On Dec. 10, Congress passed the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act. The bill imposes sanctions on Venezuela for supposed human rights violations and affirms that the United States seeks a “mutually beneficial relationship with Venezuela based on respect for human rights and the rule of law and a functional and productive relationship on issues of public security.”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Rafael Ramirez explains that these sanctions “far beyond hurting us, strengthen us” as they draw attention to the “true fact of North American imperialism.” He explains the contradiction of imposing sanctions on Venezuela while at the same time admitting that sanctions aimed at isolating Cuba have failed. The revolutionary Cuban government and people have heroically resisted this act of aggression and defended its sovereignty against the U.S. empire.
He also claimed that the sanctions are ideologically driven, saying, “They want to sanction us because we carry the banner of socialism.” Earlier this year, there was a wave of counterrevolutionary protests, which were characterized by violence on the part of the opposition that affected pro-government supporters, anti-government protesters and innocent bystanders. The Venezuelan government responded with restraint, arresting protesters that violated laws or placed others’ lives in danger while also charged state security agents if they used excessive force. This episode now serves as the excuse for imposing the sanctions.
Ironically, the sanctions bill was passed the day after the Senate released the summary of its report on the CIA’s torture and detention program. The Obama administration has always dismissed the possibility of holding anyone legally accountable for the stunning acts of brutality. U.S. imperialism believes it is entitled to judge and admonish other countries while ignoring its own violations. At the same time, oppressed people across the country, led by the African-American community, have remained in the streets in outrage at the police murders of countless Black people, especially young Black men.
The sanctions attempt to undermine the revolutionary government of Venezuela. This action is meant to punish Venezuela’s anti-imperialist government that facilitates a left-leaning orientation in Latin America. As Latin America attempts to rise out of the shadow of the United States’ economic and political influence, countries like Venezuela and Cuba provide an example of how to resist U.S. imperialism.
Historically, the United States has imposed sanctions on countries that refuse to concede to U.S. interference. Other countries that have endured sanctions are Cuba, Syria, Libya and Russia. The sanctions are imposed under the guise of upholding human rights and punishing governments that violate these rights.
If the U.S. government was serious about human rights violations, then countries like Honduras, Mexico and Colombia would also be sanctioned. However, these three countries receive huge amounts of aid from the United States and are governments with dire human rights violations. For example, in Mexico, 43 students disappeared at the hands of the state in conjunction with local drug traffickers. This has received little attention in the U.S. corporate media and only remains relevant due to the unwavering people’s struggle in Mexico and around the world. Mexico, however, has received nearly $3 billion in military aid through the Mérida Initiative.
Oppressed people around the world can see through the hypocrisy of imperialism. The Venezuelan government has received support from other countries in Latin America and regional blocs like ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America).
President Maduro reminded the Venezuelan people through Twitter that the U.S. admitted 50 years of sanctions did not work in breaking Cuba, that the sanctions highlight the contradictions of imperialism, and that the sanctions will backfire.
The United States is attempting to renew its foothold in Latin America by destabilizing the leftist governments that have emerged and view Cuba and Venezuela as beacons of support. From within the walls of imperialism, as revolutionaries, we need to expose the contradictions of imperialism and show solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Latin America who are building socialism.
