Bolivia's first Indigenous President Evo Morales took to Twitter Tuesday to condemn threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose economic sanctions against Venezuela if the country goes ahead with its National Constituent Assembly on July 30.
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Morales said that Trump's plan to sanction Venezuela is part of an “economic conspiracy,” explaining that the ultimate goal of the U.S. government is “intervention and domination of Venezuela” in order to “appropriate its oil.”
The head of state spared no expense condemning several former Latin American presidents whose position against Venezuela was congruent with the U.S. interventionist plans. In doing so he affirmed that such positions were nothing short of “shameful” and that economic sanctions imposed on a democratically- elected government comprised a “political conspiracy” aimed at toppling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Invited by the right-wing opposition Venezuela, former Mexican President Vicente Fox, along with four other Latin American heads of state, traveled to Caracas as "observers" of the non-binding plebiscite held Sunday. The four other former presidents, seeking to lend prestige and legitimacy to the mock plebiscite, were Andres Pastrana of Colombia, Jorge Quiroga of Bolivia, and Laura Chinchilla and Miguel Angel Rodriguez, both from Costa Rica.
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On Monday, Trump characterized Maduro as a “bad leader” who harbors aspirations of becoming a “dictator.” He threatened that the U.S. government would impose “strong and swift economic sanctions” on Venezuela if the country proceeds with its constitutionally-backed ANC.
Amid growing right-wing violence and sabotage which included the torching of 40 tons of subsidized food, a helicopter terrorist attack against the Supreme Court and Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace headquarters, and a Black youth, Orlando Figuera, being set on fire and killed by an anti-government crowd, Maduro called for the ANC to help foster dialogue and peace in the country.
At least 95 people have died and over 1,000 have been injured since the violent opposition protests began in early April. Maduro and former foreign minister and ANC candidate Delcy Rodriguez have said that the real plan behind the protests is to instigate widespread chaos which would further destabilize the country, with foreign intervention and the toppling of the Bolivarian government being the end game.