Activists Urge Panama to Leave Lima Group, Support Venezuela

Social organizations are demanding Panama leave the Lima Group and align itself with proposals that promote unity and peace in Venezuela.

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Protesters stood outside the Panamanian Foreign Ministry in Caracas rejecting the country’s decision to support U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to conduct a militarized intervention in Venezuela or any Latin American country.

The activist recalled the dozens of abuse cases, humiliation, and violence suffered at the hands of U.S. troops in 1989 invasion, many of which remain in impunity, according to a recent report by the inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

"We, Panamanians, are calling for peace- a country that was invaded by a power like the United States, that massacred our people; we are the living memory of the invasion and injustice and to this day, the number of fatalities suffered is still unknown,” said Lilian Ruiz. a representative of the Committee of Solidarity with Venezuela.

Social activists urged state officials to abandon the international group and its attacks against the Bolivarian state and promote peaceful dialogue that respects the nation’s democracy and is consistent with Panama’s history and solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

Following the attempted coup in Caracas Jan. 23 when the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, illegally declared himself Venezuela’s commander in chief, member states of the Lima Group were some of the first nations to support his illicit claim, after the United States.

In a statement, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru openly recognized and expressed their solidarity with Guaido who is currently being investigated by the Venezuelan state.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela announced its decision to impose a travel ban against Guaido during the investigation, prohibit the transfer of assets, and block his Venezuelan bank account.

The facts against Guaido being investigated range from violent protests with deadly results to the implication of coercive measures carried out by the United States against Venezuela.