Dear Friends,

On March 30 the Regina Peace Council is holding a peace conference and noon hour rally to condemn NATO and celebrate 70 years of the World Peace Council and affiliated peace organizations. Laura Savinkoff, coordinator of the B.C. Southern Interior Peace Coalition and newly elected Vice-President of the Canadian Peace Congress, will speak about the need for a reinvigorated peace movement. She will be sharing the platform with international journalist Andre Vltchek who will be talking about NATO’s legacy of war and aggression and David Gehl of the Regina Peace Council who will be addressing the need for a Canadian foreign policy based on peace.

For more information call Ed Lehman 306-718-8010 or write edrae1133@gmail.com. Demonstrations will be occurring on that date in advance of the US celebration of 70 years of NATO on April 4th.

70 years of NATO on April 4th.

Issue 183 Feb. 2019

Dear Friends,

We are deeply concerned about the Canadian government’s recognition of Juan Guaido as President of Venezuela and its endorsement of the US call for the Venezuelan military to overthrow the legitimate government of Venezuela. These actions by Canada contradict Canada’s commitment to international law, sovereignty to countries, and the United Nations Charter.

Neither the US or any other country get to pick who should lead countries around the globe; that right is held by the people of each country. Since 1954 the US has invaded 56 countries in South America. If Venezuela becomes number 57 the question then becomes who will be number 58?

All invasions by the US in South America have been bad news for the average person of those countries. Canada should stop taking its marching orders on Venezuela from our southern neighbour and stop its undermining of the Venezuelan government.

Canada has supported overthrowing legitimate elected governments in Haiti and Honduras and they remain among the poorest countries with the most human rights abuses in the Americas. Canada has no right, moral or other, to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. #Hands Off Venezuela.

Ed Lehman,

President Regina Peace Council

By: Socorro Gomes, President of the World Peace Council: January 23, 2019

The forces of peace and democracy, constantly mobilized in support of the Venezuelan people’s struggle in defense of their sovereignty, are again strongly repudiating the offensive against the legitimately elected government of President Nicolás Maduro. Evidencing its eagerness to take interference in Venezuela to ultimate consequences, Donald Trump’s government on Wednesday, 23rd of January, declared it recognizes the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, who has no popular mandate, as the country’s acting president, which was seconded by allied governments.

Such an outrageous step is an attack on the most essential norms of international relations prized by all the truly democratic forces dedicated to building a world of peace and cooperation. It should be largely rejected not only by popular entities, but also by institutions that cherish democracy and the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations.

The World Peace Council defends the sovereignty of nations and mutual respect as pillars of constructive relations between nations. Therefore, it repudiates, in the strongest terms, this outrageous announcement of the US government, also indicated by the countries that adhered to the arrogant statement issued on behalf of the Lima Group two weeks ago, saying it did not recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro government, whose mandate was renewed by popular vote. Most of the governments of such a group, as we said then, suffer from the complete lack of competence to claim themselves promoters of democracy. This is the case, among others, of the governments of Colombia and Brazil, who also declared to recognize Guaidó as president.

The coup attempts in Venezuela are incessant and the resistance has been brave, an example for the peoples committed to the defense of their nations’ sovereign course. Solving the crisis in the country and correcting courses is entirely up to the Venezuelan people, in a dialogue already called for by the government among those who sincerely seek a democratic solution.

The governments of Hugo Chávez and, from the outset, that of President Maduro, backed by the Venezuelan people and patriotic forces, have bravely faced those attempts. Such resistance also sheds light on the continuity of US imperialism’s policy of interference, which does anything to maintain its dominion over Latin America, trampling over international law and the democracy it claims to defend.

Therefore, we urge the strengthening of international mobilization in support of the Venezuelan people’s struggle in defense of their sovereignty and democracy, of the legitimacy guaranteed only by the popular vote to lead the country’s course, in a frank and sovereign dialogue with the democratic opposition, facing the coup plotters who have been supported by US imperialism and reactionary forces in the region.

For the end of the imperialist offensive and the coup attempts!
For sovereignty and peace in Venezuela!