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A Venezuelan flag flew high in downtown Regina on a chilly afternoon Monday during a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent actions in the country.
Early Saturday, the U.S. hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike,” capturing its president, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and flying them out of the country to face narcoterrorism conspiracy charges in New York.
Read more:
- ‘It still feels surreal’: Regina Venezuelan reflects on Maduro’s arrest
- Maduro pleads not guilty in U.S. court appearance
- Protesters in Canada hold different opinions of Nicolás Maduro
The attack lasted less than 30 minutes and the explosions — at least seven blasts — sent people rushing into the streets, while others took to social media to report what they’d seen and heard.
Some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed, according to Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s vice president, without giving a number.
People took turns waving the Venezuelan flag in the air during the protest. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
Miguel Sanchez, who’s from Chile, said Trump’s actions in Venezuela feel all too familiar.
“When the U.S. says they’re going to invade a country to bring about democracy and social improvements, we know very well that that’s not what really happens,” he said.
He compares what’s happening in Venezuela now to a coup d’état in Chile in 1973.
“The United States has never been interested in the well-being of Latin America. They only want its natural resources. In our case, in Chile (it) was copper. In Venezuela, it’s petroleum,” Sanchez said.
Miguel Sanchez said it feels like we’re “going back to the Middle Ages,” following Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s president and wife. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)
He said this isn’t just concerning for Latin America, but the entire world. He wants to see the Canadian government condemn Trump and his actions towards the country.
Sanchez reiterates that the protest is not about defending Maduro, but the right for Venezuela to govern itself without an outside influence or power like the U.S.
“I want them to leave Venezuela alone and let Venezuela determine its own affairs,” he said.
International solidarity important
Moravia de la O spoke to the crowd of around 30 people who gathered at Regina’s city hall.
Although de la O is from Mexico, she said this is concerning for all of Latin America, especially following comments by Trump that target Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and even Greenland.
“If we don’t stand up against what’s happening in Venezuela, any country can be next,” she said.
She called Prime Minister Mark Carney’s comment about the situation “lukewarm,” and said he needs to be more specific.
“The international community is calling on all countries … to speak forcefully against any violation of international law, any violation of international sovereignty, and to forcefully say, we condemn this attack, and to call on the United States to respect international law,” she said.
She said Canadians have a responsibility to call on their government to take action.
“I think this type of international solidarity is so important, and everyone has a role to play in ensuring that the rights of all peoples to self-determine their own future (and) to govern themselves are respected,” she said.
With the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuela’s president and his stated plans to “run” the country, many questions remain on the legality of the move and Venezuela’s future.
Read more:
- ‘It still feels surreal’: Regina Venezuelan reflects on Maduro’s arrest
- Maduro pleads not guilty in U.S. court appearance
- Protesters in Canada hold different opinions of Nicolás Maduro
— with files from The Associated Press
