A reflection on expatriates and the international community; why we should care, and what we can do.
On
February 12th, 2014, multiple peaceful-turned-violent protests
erupted in the major cities of Venezuela. What began as a peaceful protest
conducted by university students, has snowballed into a national conflict
between the state and its citizens. They passively complained against the
government, for the innumerable injustices currently drowning Venezuela. The
mandate to arrest these students turned highly controversial and thus, incited
the monumental manifestations taking place over the past few days. As commanded
by the nation’s president Nicolas Maduro, militarized police authorities
stepped in and regrettably resulted in many injuries and deaths. This incident,
simply adds another line to the long list of mistreatments of citizens by the
Venezuelan Government.
The
social, political, and economic conditions in Venezuela are favorable to the
development and continuation of large-scale protests. Venezuela is currently experiencing an
economic crisis, with inflation levels that are unparalleled by any other
country in the world. Basic consumer goods have become a scarcity for many
families, and the currency devaluations are crippling Venezuela’s public and
private institutions as much as they are crippling the average citizen’s
wallet. Equally lamentably, Venezuela continues to be one of the most dangerous
countries in the world, due to the incontrollable and rising crime rates. The
2010 UN report, named it the top four most murderous countries in the
world. Lastly, protests are a plea for
the government to cease the ongoing control and censorship of the country’s
communications agents. Organizations such as Freedom House and Reporters
Without Borders have placed Venezuela in the list of countries with the lowest
levels of freedom and liberty of expression; this becomes highly
disadvantageous for those seeking solutions out of this regime.
Individual Level
“Venezuela has finally awakened!” Propagated through social media, footage from this week’s marches went viral. It was shocking and heart-touching to see the nation’s various principal plazas and streets overflowing with the multitude of people denouncing the political violence that has become too common. Yet, while my own family was risking their lives attending these demonstrations, I was reading the news from the comfort of my home in the United States. I could not avoid feeling a sense of guilt; disappointed that my expatriate residency meant that I am unable to physically support. Given this state of impotence, I contemplated the possible actions that people outside of Venezuela can take to help those who are on the ground and in the streets.
According
to the last U.S. Census, there was an estimated 260,000 Hispanics of Venezuelan
origin living in the United States (not counting the approximate 160,000
undocumented ones). Overall, roughly 4% of the total Venezuelan population has
emigrated. Immigrants from all over the world who are forced to leave
oppressive governments share a common experience: We all carry along the duty
to fight against injustices in our country of origin. Regardless of current
country of residence, new citizenships, and years away from home; the culture
that unites us creates a responsibility
and obligation for expats to maintain informed, spread awareness, and take
all of the necessary (and available) steps towards action.
I
am here to remind Venezuelans and non-Venezuelans that there are many courses of action that we can
take in order to help fight for democracy and justice in a country that
terribly needs it. Never underestimate the power of one! The history of
revolutions against oppressing, social injustices has taught us that one plus
one, in a hunger strike, a petition, a boycott, a march or demonstration,
ultimately transforms into millions. Into change.
International Levels
The
international community is unified in the promotion and preservation of human
rights. While specific human rights, and what this means for international
relations, may differ depending on which ambassador or government delegate you
speak to, virtually all will agree that citizens have the right to be free from
political violence and state-sanctioned brutality. After the incidents over the
past week in Venezuela, only a handful of political leaders have voiced their
solidarity and condemned the actions of Maduro’s government. Why is this
so? It is of paramount importance that
at the global level, heads of states and international organizations utilize
their influence to denounce such injustices. If united, these agents of power
would possess the necessary tools transferable to make a change in corrupt
governments.
The
United States and the western hemisphere as a whole should be deeply concerned
and involved with the events taking place in Venezuela. The continuing
violations by the Venezuelan government under Nicolas Maduro’s presidency
brings alarming threats to universal democratic principles such as: Freedom of
speech, right of assembly, and the right of freedom of political affiliation.
Democracy is inseparably connected with the human rights doctrines adapted by
international organizations. For instance, the 35 independent states of the
Americas that have ratified the Organization of American State’s Inter-American
Democratic Charter, should act as the standing leaders in opposing Venezuela’s
negligence to comply by these agreements. It is worth reminding the reader that
Venezuela has chosen to withdraw from the American Convention on Human Rights, further tarnishing the country’s
reputation by showing the international community that human rights are not prioritized
highly by public officials.
The
unified international condemnation of these unacceptable violations, will bring
a clear and pressuring message to the government of Venezuela. Without
sacrificing Venezuela’s sovereignty, international agents must make an
immediate urgent call for action. Let us use the weight of justice, activate
our existing multinational agreements, and support the Venezuelan citizens by
strengthening and upholding real
democratic values.
So
what can you actually do? The following list represents various courses of
action that you can take, regardless of whether you are Venezuelan or not. Keep
in mind that journalists and reporters are currently working to provide more
news, so staying abreast of the developments throughout these next few days is
critical for one’s general orientation to the issue. Venezuelan politics are
difficult to discuss because they are dichotomously coded as either being for or in support of Maduro, or starkly against. The structural conflict that
has allowed for institutionalized state violence is due in part because all
organizations and groups that are against
Maduro are silenced, punished, or censored by the government or its supporters.
This is the source of Venezuela’s anemic conditions when it comes to democracy:
wherever disapproval of the state results in oppressive measures to silence
these “unpatriotic” dissenters, you simply do not have the elements for a true
democratic society.
Regardless
of where you fall on the spectrum of political ideologies, this list of ACTION
helps us move closer to the universally held values of non-violence, democracy,
and respect for human rights.
Resources for Individuals/ International:
-Social Media activism: Share, Like, Follow, Retweet!
#PrayForVenezuela #SOSVenezuela
#DictaduraVzla
-Maintain inform and share the news: BBC Latin America, Reuters World, (Spanish) Noticias 24, El Universal, Nuestra Tele Noticias 24
-Sign Petitions: Change.org: Call on the Venezuelan Government to stop Killing Its Citizens", White House Petition: Assist the people of Venezuela,
-Join or volunteer for an activist group in your country: Amnesty International, PROVEA: Derechos Humanos en Venezuela, Human Rights Watch,
-Contact your elected officials & ask for support: (In the USA) House of Representatives Senate
-Actively seek groups in your community & participate in protests: Un Mundo Sin Mordaza, Ayudando a Venezuela Desde El Exterior, Venezolanos en el Mundo Venmundo, Red Democrática Internacional,
-Maintain inform and share the news: BBC Latin America, Reuters World, (Spanish) Noticias 24, El Universal, Nuestra Tele Noticias 24
-Sign Petitions: Change.org: Call on the Venezuelan Government to stop Killing Its Citizens", White House Petition: Assist the people of Venezuela,
-Join or volunteer for an activist group in your country: Amnesty International, PROVEA: Derechos Humanos en Venezuela, Human Rights Watch,
-Contact your elected officials & ask for support: (In the USA) House of Representatives Senate
-Actively seek groups in your community & participate in protests: Un Mundo Sin Mordaza, Ayudando a Venezuela Desde El Exterior, Venezolanos en el Mundo Venmundo, Red Democrática Internacional,
-Organize & petition for government funding to support
for Public Universities’ Latin American Initiatives.
-Organize & petition Foundations & Grant
donors to support Academic Initiatives in Latin American/Democracy research
programs. The National
Endowment for Democracy
-Actively petition Foundations/ University grants for
further support of Latin American research.
-Donate to think tanks/ Research organizations: Centro para la Democracia y el Desarrollo en las Américas, Washington Office on Latin America, Foro por la Vida,
-Donate money to your preferred political parties in Venezuela
-Donate to think tanks/ Research organizations: Centro para la Democracia y el Desarrollo en las Américas, Washington Office on Latin America, Foro por la Vida,
-Donate money to your preferred political parties in Venezuela
-Demand the liberation of arrested students and
political persecuted.
-Pressure for the disarmament
of paramilitaries causing violent turmoil.
