'Joining the struggle' - Venezuelan IntMin leads march against US sanctions, sends 'solidarity greeting' to Maduro

"Venezuela's Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, led a march in Caracas on Monday to demand the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on his country, mainly by the United States. Footage shows the official joining the march accompanied by workers, social movements and chavista militants, who carried signs with slogans such as: 'No to sanctions! Yes to prosperity!' 'Stop blocking my salary with sanctions' and 'The country has the right to manage its resources without external tutelage.' During his speech, Cabello said that Venezuela has been "subjected to the most perverse economic sanctions" by the government of the United States and the European Union and promised improvements in the country once these end. "We are very clear that once the sanctions against our country cease, this country will be in the same conditions as when Commander Hugo Chavez was there. We will return to building housing, to a powerful health system as we should have, to the highest wage system in America, and we will return to an education system with everything," he said. Together with protesters, he sent a "solidarity greeting" to now former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are currently in custody in the United States after the January 3 operation which saw the pair captured. Caracas councillor Astrid Barrios called on the people to "mobilise forcefully to demand the end of the sanctions," asserting that the sanctions have affected "a humble people, that has simply sought peace." Many protesters also expressed solidarity with regions facing tensions with the United States, including Iran. "I am here to show solidarity with the Venezuelan people and the people of Iran, who are suffering imperialist attacks, and we Brazilians are here giving support to you. You are not alone, we are in the struggle," highlighted protester Neptali Ruiz. In 2015, the US government blocked assets of Venezuelan officials for 'undermining democracy and abusing human rights.' The sanctions were expanded under President Donald Trump’s administration in 2017. Likewise, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom and Switzerland followed with measures freezing assets of the South American country. Many blame these sanctions for driving up inflation, exacerbating mass migration, and worsening public services."

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