PLO blasts USA for 'colonialism'

Headline: "Rafat condemned the American interference in Venezuela"

"PLO Executive Committee member and Deputy Secretary-General of the Palestinian Democratic Union FIDA Saleh Rafat condemned the failed coup attempt that was supported by US President Donald Trump's administration against legal and elected Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (most of the international community considers Maduro's reelection in 2018 fraudulent; see note below –Ed.).

He said yesterday [Jan. 26, 2019] in a statement: 'The American interference in the internal affairs in Venezuela crosses international norms and conventions, and the coup attempt that took place against the legal president of Venezuela is a coup against the democratic process, which exposes the colonialist American intentions and its goals to spread anarchy in all of the world’s states.'

He emphasized the importance of protecting the states’ sovereignty and their independence and honoring the election results, and emphasized the support of the Palestinian people for elected president Nicolás Maduro and for the Venezuelan people's decision."

Saleh Rafat also holds the position of head of the PLO Military and Security Department.

Venezuelan crisis 2018-2019 - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro won a second term in the Venezuelan presidential election in May 2018; however, the election was determined to be fraudulent and Venezuela has been considered to be without a president by most of the international community since Jan. 10, 2019, when Nicolás Maduro’s legitimate term ended. Maduro nevertheless has continued as president, supported by countries like Russia, China, Mexico, Syria, Iran, and Turkey. The US, Canada, the EU, and others have condemned this and encouraged support for Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate president. Guaidó proclaimed himself “acting president” on Jan. 23, 2019, but Maduro has refused to step down. The countries supporting Guaidó have been accused by Russia and others of fomenting a coup. Dozens have been killed in protests against Maduro and his government, and the people are suffering under food and medicine shortages.