Stand by Maduro!

Tariq Ali denounces US coup attempt

 by New Worker correspondent

Over 200 people joined a rally at the National Education Union head office near Kings Cross in London last Thursday to build solidarity with the Bolivarian government of Venezuela against the latest assault by US imperialism and its allies.

Tony Burke, chair of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and Assistant General Secretary of Unite, conveyed greetings from Len McCluskey, and from unions in the US and Mexico. He said Washington was planning to declare a sponsor of terrorism, and demanded “let there be no more Pinochets in Latin America”.

Christine Blower of the National Education Union quoted the new Brazilian preisdent Jair Bolsonaro as saying that “Pinochet didn’t kill enough people”.

Kate Hudson for CND pointed out that the US has 76 bases in Latin America and the Caribbean, and that in May last year Colombia became NATO's first Latin American global partner, as NATO evolves into a global rather than trans-Atlantic military bloc.

Colin Burgon of Labour Friends of Progressive Latin America said that Venezuela was under attack “because it is a cornerstone of progressive Latin America”.

He pointed out that shortly after tragic the death of Hugo Chavez, oil prices had dropped from $100 to $30 a barrel, hitting the Venezuelan economy.

Burgon quoted John Bolton, Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser telling Fox News last week: “We are in conversations with major oil companies to produce Venezuelan, oil which is good for Venezuela and good for the US”.

Many other speakers, including the writer and film-maker Tariq Ali, also spoke at a time when major solidarity actions are being mobilised in Britain.

Anger was also expressed at the Bank of England joining the seizure of Venezuelan assets in Britain at Washington’s behest, in response to which a protest at the bank has been organised.