Unions and social movements held a demonstration on Monday afternoon (Jan. 5) in São Paulo, demanding the release of Nicolás Maduro. The protest took place in front of the United States Consulate.

Participants advocated for the autonomy of the neighboring country, the pursuit of peace, and respect and solidarity with the Venezuelan government and its people.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil at UN: US action in Venezuela threatens peace in South America.

“We came to this rally today not only to demonstrate our solidarity with the Venezuelan people, but also to express the position of working-class students regarding imperialist attacks, especially those by the United States. Imperialism, regardless of the country, seeks to dominate nations, particularly those on the periphery of capitalism,” said student Bianca Mondeja, a member of the leadership of the National Union of Students (UNE).

The student organization considers a people’s “capacity for self-determination” to be “non-negotiable.”

For Professor Luana Bife, who is affiliated with the Unified Workers’ Central (CUT), the United States’ action against Venezuela constitutes “interference that destabilizes a country socially and economically.” She warned that, just one day after the invasion of Venezuela, Trump was already reiterating the possibility of military action against other countries. “Our central position is the self-determination of peoples,” she reaffirmed.

Gilmar Mauro, a member of the National Coordination of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), called for the immediate release of President Maduro. “We are here in solidarity with the Venezuelan people, in defense of sovereignty, and demanding the immediate release of President Maduro. In truth, it is the continent and democracies around the world that are under threat,” he emphasized.

Mauro said there are about 60 MST members in Venezuela today and that, among the movement’s members, there is a perception of a resurgence in popular mobilizations in the country.

“For many people who are not with us in the streets, this has generated indignation and a patriotic sentiment that is effectively surfacing at this moment. This is happening even within Venezuela, including among sectors of the Venezuelan right, and we are witnessing this within the United States as well,” he stated.

The Brazilian government again condemned the armed action by the United States against Venezuela, as well as the alleged kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores last Saturday (Jan. 3).

During an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday (5), Ambassador Sérgio França Danese said that peace in South America is at risk.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Lula condemns attacks on Venezuela, Brazilian diplomats discuss crisis.
• Defense Minister: Brazil–Venezuela border remains calm and open.

According to the diplomat, previous armed interventions on the continent resulted in authoritarian regimes, human rights violations, deaths, political imprisonment, torture, and enforced disappearances.

“The use of force in our region evokes chapters of history that we believed we had left behind and jeopardizes the collective effort to preserve the region as a zone of peace,” Danese declared.

“We reaffirm, with full determination, our commitment to peace and non-intervention in our region,” he added.

Unacceptable line

For Brazil, the United States crossed an “unacceptable line” from the standpoint of international law. Danese stated that the US action clearly violates United Nations norms.

“The UN Charter establishes, as a pillar of the international order, the prohibition of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation, except in strictly foreseen circumstances. These norms do not allow the exploitation of natural or economic resources to justify the use of force or the illegal change of a government,” Danese said.

The Brazilian representative noted that Venezuela’s future must be decided exclusively by its people, through dialogue and without external interference, within the framework of international law.

“The multipolar world of the 21st century, which promotes peace and prosperity, should not be confused with spheres of influence. We cannot accept the argument that the ends justify the means,” Danese stressed.

The government of the Brazilian state of Roraima reported, in a statement released this Saturday (Jan. 3), that it “is closely monitoring recent events in Venezuela and any repercussions on regional stability, reaffirming its commitment to peace, public order, and the security of the local population.”

According to the text, due to its geographical location, Roraima has historically maintained cooperative relations with neighboring countries, including Venezuela and Guyana.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Defense Minister: Brazil–Venezuela border remains calm and open.
• Lula condemns attacks on Venezuela, Brazilian diplomats discuss crisis.

“State authorities remain in constant contact with the relevant bodies of the Brazilian government to monitor possible developments that may impact the daily lives of the population. The government of Roraima reinforces the importance of international issues being handled through diplomatic mechanisms and dialogue, avoiding any escalation of conflict that could compromise the stability and well-being of the peoples of the region.”

During the early hours of Saturday, United States armed forces carried out bombings in the capital, Caracas, and other regions of the neighboring country. After the operation, US President Donald Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Brazil and Venezuela share a border of more than 2,000 kilometers, and according to Defense Minister José Múcio, the region “is calm, monitored, and open.”

According to the statement, state public security agencies in Roraima are coordinated and maintaining normal operating routines.

Pacaraima

Waldery D’Ávila, the mayor of Pacaraima, a Brazilian municipality that borders Venezuela, expressed “deep concern about the attacks that occurred in the early hours of today in Caracas” and said he was “monitoring the situation and working together with security forces to ensure stability and peace in the border region.”

Federal civil servant Jean Oliveira, 54, who was in the Venezuelan border town of Santa Elena de Uiarén, told reporters that he managed to leave via a clandestine route after the border was closed early in the morning.

“We had to take an alternative route,” Oliveira said. According to him, after reaching the Brazilian side, Venezuelan authorities allowed only Brazilians to cross the border, not Venezuelan citizens. The border crossing from Brazil into Venezuela also remained closed by the neighboring government. Despite some apprehension, the civil servant noted the situation in the region appeared relatively normal.

“I was there this morning, but everything was calm. Only the Brazilians staying at the hotel were apprehensive about the situation. But, in general, we didn’t notice any changes among the local population,” Oliveira added.

Background

The US invasion of Venezuela marks a new episode of direct intervention by Washington in Latin America. The last time the US invaded a Latin American country was in 1989, in Panama, when US military forces captured then-President Manuel Noriega, accusing him of drug trafficking.

Just as in the case of Noriega, the US has accused Maduro - without presenting evidence - of leading an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel known as Los Soles. Experts on international drug trafficking question the very existence of the group.

The US government had offered a reward of USD 50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.

For critics, the move is a geopolitical strategy aimed at distancing Venezuela from US global rivals such as China and Russia, while also seeking greater control over the country’s oil reserves, the largest proven reserves in the world.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke out this Saturday morning (Jan. 3) about the United States’ attacks on Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Lula condemned the military action and demanded a vigorous response from the United Nations (UN).

Through social media, Lula stated that such actions “cross an unacceptable line.”

Notícias relacionadas:

• Defense Minister: Brazil–Venezuela border remains calm and open.
• Border state Roraima monitors impacts of US attack on Venezuela.

“These acts represent a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and set yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community. Attacking countries, in flagrant violation of international law, is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism,” said Lula.

The Brazilian president recalled that Brazil has always opposed the use of force in other countries and regions, and noted the action is reminiscent of “the worst moments of interference in the politics of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

“Brazil condemns these actions and remains available to promote dialogue and cooperation,” he added.

An emergency meeting at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place on Saturday morning to discuss the crisis in the neighboring country. President Lula participated via videoconference, as he is in Rio de Janeiro. His staff informed that the president will return to Brasília later today. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, was on vacation and will also return to Brasília today.

Attacks on Venezuela

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Saturday a large-scale attack on Venezuela. The capital, Caracas, and other cities were hit by air and ground forces. According to Trump, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and removed from the country.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life from President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady, whose whereabouts remain unknown after the US attacks.