Monthly Archives: December 2020

2020-12-04: News Headlines

A Guest Author (2020-12-04). Bolivarian soccer genius—Argentinian Diego Maradona °Presente! workers.org By Danny Shaw and William Camacaro The slightly edited article first appeared on popularresistance.org/ on Nov. 27. The fighting peoples of the world lost a humble legend on Nov. 25. Diego Armando Maradona was 60 years old. Arguably the greatest soccer player to ever grace the pitches, the spirited striker . . . |

_____ (2020-12-04). Venezuela Wins Simply By Holding An Election. popularresistance.org On December 6, the Venezuelan people will vote for a new National Assembly. Ordinarily, there is nothing unusual about this, nor would this be newsworthy outside Venezuela. Ever since the election of Hugo Chávez to the presidency in 1998, the Venezuelan people have been used to more than one national election each year (this legislative election is the 25th in 21 years); these have been the presidential elections, the legislative elections, and the referendums to strengthen the 1999 Constitution. On the surface, this is just another one of these elections that has served to deepen the meaning of democracy in Vene…

Pablo Vivanco (2020-12-04). US-Backed Opposition in Venezuela Is in Freefall, Have Only Themselves to Blame. globalresearch.ca Most people around the globe would agree that 2020 has been a year to forget. This is certainly, if not especially, true for Venezuela's opposition, and the upcoming parliamentary vote will only add to their misfortunes. | A revolt from within …

Federico Fuentes (2020-12-04). Why Venezuela's National Assembly elections matter. zcomm.org Venezuelans are set to vote in elections like no other in the country's recent history when they go to the polls to elect a new National Assembly (AN) on December 6…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-12-03). Venezuela, China Condemn US Sanctions Against Tech Company. venezuelanalysis.com Beijing reiterated its support for Venezuelan sovereignty.

W. T. Whitney (2020-12-02). US Plot Relying on Extradition Targets Peace in Colombia. counterpunch.org For 50 years Colombian governments and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) fought a civil war; 200,000 lives were lost. After four years of negotiations, the two sides signed a peace agreement that took effect in November 2016. Now the agreement is in trouble, mainly at the hands of rightwing extremists led by former

Gloria La Riva (2020-12-02). La Ley Antibloqueo de Venezuela y las elecciones el 6 de diciembre. liberationnews.org Las fuerzas progresistas se están movilizando en todo el país para recuperar la asamblea de los políticos de derecha que obtuvieron la mayoría en diciembre de 2015.

Gloria La Riva (2020-12-02). Venezuela's anti-blockade law and the Dec. 6 elections. liberationnews.org Progressive forces mobilize nationwide to win back the assembly from right-wing politicians who won the majority in December 2015.

_____ (2020-12-02). Embassy Protection Collective Members Mark End Of Federal Probation. popularresistance.org Washington, DC — Today, three of the four members of the Embassy Protection Collective, Adrienne Pine, David Paul and Margaret Flowers, who stayed in the Venezuelan Embassy last year to stop its illegal handover to coup leaders, are finished with their six-month probation and 30-day suspended sentence. The fourth member of the collective, Kevin Zeese, died unexpectedly in September. | The three collective members are traveling to Venezuela to serve as official election observers for the National Assembly election to be held on December 6, 2020.

_____ (2020-12-02). Is the U.S. Actually a 'Police State'? strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | Is the phrase "police state" anything more than propaganda that a government uses against a foreign government that it wants to overthrow — such as the U.S. did against Iraq before invading it in 2003, and against Libya and Syria since 2011, and against Venezuela since 2012, and against Ukraine since 2013, and in all instances destroyed those countries, allegedly to 'bring democracy and human rights and the rule of law, and fight against corruption' there (as if that were honestly the intention)? | The phrase "police state" is used propagandistically to denigrate a foreign nation that one's ow…

John Pilger (2020-12-01). "I spoke to impoverished families in 1975 and little has changed since then" dissidentvoice.org A British family from the film Smashing Kids, 1975. Photograph: John Garrett John Pilger interviewed Irene Brunsden in Hackney, east London about only being able to feed her two-year-old a plate of cornflakes in 1975. Now he sees nervous women queueing at foodbanks with their children as it's revealed 600,000 more kids are in poverty …

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-12-01). U.S. extradition plot targets peace in Colombia. peoplesworld.org &nbsp…

Eds. (2020-12-01). Parliamentary Elections in Venezuela: All you need to know. mronline.org For the first time in recent history, Venezuela's left is divided. Will this disrupt the PSUV's plans to retake control of the National Assembly?>

teleSUR (2020-12-01). Colombia: Another Indigenous Leader Killed in Cauca. telesurenglish.net Romelio Ramos Cuetia, a 31-year-old indigenous community member, was murdered by a group of armed men in the rural area of the municipality of Suárez, in the northern part of the Colombian department of Cauca. | The indigenous man was a native of the village of Paletón in the municipality of Jambaló and resided in the Alejandría village in the of Cerro Tijeras, where he worked as a farmer. | RELATED: | According to…

_____ (2020-12-01). Fuel Shortages In Venezuela. popularresistance.org Fuel shortages have become of the main issues in Venezuela. The mainstream media, always on board the regime change bandwagon, is keen to report that "the country with the world's largest oil reserves" has no fuel, but not so much on the causes behind it. | Under the weight of punishing US sanctions, state oil company PDVSA has seen production fall dramatically and fuel refining has been especially hit. | In our most recent joint production with Tatuy Tv, we look at the causes and consequences of fuel shortages in Venezuela.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-01). Anti-imperialists petition EU to recognize Venezuelan elections. peoplesdispatch.org Members of the European Network of Solidarity with Venezuela turned in a petition calling for the European Union to recognize the upcoming Venezuelan elections. The petition was signed by prominent left-wing public figures and leaders from Europe and Latin America and had more than 3,500 signatures from over 30 nations. It is part of an international campaign against regime change attempts in the Latin American nation. Venezuela is scheduled to hold its parliamentary election on December 6, the first since the abortive attempt to overthrow the government in January 2019. | The petitioners have asked the EU leader…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-01). US sanctions Chinese telecom firm for links with Venezuela's CANTV. peoplesdispatch.org The United States has imposed sanctions on a major Chinese tech firm, China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC), for conducting business with Venezuela. The sanctions were announced on November 30, Monday, by the US Treasury Department. The move is based on allegations that the CEIEC is assisting the Venezuelan government to "suppress" dissent. | The allegations come in light of Venezuelan government-run telecom firm CANTV blocking certain websites and platforms linked with pro-coup and pro-Guaido groups. The US government stated that the contract with the CEIEC has assisted in the supposed…

sputniknews (2020-12-01). Beijing Urges US to Lift All 'Illegal Sanctions' Amid Venezuela-Related Restrictions on Chinese Firm. sputniknews.com Washington blacklisted the China National Electronic Import-Export Company (CEIEC) for aiding the Venezuelan government, vowing to block all transactions with the firm or any entity that owns a 50 percent or higher stake in it.

sputniknews (2020-12-01). Venezuela Denounces US Sanctions Against CEIEC, Foreign Ministry States. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Caracas considers the recent US sanctions against the China National Electronic Import-Export Company (CEIEC) an attempt to destabilize the situation ahead of elections, according to a Venezuelan Foreign Ministry statement.

teleSUR (2020-12-01). Venezuela Rejects US Harassment Against Chinese Tech Company. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza called harassment the new U.S. sanctions against China Corporation of Electronic Imports and Exports (CEIEC), which provides telecommunications services in the Latin American country. | RELATED: | "We denounce the U.S. government's coercive measures which were imposed to affect projects in favor of the Venezuelan people ahead of the parliamentary elections," Arreaza tweeted. | On Mond…

teleSUR (2020-12-01). Venezuela Submits Report to Meet the Hague Court's Requests. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Public Ministry delivered Monday a report to respond to the requests issued by the Prosecutor Office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October this year. | RELATED: | Attorney General Tarek William Saab noted that the "extensive report" was submitted "in time and form" in order to meet the call voiced by the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) chairwoman Fatou Bensouda. | He also reiterated his go…

Paul Dobson (2020-11-30). Venezuelan Government Privatises State-run AgroPatria. venezuelanalysis.com Maduro also requested private sector help in finishing an abandoned rail construction project from 2002.

Alejandra Garcia (2020-11-30). Hostilities Won't Stop Venezuela's Upcoming Elections. telesurenglish.net The international campaign of discredit against the Venezuelan electoral process, encouraged by the U.S. and the European Union (EU), gains strength one week ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for December 6. | RELATED: | "Chavism won't guarantee biosecurity measures," "The voting machines will fail," "Maduro seeks to settle his government after the parliamentary elections," are some headlines shown by the Miami-Bogota-Ma…

teleSUR (2020-11-30). US Sanctions Chinese Tech Firm for Having Ties With Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday sanctioned China Corporation of Electronic Imports and Exports (CEIEC) for allegedly supporting Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro to "undermine democracy" in his country. | RELATED: | An official statement argues that the Chinese technology company would give the Bolivarian government software to restrict citizens' access to the Internet and monitor their actions on the netw…

_____ (2020-11-30). Upcoming Venezuelan Election Is Another Rejection Of US Imperialism. popularresistance.org On December 6, Venezuelans will vote for a new National Assembly. Just as it has done for the past twenty years, the United States is interfering in the election process and has already falsely claimed the elections are rigged. The last National Assembly election in 2015 was marred by a vote-buying scheme in one remote region. Upon an order from the Supreme Court to redo those races, right-wing parties refused, putting the entire National Assembly in contempt of court. Latin American policy analyst, Leonardo Flores, joins me to speak about this election and the impacts of the US' efforts to interfere and overthro…

_____ (2020-11-30). 'We Will Defend Democracy In Ecuador'. popularresistance.org In countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile, popular movements have risen to express their discontent and demand a new economic model — only to be met with street violence, government repression, and coup d'etats. | In Ecuador, the rise of authoritarianism can be seen in the actions against the electoral opposition. In August — less than 24 hours after the National Electoral Council (CNE) officially called elections — the governing forces attempted illegally and unconstitutionally to eliminate the Movimiento Fuerza Compromiso Social, list 5 that had sheltered the political force of t…

_____ (2020-11-30). Venezuela Calls On UNSC To Reject Unilateral Sanctions. popularresistance.org "All countries suffering from this type of aggression inflicted by economic means must cooperate to put an end to the suffering of our peoples," Ambassador Moncada stressed. | Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday, Venezuela's Ambassador Samuel Moncada proposed the formation of an "International Alliance Against Unilateral Coercive Measures" to halt the crimes against humanity committed by the U.S. government, which keeps arbitrary economic sanctions against 29 countries.

_____ (2020-11-30). Venezuela Sentences Former Citgo Executives For Corruption. popularresistance.org Merida – Six former oil executives were sentenced for corruption on Thursday by a Venezuelan court. | They were detained in November 2017 in Caracas on charges of embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy at state oil company PDVSA's US subsidiary, Citgo. | Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated at the time that the accused had signed contracts without government permission which "jeopardized the country's assets." Refinancing plans with Frontier Group Management and Apollo Global Management allegedly had draconian conditions and offered the company itself as collateral.

2020-12-03: News Headlines

Ricardo Vaz (2020-12-03). Venezuela, China Condemn US Sanctions Against Tech Company. venezuelanalysis.com Beijing reiterated its support for Venezuelan sovereignty.

Gloria La Riva (2020-12-02). Venezuela's anti-blockade law and the Dec. 6 elections. liberationnews.org Progressive forces mobilize nationwide to win back the assembly from right-wing politicians who won the majority in December 2015.

W. T. Whitney (2020-12-02). US Plot Relying on Extradition Targets Peace in Colombia. counterpunch.org For 50 years Colombian governments and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) fought a civil war; 200,000 lives were lost. After four years of negotiations, the two sides signed a peace agreement that took effect in November 2016. Now the agreement is in trouble, mainly at the hands of rightwing extremists led by former

Gloria La Riva (2020-12-02). La Ley Antibloqueo de Venezuela y las elecciones el 6 de diciembre. liberationnews.org Las fuerzas progresistas se están movilizando en todo el país para recuperar la asamblea de los políticos de derecha que obtuvieron la mayoría en diciembre de 2015.

W. T. Whitney (2020-12-02). US Plot Relying on Extradition Targets Peace in Colombia. counterpunch.org For 50 years Colombian governments and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) fought a civil war; 200,000 lives were lost. After four years of negotiations, the two sides signed a peace agreement that took effect in November 2016. Now the agreement is in trouble, mainly at the hands of rightwing extremists led by former

_____ (2020-12-02). Embassy Protection Collective Members Mark End Of Federal Probation. popularresistance.org Washington, DC — Today, three of the four members of the Embassy Protection Collective, Adrienne Pine, David Paul and Margaret Flowers, who stayed in the Venezuelan Embassy last year to stop its illegal handover to coup leaders, are finished with their six-month probation and 30-day suspended sentence. The fourth member of the collective, Kevin Zeese, died unexpectedly in September. | The three collective members are traveling to Venezuela to serve as official election observers for the National Assembly election to be held on December 6, 2020.

_____ (2020-12-02). Is the U.S. Actually a 'Police State'? strategic-culture.org Eric ZUESSE | Is the phrase "police state" anything more than propaganda that a government uses against a foreign government that it wants to overthrow — such as the U.S. did against Iraq before invading it in 2003, and against Libya and Syria since 2011, and against Venezuela since 2012, and against Ukraine since 2013, and in all instances destroyed those countries, allegedly to 'bring democracy and human rights and the rule of law, and fight against corruption' there (as if that were honestly the intention)? | The phrase "police state" is used propagandistically to denigrate a foreign nation that one's ow…

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-12-01). U.S. extradition plot targets peace in Colombia. peoplesworld.org &nbsp…

John Pilger (2020-12-01). "I spoke to impoverished families in 1975 and little has changed since then" dissidentvoice.org A British family from the film Smashing Kids, 1975. Photograph: John Garrett John Pilger interviewed Irene Brunsden in Hackney, east London about only being able to feed her two-year-old a plate of cornflakes in 1975. Now he sees nervous women queueing at foodbanks with their children as it's revealed 600,000 more kids are in poverty …

W. T. Whitney Jr. (2020-12-01). U.S. extradition plot targets peace in Colombia. peoplesworld.org &nbsp…

Eds. (2020-12-01). Parliamentary Elections in Venezuela: All you need to know. mronline.org For the first time in recent history, Venezuela's left is divided. Will this disrupt the PSUV's plans to retake control of the National Assembly?>

teleSUR (2020-12-01). Colombia: Another Indigenous Leader Killed in Cauca. telesurenglish.net Romelio Ramos Cuetia, a 31-year-old indigenous community member, was murdered by a group of armed men in the rural area of the municipality of Suárez, in the northern part of the Colombian department of Cauca. | The indigenous man was a native of the village of Paletón in the municipality of Jambaló and resided in the Alejandría village in the of Cerro Tijeras, where he worked as a farmer. | RELATED: | According to…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-01). Anti-imperialists petition EU to recognize Venezuelan elections. peoplesdispatch.org Members of the European Network of Solidarity with Venezuela turned in a petition calling for the European Union to recognize the upcoming Venezuelan elections. The petition was signed by prominent left-wing public figures and leaders from Europe and Latin America and had more than 3,500 signatures from over 30 nations. It is part of an international campaign against regime change attempts in the Latin American nation. Venezuela is scheduled to hold its parliamentary election on December 6, the first since the abortive attempt to overthrow the government in January 2019. | The petitioners have asked the EU leader…

_____ (2020-12-01). Fuel Shortages In Venezuela. popularresistance.org Fuel shortages have become of the main issues in Venezuela. The mainstream media, always on board the regime change bandwagon, is keen to report that "the country with the world's largest oil reserves" has no fuel, but not so much on the causes behind it. | Under the weight of punishing US sanctions, state oil company PDVSA has seen production fall dramatically and fuel refining has been especially hit. | In our most recent joint production with Tatuy Tv, we look at the causes and consequences of fuel shortages in Venezuela.

teleSUR (2020-12-01). Venezuela Submits Report to Meet the Hague Court's Requests. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Public Ministry delivered Monday a report to respond to the requests issued by the Prosecutor Office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October this year. | RELATED: | Attorney General Tarek William Saab noted that the "extensive report" was submitted "in time and form" in order to meet the call voiced by the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) chairwoman Fatou Bensouda. | He also reiterated his go…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-01). US sanctions Chinese telecom firm for links with Venezuela's CANTV. peoplesdispatch.org The United States has imposed sanctions on a major Chinese tech firm, China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC), for conducting business with Venezuela. The sanctions were announced on November 30, Monday, by the US Treasury Department. The move is based on allegations that the CEIEC is assisting the Venezuelan government to "suppress" dissent. | The allegations come in light of Venezuelan government-run telecom firm CANTV blocking certain websites and platforms linked with pro-coup and pro-Guaido groups. The US government stated that the contract with the CEIEC has assisted in the supposed…

teleSUR (2020-12-01). Venezuela Rejects US Harassment Against Chinese Tech Company. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza called harassment the new U.S. sanctions against China Corporation of Electronic Imports and Exports (CEIEC), which provides telecommunications services in the Latin American country. | RELATED: | "We denounce the U.S. government's coercive measures which were imposed to affect projects in favor of the Venezuelan people ahead of the parliamentary elections," Arreaza tweeted. | On Mond…

sputniknews (2020-12-01). Venezuela Denounces US Sanctions Against CEIEC, Foreign Ministry States. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Caracas considers the recent US sanctions against the China National Electronic Import-Export Company (CEIEC) an attempt to destabilize the situation ahead of elections, according to a Venezuelan Foreign Ministry statement.

sputniknews (2020-12-01). Beijing Urges US to Lift All 'Illegal Sanctions' Amid Venezuela-Related Restrictions on Chinese Firm. sputniknews.com Washington blacklisted the China National Electronic Import-Export Company (CEIEC) for aiding the Venezuelan government, vowing to block all transactions with the firm or any entity that owns a 50 percent or higher stake in it.

Paul Dobson (2020-11-30). Venezuelan Government Privatises State-run AgroPatria. venezuelanalysis.com Maduro also requested private sector help in finishing an abandoned rail construction project from 2002.

teleSUR (2020-11-30). US Sanctions Chinese Tech Firm for Having Ties With Venezuela. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday sanctioned China Corporation of Electronic Imports and Exports (CEIEC) for allegedly supporting Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro to "undermine democracy" in his country. | RELATED: | An official statement argues that the Chinese technology company would give the Bolivarian government software to restrict citizens' access to the Internet and monitor their actions on the netw…

_____ (2020-11-30). Upcoming Venezuelan Election Is Another Rejection Of US Imperialism. popularresistance.org On December 6, Venezuelans will vote for a new National Assembly. Just as it has done for the past twenty years, the United States is interfering in the election process and has already falsely claimed the elections are rigged. The last National Assembly election in 2015 was marred by a vote-buying scheme in one remote region. Upon an order from the Supreme Court to redo those races, right-wing parties refused, putting the entire National Assembly in contempt of court. Latin American policy analyst, Leonardo Flores, joins me to speak about this election and the impacts of the US' efforts to interfere and overthro…

Alejandra Garcia (2020-11-30). Hostilities Won't Stop Venezuela's Upcoming Elections. telesurenglish.net The international campaign of discredit against the Venezuelan electoral process, encouraged by the U.S. and the European Union (EU), gains strength one week ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for December 6. | RELATED: | "Chavism won't guarantee biosecurity measures," "The voting machines will fail," "Maduro seeks to settle his government after the parliamentary elections," are some headlines shown by the Miami-Bogota-Ma…

_____ (2020-11-30). Venezuela Calls On UNSC To Reject Unilateral Sanctions. popularresistance.org "All countries suffering from this type of aggression inflicted by economic means must cooperate to put an end to the suffering of our peoples," Ambassador Moncada stressed. | Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday, Venezuela's Ambassador Samuel Moncada proposed the formation of an "International Alliance Against Unilateral Coercive Measures" to halt the crimes against humanity committed by the U.S. government, which keeps arbitrary economic sanctions against 29 countries.

_____ (2020-11-30). 'We Will Defend Democracy In Ecuador'. popularresistance.org In countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile, popular movements have risen to express their discontent and demand a new economic model — only to be met with street violence, government repression, and coup d'etats. | In Ecuador, the rise of authoritarianism can be seen in the actions against the electoral opposition. In August — less than 24 hours after the National Electoral Council (CNE) officially called elections — the governing forces attempted illegally and unconstitutionally to eliminate the Movimiento Fuerza Compromiso Social, list 5 that had sheltered the political force of t…

_____ (2020-11-30). Venezuela Sentences Former Citgo Executives For Corruption. popularresistance.org Merida – Six former oil executives were sentenced for corruption on Thursday by a Venezuelan court. | They were detained in November 2017 in Caracas on charges of embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy at state oil company PDVSA's US subsidiary, Citgo. | Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated at the time that the accused had signed contracts without government permission which "jeopardized the country's assets." Refinancing plans with Frontier Group Management and Apollo Global Management allegedly had draconian conditions and offered the company itself as collateral.