Lula: Brazil ‘Cannot Submit to US Imperialism’ in Venezuela
In a letter penned from prison, former president Lula Da Silva says that the U.S. and Brazil shouldn't intervene in Venezuela. He also criticized the U.S. blockade as a 'dirty trick'.
Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva spoke out from prison against the U.S. using Brazil as a puppet to intervene in Venezuela, saying that current Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is “submissive” to the U.S. by joining its attack on Venezuela.
In a letter to the editors of the “alternative” news outlet Nocaute, Lula states, “We cannot allow Brazil to submit to the United States. We can not turn Brazil over to imperialism.”
Lula was imprisoned in April 2018 after being convicted in the region-wide Lava Jato corruption case but is internationally recognized as a political prisoner. Being in custody for nearly a year prevented the widely popular politician from carrying out a full campaign for last October’s presidential elections, paving the way for far-right Jair Bolsonaro to win at the polls.
The former head of state goes on to say in his handwritten letter: “We cannot turn Brazil over to imperialism. (Our) fight for sovereignty is a demonstration of patriotism and dignity.” The Workers’ Party (PT) leader says that “Venezuela’s issue is not for Americans.”
Lula called attention to the misinformation regarding Venezuela by the international mass media stating, “just to say that the people are starving, and not to mention the (U.S.) blockade, is a dirty trick.”
The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has been escalating economic sanctions against the oil-rich country of Venezuela since at least August 2017. The measures have severely limited the country’s ability to do business with and receive imports from foreign nations, with just the latest sanctions, which hit the oil sector, allegedly costing the Venezuelan economy US $30 million a day. The loss in national revenue pales in comparison to the US$20 million in U.S. “humanitarian aid” that failed to make it into Venezuela from Colombia over the weekend.
“The (economic) block is killing children, innocent men and women, and the Americans are experts at blocking, Cuba can attest to that,” says Lula to the Nocaute editor Fernando de Morais and journalist, Ana Roxo.
Bolsonaro’s government allowed two trucks with the supposed aid to go to the border with Venezuela last Saturday in an attempt to forcibly enter this “aid” into Venezuela against the sovereignty of the Bolivarian nation.
“Love will always win. The truth will always win. We will win because we have the truth,” wrote Lula from his prison in Curitiba, Brazil. “Dear Fernando, I continue to affirm: I do not change my dignity for my freedom. I am sure, History will absolve me (Fidel),” ended the social movement and political party leader.
The political prisoner was recently sentenced to another 12 years on top of those he has already been serving since nearly a year ago.