Venezuela

Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a “parallel” parliament in Caracas on January 7.

The self-proclaimed “interim president” led a group of deputies in a standoff with security forces outside the Legislative Palace in Caracas, while the National Assembly (AN) held its regular session inside. The session was led by newly-elected AN President and Yaracuy State Deputy Luis Parra, who announced the creation of a commission to “restore” constitutional order.

The Venezuelan government has blamed Colombian President Ivan Duque’s policies for the reignition of armed conflict in the country, writes Paul Dobson.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed a sweeping economic embargo against Venezuela in its efforts to oust the Nicolas Maduro government.

The assassinations of six activists from the grassroots Revolutionary Bolivar and Zamora Current (CRBZ) in Barinas State on July 27 sparked immediate outrage and expressions of solidarity from Venezuelan and international activists.

A rally was held outside the United States Consulate in Martin Place on July 27 to condemn the US government's campaign to overthrow the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro through illegal sanctions and threats of military intervention.

Six members of the Bolívar and Zamora Revolutionary Current were murdered on July 27 by an as yet unidentified armed group, presumably mercenaries paid by sections of the local right-wing landowners.

The following open letter to the Australian government, signed by a number of academics, unionists and solidarity activists and groups, was released on July 27.

Food Houses, Casas de Alimentación, are one of the trenches combating the impact of the US economic war on Venezuela, writes Marco Teruggi.

Juan Guaido’s team is receiving over US$40 million through USAID to fund salaries, travel, training, propaganda and technical assistance.

Three men linked to self-declared “Interim President” Juan Guaido were arrested on July 12, while allegedly selling weapons stolen during the failed April 30 putsch.

The Venezuelan government has disputed the findings of a UN human rights report that failed to include testimonies from victims of violent opposition protests in 2014 and 2017 and paid scant attention to the impact of US sanctions.

One of the sectors hardest hit by Venezuela's economic crisis is the nation’s LGBTI community. Lacking access to life-saving medicines and denied certain rights, activists say there is still much to be done within the revolution, writes Federico Fuentes.