This Day. 31st anniversary of the invasion of Panama

The 1989 invasion of Panama was staged just two weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the empty euphoria about the so-called “end of Communism.” US president George H. W. Bush ushered in the post-Cold War unipolar world. According to Bob Woodward’s book, The Commanders, Gen. Colin Powell, newly appointed Joint Chief of Staff, stated, “we have to put a shingle outside our door saying, ‘Superpower Lives Here’.”

A leading jurist decodes the 1989 Panama Massacre: “The invasion was a crime against International Law and the largest US military projection since the Vietnam War.” It is a matter of concern to Canadians as successive governments have annually deployed the Canadian Forces to participate in the US PANAMAX military-naval exercises, usually held in August | JULY YAO” 

Panama City during the US invasion, December 21, 1989. Little was spoken in the monopoly media of the death toll or destruction from that invasion. It was almost entirely focused on the number of US troops killed (23) and wounded (324). The Panamiam death toll was between 4,000 and 7,000 of whom at least 2,000 were buried in mass graves. The destruction left at least 10,000 homeless.

The people and no one else will decide what happens in Venezuela

By Margaret Villamizar

Following the election of the new National Assembly, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro expressed satisfaction that the National Assembly had been freed from the control of opposition forces who used it as a base over the past five years to violate the country’s constitution, obstruct the normal functioning of government and support the U.S. economic war against the country. He called it a great victory for democracy, for the constitution. Maduro has said that the first task of the new legislature must be to repair the damage done to the country’s economy by the sanctions, adopting necessary measures to fortify and shield it from the effects of the U.S. economic war. He said this would require passing legislation approved in October by the National Constituent Assembly, which dissolves December 31, known as the Anti-Blockade Law for National Development and the Guarantee of Human Rights.

Oppose foreign interference in Bolivian election! Let the Bolivian people decide!

July 14, 2020 demonstration in La Paz, Bolivia.

ALBA Movements Canada, October 15, 2020

Following continuous massive protests by the organized Bolivian people in defence of their right to elect a president and government of their choosing, the elections, postponed three times, will finally take place on October 18.

This Day. Remembering the earthquake in Haiti ten years on

Objective reality of the people of Haiti illustrates the pathetic fraud of “humanitarian aid.” “Canada disbursed $657 million from the quake to September 2012 ‘for Haiti,’ but only about 2 per cent went to the Haitian government.” Thirty-three per cent of U.S. aid went to the U.S. military | YVES ENGLER

The Haitian national palace shows heavy damage after an earthquake measuring 7 plus on the Richter scale rocked Port au Prince Haiti, January 12, 2009. This was originally a two-story structure; the second story completely collapsed.

Ten years ago Sunday an earthquake devastated Haiti. In a few minutes of violent shaking hundreds of thousands perished in Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions and many more were permanently scarred.

It’s important to commemorate this horrifying tragedy. But this solemn occasion is also a good moment to reflect on Canada’s role in undermining the beleaguered nation’s capacity to prepare/respond/overcome natural disasters.

The OAS dangerously in disarray

By Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and OAS*

OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at an OAS meeting on Venezuela in Washington, DC, January 24, 2019.

Over the last few days there has been a serious overreach by Luis Almagro of the authority he has as secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS).

No to ‘regime change’ in Venezuela: Condemn US-led attempts to overthrow the legitimately constituted Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Photo of Venezuelans in the streets the morning of Jan. 23 in support of President Nicolás Maduro.

By MARGARET VILLAMIZAR

On January 23 and 24, US imperialism and the coup forces it commands took new steps to try and force regime change on the people of Venezuela. Within minutes of illegally and unconstitutionally declaring himself “interim president” of Venezuela at a mass rally of opposition supporters, deputy Juan Guaidó was recognized by US President Donald Trump as the “legitimate” president of the country. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared shortly after that the US would continue to use the full weight of its economic and diplomatic power to impose regime change, or what he called “the restoration of Venezuelan democracy.”

The constitutionally elected president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is Nicolás Maduro

Nicolás Maduro is sworn into office for a second six-year term, January 10, 2019.

Nicolás Maduro is sworn into office for a second six-year term, January 10, 2019.

The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) condemns the antics of the counter-revolutionary forces in Venezuela backed by the U.S. imperialists and their allies – calling themselves the Lima Group, in which Canada is included – to overthrow the constitutionally elected president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. President Maduro was re-elected to a second term by the people of Venezuela who are waging a tenacious fight to defend their Bolivarian revolution and the sovereignty of the nation. Because of this they have been forced to face the brunt of the regime change arsenal of U.S. imperialism, its accomplices and appeasers – the government of Canada among them.

Nicaragua: US imperialism activates its regime change apparatus

Organization of American States’ Permanent Council holds Extraordinary Session on Nicaragua, January 11, 2019.

On December 24, 2018, just as many were beginning holiday celebrations, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) issued a notice to its members of a special meeting being held on December 27 at the request of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and the United States “to consider the situation in Nicaragua.”  The meeting was called within days of the release of a report by the OAS-linked Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) relating to violent events that occurred in the country between April 18 and May 30, 2018.

The OAS plays Judas in the Americas

By Elson Concepción Pérez

I wonder: What is the point of the OAS? Is it worth being a member? Why not build a common Latin American and Caribbean front and unmask it for what it is, along with its current Secretary General, Luis Almagro?

Stand with the Venezuelan people and their Bolivarian president and government!

The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) ) sends congratulations to the Venezuelan people and their President Nicolás Maduro Moros on the occasion of his assuming office as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for a second term on January 10.

Venezuela: 48th General Assembly of Organization of American States

U.S. fails again in attempt to suspend Venezuela

At the 48th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held June 4-5 in Washington, D.C., the U.S. and a group of countries under its domination failed in their attempt to suspend the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from the organization.

Statements of Canadian government and parties with seats in parliament calling for interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs

For your information

Toronto rally near Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland’s constituency office, August 1, 2017.

(August 2) – In a July 30 statement, issued the very day Venezuelans were electing their representatives to the Constituent Assembly, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland underscored the dirty role Canada continues to play by interfering in the affairs of the Venezuelan people as part of the U.S.-led regime change forces:

Organization of American States once again fails to pass resolution undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty

Vancouver picket, July 7, 2017, defends Venezuela’s sovereignty and opposes U.S. and Canadian interference.

Members of the Organization of American States (OAS) have once again failed to reach a consensus to “take action on Venezuela,” TeleSur reported on July 26.

Venezuela’s response to US interference

1. Government rejects CIA chief’s interventionist admission

The following statement was issued by the Government of Venezuela on July 25, 2017.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the declarations of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States, Michael Pompeo, and denounces before the international community the systematic attacks against Venezuela from the USA, including:

Latin America and the Caribbean stand firm against US imperialist hegemony and interference

Banner at the People’s Summit (see below) expresses rejection of U.S. imperialist striving for domination.

The Seventh Summit of the Americas organized under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS) was held on April 10 and 11 in Panama City, Panama. The theme to be addressed at the gathering was “Prosperity with Equity: The Challenge of Cooperation in the Americas.” The firm stand of the Latin American and Caribbean nations’ heads of state gave this theme full meaning by emphasizing that the striving of U.S. imperialism for domination would no longer be accepted. Renewal Update

Summit of the Americas: Sharp struggle against OAS-US ‘civil society’ subversion and blackmail

By TONY SEED, along with news items*

(April 11) – Even before the 7th Summit of the Americas of the Organization of American States (OAS) opened in Panama on April 10, a sharp struggle erupted against flagrant and ugly provocations brazenly organized against Cuba and the principles of sovereignty, democracy and the equality of all nations, big and small.

Accused human rights abusers accuse Venezuela of rights abuses

(April 10) – A group of former heads of state issued a joint statement Thursday accusing Venezuela of human rights abuses, even though many of the signatories have themselves faced allegations of committing human rights violations while in office.

Announcing the release of the so-called “Declaration of Panama,” signatory and former Mexican president Felipe Calderon claims the human rights situation in Venezuela is “intolerable.”

OAS: Cuba will participate in the 7th Summit of the Americas

Speaking at the 5th CARICOM-Cuba Summit held on December 8, 2014, Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz thanked the government of Panama for its invitation to participate in the upcoming 7th Summit of the Americas and expressed Cuba’s willingness to participate as an equal, without pre-conditions, reaffirming that this does not in any way imply a return to the Organization of American States (OAS). The summit hosted by Panama will be held in April 2015.

Summit of the Americas: an uncomfortable exercise

By GABRIEL RAMOS

UP until a little over one month ago, it was barely known that a regional summit of heads of state and government in the American hemisphere is to take place in Cartagena, Colombia this April.

Summit of the Americas : The exclusion of Cuba by the United States government is unacceptable and unjustified

Complete text of the press conference held by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla in Havana, March 8, 2012.

Why is Israel attending an OAS Summit?

By TONY SEED

(May 31, 2009) – ISRAEL, which is gradually losing the support it enjoyed in the EU and the U.S., is planning to develop an overt and covert presence in Latin America to counter Iran’s growing ties in the region. Readers may remember its unsavoury role in arming and training the bloody security forces of the Central American oligarchy during the 1970s and 1980s, which was exposed in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration.