Solidarity With Venezuela as Mercosur Delegation Attacked

After Venezuela’s foreign delegation was attacked in Buenos Aires Wednesday as it showed up to a Mercosur meeting to continue negotiations following an attempt by the so-called “Triple Alliance” of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay to suspend it from the trading bloc, various nations and social movements expressed solidarity with the country. 

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Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez said she was attacked by guards when trying to enter a meeting she was not invited to and later tweeted a picture of an empty conference room. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the minister was "gravely hurt" after being "thrown to the ground" and had "possibly broken a collar bone," along with a Bolivian delegation. Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, the Sisters of Brazil, the European Left, the FMLN of El Salvador and the National Network of Human Rights all expressed solidarity with Rodriguez.

Earlier this month, the three countries claimed that Venezuela was suspended from the bloc following months of continued pressure but the latter rejected the move as illegal and insisted that it joined up to 95 percent of the laws from Mercosur's integration mechanism over four years, unlike other founding countries.

The "Triple Alliance" claims that Venezuela has failed to comply with its conditions for membership. The countries had set a Dec. 1 ultimatum for Venezuela to satisfy the conditions, triggering the move to suspend the South American nation when the deadline passed. Venezuela argued that it has satisfied more conditions for membership than its counterparts in the bloc.

Uruguay has attempted to act as mediator amid the crisis, opting not to back Venezuela’s suspension and instead supporting the country's right to a voice within the bloc. While Venezuela was scheduled to take over the rotating presidency of the block on Aug. 1, the transfer of the position was blocked. Despite protests and controversy, Argentina went ahead to assume the presidency on Wednesday for the next six-month.

Rodriguez will meet with a number of political and social organizations in Uruguay, including a meeting with the president of the governing progressive Broad Front party, Javier Miranda, and representatives of the Committee on International Relations and Affairs.

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Rodriguez is also expected to meet with members of the Secretariat of the Central Unit of Uruguayan Workers and Social Movements in Montevideo.

Venezuela has dubbed its suspension a political move from the Triple Alliance’s right-wing governments, akin to an illegal coup. Speaking from Havana Wednesday at the ALBA anniversary gathering, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro vowed that Venezuela will not be kept out of the bloc.