on the occasion of venezuela's national day of independence on july 5

We Salute the Venezuelan People!
 
Two hundred and seven years after the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence from the Spanish crown, the Venezuelan people are again in the thick of struggle for independence, this time against imperialist sabotage and interference. Support of peoples around the globe for this arduous struggle is of great importance.
As members of the Philippines-Cuba Cultural and Friendship Association (PhilCuba) join the Venezuelan people in commemorating its Independence Day, we would like to convey our support to the Bolivarian government and people though Her Excellency, Ambassador Capaya Rodriguez Gonzalez. 

We are one with you in your continuing fight to defend the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people, to strengthen democracy and to build a social order that will develop the full potential of the people, provide equal opportunity and security, allow the people to fully benefit from the wise use of the country’s natural resources and the fruits of their labor and to contribute in building a world environment of peace and cooperation.

We are with you in opposing layers of economic sanctions that the US, Canada and some EU countries have imposed against Venezuela.  These are unjust measure that practically build-up as an economic and financial blockade to make Venezuela miserable, weaken the people’s will and attempt to instigate the people to rise up and support a US-designed regime change. 

The sanctions, inciting the military to mutiny and the economic sabotage, like currency looting, physical destruction of public property, massive smuggling and artificial shortages that US intelligence agencies have been directing are clear acts of interference in a sovereign country by another that claims to be the model of democracy in the entire world and noisily accuses other states of interfering in its internal affairs.

We are aware that behind these acts of interference and sabotage against Venezuela is the interest of the US and its big allies in Venezuela’s oil reserves, natural gas deposits, gold and other natural resources and their desire to install a subservient government in order to have unhampered access to these. 

We are likewise aware that this intensifying interference in Venezuela is part and parcel of their attacks against Latin American peoples who assert their right to chart their own future whereas the US wants Latin American countries to remain in their backyard.

PhilCuba joins peoples throughout the world in demanding the US and other western powers to respect the right of Latin American peoples to self-determination. Let the July 5 Declaration of Independence inspire both our people, Venezuelans and Filipinos   in our continuing fight for independence. 

Glory to the brave people of Venezuela!