US Couldn’t Defeat Venezuela, Neither Will OAS: Bolivia’s Evo

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Friday expressed solidarity with Venezuela against the latest aggressions by the head of the Organization of American States, OAS, his attempts to overthrow the democratically-elected government.

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“The U.S. could not defeat the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela. The OAS, with (Luis) Almagro, as if it were the U.S. ministry of the colony, is trying,” Morales posted on Twitter. Almagro, a right-wing Uruguayan politician, is the Secretary General of the OAS.

“Anti-imperialists and social movements will defend our democratic revolutions. Venezuela is not alone,” he added.

Morales made his remarks in response to renewed attempts by Almagro to invoke the OAS' so-called 'Democratic Charter' against the South American nation. Flanked by spouses of Venezuela opposition leader jailed for their involvement in violent 2014 protests that claimed 43 lives, the OAS General Secretary recently released a renewed call for the application of this mechanism against Venezuela.

On Thursday, 14 OAS countries released a joint declaration posted on Mexico's foreign ministry website, expressing “deep concern” for alleged “human rights violations” in the country. The group announced their joint position in preparation for calling for a regional vote on Venezuela’s at the OAS.

Sponsoring countries also include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

An official date for the OAS’ regional vote has been called for Mar. 28, while Venezuela has convened a meeting of the organization's top body for Mar. 27.

“Venezuela denounces U.S. designs to impose a new Washington Consensus on our country, through aggression and interference," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez posted on Twitter after the declaration was announced.

“It has been sufficiently demonstrated that the regional right is in concert with the U.S. Department of State to attack Venezuela.”

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For years, Almagro has called for new elections in Venezuela to remove democratically-elected President Nicolas Maduro. Since taking charge of the OAS in 2015, the Uruguayan diplomat has used been unprecedently active in Venezuelan politics, devoting much of his time with the organization to support the country's opposition and their calls.

Almagro has also pushed for regime change in Cuba, supporting illegal right-wing groups like the Latin American Network of Youths for Democracy, RLJD, that call for overthrowing the government. Last month, the Cuban government denied entry to Almagro, who was on his way to receive an award from the RLJD for his “pro-democracy efforts.”

Despite his time as foreign minister under Uruguayan leftist president Jose Mujica, Almagro has also expressed opposition to the leftist administrations of Morales and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.