela’s Communist Party (PCV) has held a number of press conferences since January 23, rejecting US meddling.
“PCV condemns the coup detat from imperialism and the right wing.”
“We want to salute the international solidarity of all of the communist and worker parties who have deployed themselves in actions and messages for the Venezuelan people.”
Other Powers of State
Two of Venezuela’s other independent powers of state in this power struggle also issued public statements.
TSJ
The Supreme Court (TSJ) also made a call for constitutionality and legality to those looking to overturn the votes of the people.
“We will not recognise any unconstitutional efforts to usurpate a position of popular election through actions, which have the serious objective of undermining the democratic will of the venezuelan people and provocking a rupture in the constitutional order.”
CNE
The National Electoral Council (CNE) “rejects and condemns the plain failure to recognise and the manifested violation of the constitutional text and institutional order” by those perpetrating the coup.
Juan Guaido, who has led the coup in Venezuela, “was elected and proclaimed [Deputy of the National Assembly] by votes and in full compliance with the laws which order the Venezuelan electoral system, and has now opted to not recognise these same laws and system.”
“In our country public offics are elected by the people… it is not a foreign government which can come and take over the sovereignty of our people which is expressed through suffrage.”
A Range of Ministers
Prisons Minister Iris Varela also firmed up her support for Maduro.
“Every Venezuelan who loves thier homeland should close ranks in defense of it, rejecting the coup detat which is led by the USA.”
Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas focused on the hard-right’s attacks on cultural symbols of the country.
“Fascist attacks against symbols and cultural monuments in Venezuela.”
Public Institutions
Public institutions have also fixed positions in recent days, with a large number of government ministries and bodies reinforcing their recognition for the mandate of Maduro.
Universities
The Bolivarian University also started organising people who attend to defend national sovereignty.
“To fully defend our Homeland, the university community at UBV- Caracas starts signing up people to form part of the Combative Group.”
Social Movements Speak Up
A number of grassroots social movements or pressure groups have also made statements, including this from a statement issued by the Arana Feminista feminist and LGBTIQ grouping:
“We are facing an attempted coup d’état which, like those carried out in Brazil, Paraguay, and Honduras, responds to the infamous retaliation of international capital against the Latin American countries.
We invoke our inalienable right to self-determination and we demand that the countries of the world let us solve our conflicts in peace and within the reach of our laws and institutions.”
Afro Groups
The Jose Leonardo Chirinos Anti Imperialist Afro Youth Front (FAAJLCH), representing Afro-Venezuelans, also issued a statement.
“We “MILITANTS” on the frontline of struggle and the maroon resistance of the XXI century, inform that since this Thursday, Venezuela has been in the CROSSROADS OF WAR DETERMINED BY TRANSNATIONAL INTERESTS, brought on by the resurgence of “IMPERIALISM” based on a rebirth of the Monroe doctrine, Neocolonialism and Neo-slavery in the region, closely linked to terrorism – racism – multiple forms of discrimination.”
International Solidarity Groups
Regional groups of the Committee of International Solidarity (COSI) have also been holding events in rejection to the actions of the White House.
“Internationalist denouncement: Coup d’état in Venezuela. The only constitutional president is he or she whom the Venezuelan people elect. Yankee Go Home.”
LGBTQI Groups
The Sexual-Gender Diverse Revolutionary Front Alliance also fixed a position:
“We reject the colonial discourse which paints us as savages, incapable of solving our own problems, by those who wish to bring solutions on ships and with bombs.”
Workers and Trade Unions to the Fore
A number of organised workers and trade unions have likewise mobilised themselves to defend the legitimate rule of President Maduro.
Transport Workers
In the transport sector, the trade union of Caracas Metro workers (SITRAMECA) issued this statement at an Anti-Imperialist Court held in the capital:
“The working class of SITRAMECA supporting the anti-imperialist court in defence of the right of Venezuela to its sovereignty and self-determination as an independent people, and reaffirming its complete respect for our constitutional president Nicolas Maduro.”
Dairy Workers
Worker’s from the state-run diary firm Lacteos Los Andes tweeted this message of support:
“Venezuela is a free and independent people, we ratify our commitment to the revolution and to peace in Venezuela.”
CBST
The largest trade union confederation, the Bolivarian Socialist Confederation of Workers (CBST) had this to say:
“We don’t want violence, war or tragedy, but we wont let ourselves be humiliated either… We will teach those who promote an invasion of our country a lesson which they will never forget. Neither fascism nor imperialism will pass!”
La Via Campesina
Also in the countryside, peasant organisation La Via Campesina, through their regional organiser bloc “CLOC”, have also been helping campesinos organise against the coup.
“The CLOC-Via Campesina denounces and rejects the imperialist intervention and demands respect for the sovereignty of Venezuela.”
CRBZ Backing
For their part, the Bolivar-Zamora Revolutionary Current (CRBZ) issued a statement in which they denounce right wing attempts to overthrow the government by force.
The CRBZ have been organising small groups of people all across the country in past day, especially in rural sectors, in defence of the country’s right to self-determination.
“One of the keys to defeating the coup d’état and US interventionism is organisation and preparation of the people for our national defence.”
“People from the #2 political front of San Fernando [Apure State] organise themselves for the march tomorrow at 08.00 in Santa Ines with [First Vice-President of the ruling United Socialist Party] Diosdado Cabello.”
“The Hugo Chavez Popular Defence Brigades and the National Bolivarian Militia mobilise themselves against the coup d’état and in defence of the only president of Venezuela.
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