Is there anything to celebrate this July 5 (Venezuela's Independence Day)? Rebuilding independence, democracy and social justice Statement by CorrienteComunes https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DVga1nr5u/
You cannot celebrate what you do not have. Since January 3, Venezuela has become a de facto US protectorate/colony. Washington controls Venezuela’s oil industry, appropriates public resources, decides on the budget, sets foreign policy, and orders legislative reforms in line with its own interests, leaving only a small margin of decision-making to the submissive and compliant government in Caracas, the product of electoral fraud. Trump, as he himself has just declared, “defeated Venezuela” and imposed his colonial will on the entire nation. Delcy Rodríguez prefers to call this “collaboration” and “the correct diplomatic path”, while María Corina Machado expresses sustained “gratitude” for Trump’s contribution to “freedom”. Both are the embodiment of servile economic and political elites, willing to be subservient and openly renounce independence in exchange for crumbs of political power. History will weigh up the many factors and the chain of responsibility that the elites represented by Machado and Rodríguez/Maduro bear for the loss of our status as an independent Republic. But without a doubt, the former’s constant facilitation of an invasion, coupled with the latter’s electoral fraud, repression, corruption and contempt for social rights, rank among the most significant factors. Today, July 5, 215 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, amid the deep and widespread grief caused by the death and destruction brought about by the earthquakes, we have nothing to celebrate. From the rubble of La Guaira and other affected cities, we must draw strength to rebuild our communities, both materially and spiritually; and we must reflect, debate and take action to rebuild democracy, social justice and the right to self-determination. We in COMUNES believe that the current situation compels us to join forces and mobilise alongside other social and political forces, with a view to achieving the following priority objectives: *1. Restore democracy and constitutionality.* To speak of popular sovereignty, we must speak of political and territorial sovereignty; therefore, any progress in this area must be accompanied by the withdrawal of US colonial occupation forces from Venezuelan territory. It is essential to hold presidential elections in accordance with the characteristics, mechanisms and timelines (which have already expired, according to Articles 233 and 234) set out in the Constitution. To submit to Rubio’s “three-phase plan” is to prolong the de facto government and confirm our subservience to the colonial regime. From the democratic, popular and nationalist camp, we must take to the streets to press for the conditions and timetable — without delay — for free, fair and independent presidential elections. *2. Restore social rights.* The neoliberal policies of the government and business community (which are the same as those proposed by Machado) can only be reversed through street protests and strengthening the organisations of those whose social rights are being violated. Supporting and strengthening these struggles and processes is the only way to challenge the consensus amongst the economic elites and press for a just wealth distribution. *3. Build democratic, popular and nationalist strength.* The social and political actors calling for democracy, sovereignty and social justice are diverse and sometimes at odds with one another. It is essential to promote, from a pluralistic perspective, agreements and alliances to align these agendas with a view to restoring the Republic. *4. Restore national sovereignty.* To the damage inflicted upon us by the colonial government, we must add its attempt to exploit the catastrophe to establish a permanent military presence in our country (only 15% of the 2000 US military personnel are rescue workers) and to oversee the reconstruction in accordance with its economic interests. Reversing our current status as a protectorate/colony will not be an immediate achievement. The combination of the above objectives will facilitate this struggle, which must include: a) the ongoing denunciation of the way in which the colonial government undermines national and popular interests; and b) restoring the rights and guarantees of self-determination enshrined in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 215 years after 1811, emancipation remains our task! In the face of the elites’ pact, let us organise rebellion from below! 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