ACTION ALERT: Alex Saab is Free! Now Tell Biden
To Release Venezuela’s Frozen Funds!
Medea Benjamin / CODEPINK
(December 21, 2023) — It is with tremendous joy and overwhelming relief that we share the news of Venezuelan Diplomat Alex Saab’s release from US prison! This extraordinary achievement stands as an indisputable testament to the strength of people’s solidarity and persistent advocacy.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who signed and promoted our petition, joined us on the streets, and amplified Alex Saab’s cause on social media. This is a huge win for Alex, his family, the Venezuelan people and for all of us. Now let’s keep up the fight and demand that the Biden administration unfreeze Venezuelan funds that would go to finance humanitarian programs for the Venezuelan people.
Alex Saab was illegally detained for a heartbreaking 1,286 days, His real ‘crime’ was trying to obtain humanitarian supplies through legal international trade but circumventing the illegal US sanctions on Venezuela. I had the opportunity to visit him in prison and was genuinely struck by his unwavering commitment and strong spirit. He stood with his head held high, even when the US government dangled a tempting offer of a fancy house in Miami for him and his family.
Today, he is a free man, reunited with his family and surrounded by the very people who tirelessly fought for his return, especially his beloved wife, Camilla Saab. This triumph is a bold rebuke of the harsh US-led sanctions on Venezuela.
In this somber moment in history, it shows us that diplomacy and negotiations, rather than coercion and war, offer the only viable path forward.
During the time of his illegal detention, we wrote letters to Alex Saab reminding him that he was not alone and that there were many people in the US fighting every day for his release. Let’s now tell the Venezuelan people that our efforts continue. The sanctions have affected every aspect of life in Venezuela, making it difficult for people to access basic necessities.
Once again, thank you for your relentless efforts. We are making a difference. Welcome home Alex!
In Solidarity,
Medea, Michelle, Teri, Ysa and all at CODEPINK
ACTION ALERT: Alex Saab is Free!
Now Tell Biden to Release Venezuela’s Funds!
Dear President Biden,
We are writing to express our deep concern about the Venezuelan funds still frozen by U.S sanctions, funds that are intended for humanitarian purposes. A year ago, a humanitarian agreement was reached between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, promising to use these funds for much-needed programs in health, education, food security, and electricity, all under the administration of the United Nations. Regrettably, these funds have not yet been released.
We are appalled by this unfortunate reality, as the withheld funds are derived from the assets that belong to the Venezuelan people. We request your immediate action in releasing the funds designated for these critical humanitarian aid programs.
We strongly believe that misguided US policies are not only hurting the Venezuelan people but have created the crisis of migration from Venezuela. Unjustly punishing a nation for political differences is counterproductive and unethical.
We, therefore, call on your administration to take a lead role in rectifying these wrongs by not only releasing the frozen funds unconditionally but also lifting all sanctions imposed on Venezuela.
According to Francisco Rodriguez, around half the Venezuelan economy’s contraction since 2012 can be attributed to US-led sanctions. Living standards deteriorated sharply after the Trump administration cut off Venezuela’s oil industry from international financial markets in 2017. The recession in the country deepened when Washington further restricted Venezuela’s access to oil markets and transferred control of the government’s foreign assets to the opposition in 2019.
We urge you to implement policies that form positive relationships across Latin America and the Caribbean. From migration, the war on drugs, poverty and the environment — we only stand to benefit from a policy that is based on peace, cooperation, and respect.
Alex Saab is Free!
After 1,286 Days as a US Political Prisoner,
The Venezuelan Diplomat Is Finally Home!|
William Camacaro / Alliance for Global Justice
(December 21, 2023) — Alex Saab, the Venezuelan diplomat whom the United States had kidnapped for evading the illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on the Venezuelan people during the pandemic, is finally free after three and a half years of unjust imprisonment. During that time, Alex Saab suffered torture, was stigmatized, and criminalized for bringing food, medicine, and fuel to the Venezuelan people.
Three years ago, the case was not well known, so the Alliance for Global Justice began a campaign —with the support of Chuck Kaufman— and placed all the organization’s resources at our disposal; thus, the liberation movement for Alex Saab was born. It grew organically as people from around the world jumped in to participate somehow.
The victory that we have obtained with the release of Alex Saab is the victory of the people against imperialism; it is the victory of more than 40 nations that live under the illegal United States sanctions; it is the victory of the global south over the imperial hegemony of the northern countries.
For Chavismo, this transcendental victory unites the people during this coming presidential election. Maduro, the leader of this revolution, has been willing to resist whatever is necessary!
All that remains for us, compañerxs, is to share this joy and happiness and recognize your unconditional determination for freedom and love for social justice. Alex Saab, the kidnapped diplomat, was an innocent man, a political prisoner.
This victory of the people was only possible thanks to the work of several other groups that stood in deep solidarity and the thousands of people who sent hundreds of statements and press releases, organized demos, webinars or joined any of the many actions in support of Venezuelan’s right to sovereignty and peace.
The Defense Committee was the work and collaboration of grassroots groups, including UNAC, the International Action Center, Taskforce on the Americas, The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) Anti War Committee, the National Lawyer Guild (NLG), the Association Americana de Jurists (AAJ), Sanction Kills Campaign, Popular Resistance, Code Pink, among others.
The struggle against the illegal unilateral sanctions from the US continues!
In Solidarity,
William Camacaro
