PT, PSB, PCB and social movements launch Manifesto for Peace in Venezuela

Brasil de Fato - Popular movements, political parties and Brazilian entities launched a manifesto this Friday (22) in solidarity with the Venezuelan government, in which they criticize the interference of the United States and the attempted coup in the neighboring country, led by the self-declared interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó.

The document was read during a press conference in Boa Vista, Roraima, a municipality bordering Venezuela. Participants included Joaquin Piñero and Geomar Vilela, representatives of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), Rosangela Piovizani, of the Peasant Women's Movement (MMC), Titonho Bezerra, vice-president of the Workers' Party (PT) in the state, and Gilberto Rosa, of the Unified Workers' Central (CUT).

"We denounce the imperialist intervention of the United States, with the economic blockade and seizure of billions of dollars held in American banks. We repudiate the threat of military intervention in Venezuela. We repudiate the interventionist statements of President Jair Bolsonaro and his Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo, which break with the Brazilian diplomatic tradition of seeking peace, dialogue, and regional integration," the document states.

In addition to the MST, CUT, and MMC, the text was signed by the Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST), the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), and the Workers' Party (PT).

According to the manifesto, the organizations affirm that the solution to the crisis in Venezuela must be found through dialogue between the parties involved, with the support of the international community, so that peace may prevail in the country.

"Given this situation, we support all initiatives for dialogue and peace that respect the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples, and we welcome the statements made by Pope Francis, the presidents of Mexico and Uruguay, religious leaders, artists, politicians, personalities, and entities that have spoken out in support of this cause."

For Titonho Bezerra, US interference threatens not only Venezuelans, but also Brazilians, especially those living near the border. According to the vice-president of the PT (Workers' Party) of Roraima, humanitarian aid initiatives are the responsibility of institutions created for this purpose, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and not countries like the United States and Brazil.

"[This] war only benefits the United States, which wants to control the oil. As a major oil buyer, the US needs oil to have a lower price. [...] If Venezuelans have political problems, let the Venezuelan people solve them, not Brazilians acting on behalf of the US," he states.

During the event, Rosangela Piovizani recalled that most crises and conflicts in Latin American history were caused by external agents aiming to destabilize countries and seize their natural resources.

"We cannot allow interference of this kind. Whether in Venezuela or Brazil. This intervention has the clear objective of seizing the oil and reorganizing the entire region to serve capitalist countries," he states.

Last Tuesday (19), the government of Jair Bolsonaro announced that Brazil intends to carry out an operation, in conjunction with the United States, with the supposed objective of delivering donations to Venezuela. The measure is pointed out by analysts as yet another attempt to destabilize the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Joaquin Piñero, a representative of the MST (Landless Workers' Movement), the people of Roraima have been experiencing a tense moment since the announcement was made. He also criticized Brazil's submissive stance towards the United States and stated that Brazilian popular movements stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

According to him, "Brazilian society needs to understand that the problem in Venezuela was not created by the government. The problem lies in the lack of respect shown by the Americans for the sovereignty of the people of Latin America."

In a statement published on her website, former President Dilma Rousseff (PT) also criticized the alliance between the United States and Brazil to advance into Venezuelan territory and stated that the tension created could lead to a larger conflict.

"We must make it clear that this position of the Bolsonaro government has very serious consequences in the event of war. In particular, the tragedy of the loss of human lives of Brazilian, Latin American and American citizens."