UK Labour Lawmakers, High-profile Activists, Academics Defend Venezuela Against Intervention

Britain’s parliamentarians, social leaders, politicians, and celebrities openly condemned international interventionism against Venezuela in a public statement published in The Guardian Sunday.

RELATED: 

Venezuela Rejects EU Ultimatum 'Befitting Old Colonial Powers'

In light of the recent developments in the South American country, the U.K. publication asked its readers to share their thoughts on President Trump’s tireless efforts to disrupt the region’s politics and oust democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro.

Sixteen high ranking British officials, representatives of 24 labor and political movements, six academics, as well as the journalist and campaigner, Owen Jones; Writer and playwright Tariq Ali, Rapper Lowkey, Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, and Actor Andy de la Tour were among the first to respond.

They wrote, “The far-right governments of (U.S. President Donald) Trump and (Brazilian President Jair) Bolsonaro offer no hope to Venezuela or to the majority of people in Latin America (U.S. puts ‘full weight’ behind regime change in Venezuela, 24 January).

“Whatever views people hold on Venezuela, there is no justification for backing the U.S. attempt at regime change under way, which, if successful, could go the way of the disastrous interventions in Iraq and Libya.

“Instead, the way forward is the call for dialogue from the Mexican and Bolivian presidents,” the statement said.

The letter comes as the United States and its right-wing allies recognized opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido as the country's "interim president" after he spef-proclaimed himself as such on Jan. 23, an illegal and unconstitutional move and a rejection of the second term of the Nicolas Maduro in office which he won after last year's May elections.

Since then Guaido, the United States and right-wing governments in the region have been calling on the Venezuelan military to oust Maduro. However, the country's defense minister and top military brass have come out in support of Maduro and his government.

The letter mentioned above was signed by the following:

John McDonnell MP, Diane Abbott MP, Richard Burgon MP, Dan Carden MP, Laura Pidcock MP, Emma Dent Coad MP, Clive Lewis MP, Grahame Morris MP, Kate Osamor MP, Dennis Skinner MP, Laura Smith MP, Chris Williamson MP, Neil Findlay MSP, John Finnie MSP, Doreen Massey, Michael Mansfield QC, Owen Jones Journalist and campaigner, Tariq Ali Writer and playwright, Lowkey Rapper, Linton Kwesi Johnson Poet, Andy de la Tour Actor, John Hendy QC, Lindsey German Stop the War Coalition, Kate Hudson Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Tony Burke and Steve Turner Unite the Union assistant general secretaries, Matt Wrack Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary, Manuel Cortes Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) general secretary, Doug Nicholls General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) general secretary; Ronnie Draper Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU) general secretary; Chris Kitchen National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary, Andy Kerr Communication Workers Union (CWU) deputy general secretary, Zita Holbourne Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) national vice-president, Sean McGovern Unite EC and TUC general council (disabled workers’ representative), Christine Blower Former National Union of Teachers (NUT) general secretary, Lara McNeill Labor National Executive Committee (NEC) youth representative, Rachel Garnham Labor NEC member, Claudia Webbe Labor NEC member, Peter Willsman Labor NEC member, Marcus Barnett International officer of Young Labor, Mark Weisbrot Center for Economic and Policy Research, Dr. Francisco Dominguez Head of Latin American Studies, Middlesex University; Ray Bush Professor of African studies and development politics, Leeds University; Peter Hallward Professor of philosophy, Kingston University; Ken Livingstone Former mayor of London; Salma Yaqoob Equality and human rights campaigner, Maggie Bowden General secretary, Liberation; Colin Burgon Labor Friends of Progressive Latin America, Dr. Susan Grey Venezuela Solidarity Campaign.