AI and HRW Support US War on Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Hugo Chavez established what he called Bolivarian socialism “based on solidarity, fraternity, love, justice, liberty and equality.”
It’s world’s apart from US-led Western neoliberal harshness, exclusively serving privileged interests at the expense of others, exploiting ordinary people for power and profit.
Nicolas Maduro continues Chavismo – like Chavez, a leader representing the threat of a good example, Washington wants kept from spreading regionally and beyond.
US political war on Venezuela began after Chavez’s December 1998 election. Obama and now Trump intensified political pressure, along with harshness to make its economy scream – wanting fascist tyranny replacing Bolivarian social democracy.
It serves all Venezuelans equitably, not just its privileged few like America and Western societies.
Venezuela doesn’t wage wars on other nations or threaten them. It respects human rights, has no secret prisons, doesn’t practice torture or state-sponsored murder like America and its rogue allies.
It’s model electoral system is the world’s best, shaming America’s sham process – one-party rule with two neocon/hawkish right wings, waging endless wars on humanity at home and abroad.
US political and economic war on Venezuela undermined its Bolivarian fairness, creating enormous hardships for its people – a sinister plot to destroy the world’s model democracy.
Instead of condemning the scheme, Amnesty International (IA) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) support it – blaming victimized Venezuelan social democracy for Washington’s diabolical plan to destroy it.
AI:: “A National Constituent Assembly was elected without the participation of the opposition.”
Fact: Candidates from all political parties were welcome to participate. Opposition ones refused, knowing they’d lose.
AI: “The Attorney General was dismissed under irregular circumstances.”
Fact: Anti-Bolivarian AG Luisa Ortega Diaz attempted to halt the swearing in of democratically elected Constituent Assembly members – based on phony claims of unconstitutionality and voter fraud.
She lied claiming “(t)he country is headed toward dictatorship.” She was dismissed for dereliction of duty, nothing whatever “irregular” about it.
AI: “Security forces continued to use excessive and undue force to disperse protests.”
False! Earlier they were involved in countering US-orchestrated street violence, responsible for scores of death and injuries, along with property damage, a scheme to topple Venezuela’s legitimate government.
AI: “Hundreds of people were arbitrarily detained. There were many reports of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence against demonstrators.”
False! Criminal street thugs were legally arrested and detained. No evidence suggests government use of torture, ill-treatment or sexual violence.
AI: “The judicial system continued to be used to silence dissidents, including using military jurisdiction to prosecute civilians.” Human rights defenders were harassed, intimidated and subject to raids.”
False! Bolivarian opponents aren’t silenced or persecuted. Venezuelan courts are judicially fair.
Human rights defenders are supported, not “harassed (or) intimidated.”
AI: “The food and health crises continued to worsen, especially affecting children, people with chronic illness and pregnant women.”
Washington bears full responsibility for crisis conditions, not Caracas.
HRW: “Under the leadership of President Hugo Chavez and President Nicolas Maduro, the accumulation of power in the executive branch and erosion of human rights guarantees have enabled the government to intimidate, censor, and punish its critics.”
False! Chavez and Maduro were democratically elected – the process scrupulously open, free and fair, none matching it in Western and most other countries.
No erosion of human rights occurred, no government intimidation, censorship or punishment of critics.
HRW: “Severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and food have intensified since 2014, and weak government responses have undermined Venezuelans’ rights to health and food.”
US political and economic war on Venezuela bears full responsibility for what’s going on.
HRW: “Security forces have arbitrarily detained and tortured protesters, and raids in low-income communities have led to widespread allegations of abuse.”
False! HRW lied. Allegations of abuse are fabricated, a US-led disinformation campaign to vilify Maduro, wanting him toppled and replaced, Bolivarian social democracy destroyed.
Instead of holding Washington accountable for waging political and economic war on Venezuela, a sinister regime change plot, along with wanting control of the country’s vast oil reserves, the world’s largest, AI and HRW side with US imperial ruthlessness.
They’re beholden to major funders – exploitive corporate interests, including George Soros’ Open Society Foundation.
AI and HRW serve as imperial tools, blaming victims of US ruthlessness for their misery.
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