Dear Prime Minister Harper,

 

We are writing to you because we are worried about the recent and on-going events in Venezuela against democracy and both human and civil rights. Before going in-depth about the extreme situation in Venezuela we want you to understand who this is coming from. We are students who aspire to greatness for both our native country (Venezuela) and Canada. We are future doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, politicians, and service professionals who have, due to political/safety/or economic reasons, been forced to leave our loved ones behind in a country that has no food, no security, no medicine, no economic safety net, no sense of leadership or power, and clearly no future.

 

It is clear that in Venezuela there is a lack of respect for human rights and the well being of the citizens and country. The government has been giving away the country’s hard earned money and oil for years in exchange for weapons and political leverage while neglecting alarmingly high crime rates and economic deterioration. Since the start of the protests in February there have been over 39 people publicly killed due to the violent oppression from the government that is disregarding their right to protest as written in the Venezuelan constitution. While protesters do their best to remain as peacefully as possible, they are persecuted for speaking out against the government on the streets, in their homes, or online.

 

The protests are mainly led by university students who feel trapped by the situation of the country and have decided to take matters into their own hands. It is unbearable to watch these youths risk their lives on a daily basis for both human and global basic necessities. Venezuelan has fallen to a level so extreme that it has become clear to its population that it is just as dangerous and life-threatening to protest against armed forces who have not held back as to wait and see what happens to the future of their country.

 

The main reason that we are writing is because we are greatly disappointed that Canada has not taken a more distinctive stand against denouncing the situation in Venezuela. The US is in the process of freezing bank accounts of Venezuelan government officials and denying them visas into their country but Canada still remains to take action on the issue other than sending their condolences for those killed. Action needs to be taken!

 

Videos of torture, kidnappings, assault, and utter destruction and despair are clouding social media sites and yet extremely little has been mentioned on news websites, broadcasts, or newspapers. In a country where persecution for political affiliations is a constant threat regardless of which side you identify with, it is the duty of us Venezuelans (not just Venezuelan-Canadians) around the world to speak out in place of those who cannot!

 

Reasons that have led to the start of the protests are as follows:

 

1. Insecurity

Venezuela has one of the highest murder and crime rates in the world. Regardless of political affiliation in Venezuela, most Venezuelans are afraid to leave their residences out of fear of kidnappings, robbery, or murder. Major crimes happen commonly in broad daylight and lack of police actions has led to over 90% of cases unresolved in the country. In terms of the protests, the government has sent/used military planes, helicopters, tear gas, both rubber and real bullets, and tanks into the streets to spread fear and scare the population from exercising their right to protest.

2. Scarcity

Venezuelan citizens lack basic necessities such as milk, toilet paper, medicine, newsprint paper, flour, chicken, meat, etc. Small availabilities have resulted in both the distribution of rationing cards and queuing lines which extend to several hours. It is already a life-risking to be exposed outside, imagine spending between 4-7 hours in a line when the death toll of the country in 2013 was over 25,000 and has drastically continues to grow every year!

 3. Corruption

Evident at every level from the lowest public employee to most members of the reigning government. Venezuela is one of the richest countries in the world thanks to its oil exports, it is unacceptable that it is in a state unable to feed its citizens or seek justice. Even the election of the current acting Venezuelan President is called illegitimate by half of the country’s population and opposition members are commonly charged of unfulfilled crimes and imprisoned without trials.

 4. Indoctrination

The government requires public employees to attend their political concentrations under threat of dismissal. Political persecution persists to the point of blacklisting individuals from working in the country and sending death threats to family members if they show any kind of support for the on-going protests.

5. Inflations and devaluations

On-going from Chavez’s presidency, Venezuela has one of the highest inflation rates in the world. The currency value of the Bolivar has decreased over 15000% in a period of the last 15 years. To put it in perspective, the price of a bottle of coke has risen from 100 Bs. to well over 54,000 Bs. within the period of those 15 years. Every week your paycheck gets smaller and everything else gets more expensive.

 6. Lack of Economic Freedoms

Restrictions to buy foreign currency with maximums between $300 per trip to $3000 per year depending on the destination and duration of travel are restricted by the Venezuelan government. This has led to further frustrations and casualties as kidnappers (known to take a major role in the crime industry in Venezuela) demand to be paid in $US for the safe return of hostages. In addition, public service employees (such as university professors) make about 1/5th of what is required for a basic necessity basket in Venezuela. It is a non-sustainable and unwanted system! .

7. Censorship

The government has forcibly bought, closed, censored, or taken out of circulation to television, radio, newspapers, cable channels, social networks, etc. The only international news broadcasting company (NTN24) which was ethically voicing the oppression of the country was kicked out and has not been allowed to return. Meanwhile the government owned news networks are turning a blind eye to the situation. This has led to the dismissal of countless journalists who have attempted to report the both sides of the story. Even CNN was temporarily kicked out of Venezuela, had its video equipment stolen, and continues to be threatened by the president for “walking on a fine line” by re-telling the accounts and stories of protesters about missed events. Images on Twitter continue to be blocked and are often taken down along with videos as the posters are hunted down.

8. Human Rights Violations

Since the start of the February 2014 protests there have been over 1400 detentions with over 33 cases of registered torture including electrocutions, brutal attacks, and rape. Little over 70 people have been released. Apart from uniformed soldiers, the government has given a large number weapons and immunity to criminal gangs (called “Collectivos” for their purposes) in exchange for their support during these protests. These have proven to be the most violent groups. Footages can be found on youtube of government officials shooting protesters as they are running away and persecuting them into homes and restaurants. Universities and private residences have been invaded by politically motivated groups, have been bombed by explosives and tear gas, have had groups of students and residents (including minors) brutally beaten, kidnapped or killed, and have had their property (starting with security fences, locks, and cars) destroyed by the soldiers, armed gang members and tanks.

 

After reading this we hope that you see that this is not just a petition, this is a call for help, a call for reaction, we want the world to know what our fellow brothers and sisters are suffering. We want them to have the same opportunities that we have here in Canada. We want them to have a safe future. A way that the Canadian government can help to make this happen is by:

• Permitting the immediate freezing of Canadian assets pertaining to current Venezuelan government officials.

• Revoking Canadian visas for those in support of the Venezuelan crimes against protests.

• Condemning media censorship and aspiring to release footage about the on-going struggles over Canadian news networks.

• Requesting the seizure of inhumane actions against protesters and requesting the liberty of the 1400+ politically detained protesters.

• Invite all political and commercial allies of Canada to take a firm and open stand against all the violations documented in Venezuela.

• Investigate the intrusion of external forces (like the cuban g2) in Venezuela’s sovereignty.

• Publicly denounce Maduro and his acts against human rights to the International Court of Justice.

• Continue to support Venezuela during its fight for freedom, justice, and the restoration of its former and deserving sovereignty.

 

This issue is on-going and the death toll rises every day. We urge you and parliament to take a direct stand against the situation in Venezuela and to increase awareness of the situation in Canada. All of us who are abroad are incredibly worried about the safety of our loved ones and are doing all that we can to do our part. We will not remain silent, we need to take advantage of the freedom of speech allowed in Canada and its democratic ways to denounce the opinions that would otherwise get you jailed in Venezuela. We need to take action!

 

Please share this petition will all your contacts and inform them about the situation in Venezuela. Let’s place international pressure on Venezuelan government to make change! Being outside the country we have the power to save the lives of those who are being hunted for speaking out!

#SOSVenezuela