Venezuelan ambassador hails SA's stance against US 'invasion'

VENEZUELAN Ambassador to South Africa, Carlos Feo Acevedo says the US military operation resulting in the capture of  President Nicolás Maduro and his wife has not weakened the people of his country. 

“Yes, we have been hit with a strike, we have been humiliated, and several dozen of our military people have been killed in Venezuela, among them, 32 Cuban heroes that were part of the Presidential Security Team, and they have kidnapped our President, Nicolas Maduro," he said when addressing  the South African Communist Party (SACP) Joe Slovo Lecture in Soweto yesterday. 

Acevedo also hailed South Africa for its principled stance in condemning the Donald Trump-sanctioned capture of Maduro. South Africa called on the UN Security Council to act swiftly against the US over its military operation in Venezuela, with the South African government saying the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) failure to act decisively against the US after it forcibly took Maduro and his wife, Cilla, out of Caracas was akin to inviting anarchy.

"We thank South Africa for playing its role in condemning the US military intervention in Venezuela and asking for the urgent meeting of the international Security Council that was held yesterday. We appreciate this brave position, and it is in line with the principle of South Africa, respecting international law, the UN Charter, the International Legal Framework, which has been broken," Acevedo said.

Earlier in the week, the Communist Party denounced in the strongest terms possible the Trump administration's criminal military invasion of Venezuela, calling it an act that is in complete violation of international law.

"This dastardly banditry act constitutes a criminal and flagrant violation of the United Nations articles 1 and 2, which enshrine respect for sovereignty, legal equality of states, and the prohibition of the use of force. It is a violation of international peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean, and puts the lives of millions of people at serious risk," the SACP said at the weekend.

Cape Times