Seafire
29th September 2006, 00:52
International Action Center - Sep 28, 2006
STOP U.S. Aggression Against Venezuela
Sign the petition online:
English: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgn.shtml
Spanish: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgnsp.shtml
International Action Center
Founded by Ramsey Clark
5C - Solidarity Center - 55 West 17th Street - New York, N.Y. 10011
212-633-6646 - iacenter at action-mail.org
http://www.IACenter.org
The United States government and its corporate media's belligerent
campaign against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its leaders
must cease at once. Several incidents that occurred during the session
of the United Nations in New York City clearly expose the campaign's
escalation.
On Saturday, September 23, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro,
who was part of the delegation from Venezuela attending the UN meetings,
was detained for 90 minutes in the JFK International Airport as he was
ready to board a plane to return to his homeland. Charging that a code
in his airplane ticket identified him as "almost a terrorist," U.S.
authorities held him. Mr. Maduro told CNN that he was confined to a
small room and told to remove his clothes; he added that when he showed
his diplomatic passport, the harassment increased. Then he was
threatened, pushed and yelled at by immigration and police officials. He
was also stripped of his travel documents.
Venezuelan General Consul in Chicago Martin Sanchez was also searched at
LaGuardia airport. "After passing the X-ray control, they told me to
open my bags. I showed them my diplomatic card, but they insisted on
searching my hand baggage, because they thought it might contain a
banned object. I wasn't able to board my flight and had to wait three
more hours for another plane."
President Hugo Chavez' personal physician and his chief of security had
to remain aboard the plane that brought the delegation to the UN event
since their visas were denied, therefore their legal entrance to the
country was forbidden.
These incidents are clear violations of international law, the Vienna
Convention and the obligation of the U.S. government, as the U.S. is the
site where the headquarters of the UN is located.
The UN is supposed to be a neutral place where nations can debate in a
safe environment, without external interference. The U.S. government has
the obligation to protect and safeguard that environment and all the
heads of state, representatives, diplomats and accompanying staff. The
U.S. has failed to do this in this case.
This unreasonable hostility from the George W. Bush administration
towards the Venezuelan leaders only validates the name "devil" by which
President Chavez referred to U.S. President Bush during the Venezuelan
president's address in the UN.
The U.S. media and even some personalities have shown their hypocrisy by
attacking President Chavez for using that word. But actions speak louder
than words. Those personalities and the media circus gave little thought
or consideration to the countless victims, among them many children and
civilians, of Bush's military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and
Lebanon in the name of "democracy": the destruction of infrastructure,
the loss of thousands of lives, the contamination of the world
environment, the destabilization of the world through the
"antiterrorist" military campaign and threats to countries like Iran,
Syria, Sudan, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. They forget the crimes
perpetrated against the victims of Katrina, many of who are still
without housing or resources to rebuild their lives. Is it not
reasonable that many would view the head of this administration as the
personification of evil?
It is time to face the danger that the United States represents here and
abroad in order to stop the destruction that otherwise will occur.
Signed,
Ramsey Clark
Teresa Gutierrez & Sara Flounders,
Co-Directors IAC
Chris Silvera, Chair
National Teamsters Black Caucus
Sec/Treas. Teamsters Local 808
James Petras
Writer, Professor
Peter Coyote
Actor
Dr. James D. Cockcroft
Writer, Professor
Padre Luis Barrios, PhD
Iglesia San Romero de Las Américas
Judy Wicks Founder/President White Dog Enterprises, Inc.
Charles Barron
NYC Councilmember
Felipe C. Teixeira
Most Reverend OFSJC Bishop
Northeastern Diocese
St Francis of Assisi, CCA
Frantz Mendes, President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers
Leslie Feinberg,
Writer, co-chair LGBT Caucus, National Writers Union/UAW
David Sole,
President UAW Local 2334, Detroit
Berta Joubert-Ceci, MD
Physician
Dorotea Manuela and Tony Vandermeer
Co-Chairs, Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee
Larry Holmes
Troops Out Now Coalition
Pepe Abola, ROSA 7053, Youth Group of Boston Rosa Parks Committee
LeiLani Dowell
Fight Imperialism Stand Together - FIST
Sue Harris
People's Video Network
Ardeshir Ommani
Stop War On Iran
Iranian American Friendship Committee
John Parker
LeftBooks
Jesse Lakahi Hiawa
Asia Pacific Action
Women's Fightback Network
Steve Gillis, Vice-President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers
Susan E. Davis, Delegate
National Writers Union
UAW Local 1981
Sign the petition online:
http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgn.shtml
STOP U.S. Aggression Against Venezuela
Sign the petition online:
English: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgn.shtml
Spanish: http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgnsp.shtml
International Action Center
Founded by Ramsey Clark
5C - Solidarity Center - 55 West 17th Street - New York, N.Y. 10011
212-633-6646 - iacenter at action-mail.org
http://www.IACenter.org
The United States government and its corporate media's belligerent
campaign against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its leaders
must cease at once. Several incidents that occurred during the session
of the United Nations in New York City clearly expose the campaign's
escalation.
On Saturday, September 23, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro,
who was part of the delegation from Venezuela attending the UN meetings,
was detained for 90 minutes in the JFK International Airport as he was
ready to board a plane to return to his homeland. Charging that a code
in his airplane ticket identified him as "almost a terrorist," U.S.
authorities held him. Mr. Maduro told CNN that he was confined to a
small room and told to remove his clothes; he added that when he showed
his diplomatic passport, the harassment increased. Then he was
threatened, pushed and yelled at by immigration and police officials. He
was also stripped of his travel documents.
Venezuelan General Consul in Chicago Martin Sanchez was also searched at
LaGuardia airport. "After passing the X-ray control, they told me to
open my bags. I showed them my diplomatic card, but they insisted on
searching my hand baggage, because they thought it might contain a
banned object. I wasn't able to board my flight and had to wait three
more hours for another plane."
President Hugo Chavez' personal physician and his chief of security had
to remain aboard the plane that brought the delegation to the UN event
since their visas were denied, therefore their legal entrance to the
country was forbidden.
These incidents are clear violations of international law, the Vienna
Convention and the obligation of the U.S. government, as the U.S. is the
site where the headquarters of the UN is located.
The UN is supposed to be a neutral place where nations can debate in a
safe environment, without external interference. The U.S. government has
the obligation to protect and safeguard that environment and all the
heads of state, representatives, diplomats and accompanying staff. The
U.S. has failed to do this in this case.
This unreasonable hostility from the George W. Bush administration
towards the Venezuelan leaders only validates the name "devil" by which
President Chavez referred to U.S. President Bush during the Venezuelan
president's address in the UN.
The U.S. media and even some personalities have shown their hypocrisy by
attacking President Chavez for using that word. But actions speak louder
than words. Those personalities and the media circus gave little thought
or consideration to the countless victims, among them many children and
civilians, of Bush's military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan and
Lebanon in the name of "democracy": the destruction of infrastructure,
the loss of thousands of lives, the contamination of the world
environment, the destabilization of the world through the
"antiterrorist" military campaign and threats to countries like Iran,
Syria, Sudan, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela. They forget the crimes
perpetrated against the victims of Katrina, many of who are still
without housing or resources to rebuild their lives. Is it not
reasonable that many would view the head of this administration as the
personification of evil?
It is time to face the danger that the United States represents here and
abroad in order to stop the destruction that otherwise will occur.
Signed,
Ramsey Clark
Teresa Gutierrez & Sara Flounders,
Co-Directors IAC
Chris Silvera, Chair
National Teamsters Black Caucus
Sec/Treas. Teamsters Local 808
James Petras
Writer, Professor
Peter Coyote
Actor
Dr. James D. Cockcroft
Writer, Professor
Padre Luis Barrios, PhD
Iglesia San Romero de Las Américas
Judy Wicks Founder/President White Dog Enterprises, Inc.
Charles Barron
NYC Councilmember
Felipe C. Teixeira
Most Reverend OFSJC Bishop
Northeastern Diocese
St Francis of Assisi, CCA
Frantz Mendes, President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers
Leslie Feinberg,
Writer, co-chair LGBT Caucus, National Writers Union/UAW
David Sole,
President UAW Local 2334, Detroit
Berta Joubert-Ceci, MD
Physician
Dorotea Manuela and Tony Vandermeer
Co-Chairs, Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee
Larry Holmes
Troops Out Now Coalition
Pepe Abola, ROSA 7053, Youth Group of Boston Rosa Parks Committee
LeiLani Dowell
Fight Imperialism Stand Together - FIST
Sue Harris
People's Video Network
Ardeshir Ommani
Stop War On Iran
Iranian American Friendship Committee
John Parker
LeftBooks
Jesse Lakahi Hiawa
Asia Pacific Action
Women's Fightback Network
Steve Gillis, Vice-President
USW Local 8751
Boston School Bus Drivers
Susan E. Davis, Delegate
National Writers Union
UAW Local 1981
Sign the petition online:
http://www.iacenter.org/venezuelacmpgn.shtml