A PROTEST against the United States’ bombing of Venezuela and rendition of Nicolas Maduro is to be held at 5pm this evening in Edinburgh outside the US Consulate.
The protest is being organised by the Stop the War Coalition against the extrajudicial “abduction” of Venezuela’s president Maduro and airstrikes in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and across the north of the country.
The attacks have drawn condemnation from Latin American countries and traditional enemies of the US, such as Iran, Russia, and Cuba, but have also been criticised by allies of the US like Spain and Norway.
A spokesperson for Stop the War Edinburgh said that they felt compelled to organise the “symbolic” protest and let it be known that people in the UK oppose the actions of the United States.
The protest is being organised by the Stop the War coalition, who campaigned against the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Israel’s war against Palestine more recently (C) Sean Perry / Wikimedia Commons
in the early hours of the morning on 3 January, the United States military invaded Venezuela, launching a series of airstrikes at the capital Caracas and key military installations throughout the north of the country.
At 2:01am local time (6:01am GMT) the US Army’s elite Delta Force counterterrorism unit stormed Maduro’s residence and extrajudicially arrested and extracted the Venezuelan hardline left-wing leader and his wife.
The pair were then brought back to the United States, where they will face narcoterrorism charges.
Following the attack, US President Donald Trump said that the US would govern the country until there was a transition of power.
These claims were, however, contradicted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested on Sunday that the United States would not govern Venezuela day-to-day.
Venezuelan and Cuban officials said that more than 80 people were killed in the attack, including 32 Cuban military and intelligence personnel.
These actions have drawn the attention of the UK Stop the War coalition, who opposed the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and protested Israel’s war against Palestine.
The protest in Edinburgh will be held simultaneously with a similar protest in Glasgow, opposing war in Venezuela.
Duncan Smith, convener of the Edinburgh Stop the War branch, said that they were holding the protest to “oppose the abduction of Venezuela’s president”.
He continued: “Firstly, it’s about taking control of Venezuela’s oil, and brining their massive oil reserves under the control of American companies.
“Secondly, there’s a long history of the US staging coups and overthrowing sovereign leaders in Latin America, so this is nothing new.
“The US is clearly attempting to reassert their hegemony over Latin America, especially with China investing heavily in the region.”
“It’s about extending US control over the region and expanding their sphere of influence.”
He added: “It’s up to the people of Venezuela to decide what sort of Government they want.
“It’s unacceptable for the US to stage a coup and attempt to change the government of the country by force.”
On why a protest in Edinburgh had been organised, he said: “It’s symbolic.
“The US Consulate is here, and it represents the US Government in Scotland.
He said that partners from the Palestine solidarity movement, the Venezuelan solidarity movement, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament are expected outside the consulate tonight.
“We need to make it known that the people of the UK oppose the US coup in Venezuela,” he stated.
“We don’t accept that it’s going to be the norm that powerful countries can take over smaller ones without consequences.”
The protest will be held at 5pm tonight outside the US Consulate at 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh.
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