Defending Rights and Dissent: New Version of “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act,” (H.R. 9495) to Crush Dissent Advances in Proposed Budget This opens the door to attack all solidarity organizations. On May 14, the House Ways and Means Committee passed the bill granting the Secretary of Treasury the ability to accuse any nonprofit of being a “terrorist supporting organization” without basic due process. This was formerly the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, or H.R. 9495. Defending Rights & Dissent joined over 200 organizations (listed in link) on the following statement condemning the provision.
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CELAC and China
Peoples Dispatch: China deepens Latin America ties with CELAC meeting in Beijing The forum brought together representatives from 33 countries and leaders such as Xi Jinping, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro, and Gabriel Boric. The purpose of the meeting, according to Chinese Secretary of State Wang Yi, was to develop a roadmap for expanding trade between his government and the CELAC countries. In several countries in that region, China has emerged as the main economic partner, which has caused some tension with the US. The exchange of goods between China and Latin America exceeded $480 billion in 2023, which implies a portentous advance considering that during the first years of the 21st century, the trade exchange did not exceed $14 billion. Beijing Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum
President Xi Jinping address to 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum “Writing a New Chapter in Building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future” China firmly supports LAC countries in pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions, safeguarding sovereignty and independence, and opposing external interference…Under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the two sides have implemented more than 200 infrastructure projects, creating over a million jobs…Last year, trade between China and LAC countries exceeded US$500 billion for the first time, an increase of over 40 times from the beginning of this century…Since 1993, China has dispatched 38 medical teams to the Caribbean. When the pandemic of the century struck, China was among the first to offer assistance to LAC countries, providing over 300 million doses of vaccines and nearly 40 million units of medical supplies and equipment, and sending multiple teams of medical experts…We will provide a RMB66 billion yuan credit line [$9.15 billion] to support LAC countries’ development.
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Venezuela
Al Mayadeen: Palestinian cause is our cause: Venezuela on 77th Nakba anniversary On the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, Venezuela expressed its deep solidarity with the Palestinian people, reaffirming its commitment to the principles of international law, justice, and the right to self-determination. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the Palestinian cause is Venezuela’s cause, noting that “their heroic resistance is a source of inspiration for the free peoples of the world.” On May 15, Palestinian factions declared that the Palestinian people are facing a renewed Nakba amid the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They emphasized that national unity and steadfast resistance remain the only path to thwart displacement and liquidation plans.
Venezuela criticizes UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk his silence regarding the kidnapping of over 250 Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador “The Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces the dismissive, biased, and cowardly attitude of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in response to serious violations committed against Venezuelan citizens abroad. It has been more than six weeks since President Nicolas Maduro directly informed Mr. Türk about the abduction of more than 250 Venezuelans in El Salvador, who were transferred to inhumane detention centers. Added to this is the case of Venezuelan girl Maikelys Antonella Espinoza Bernal [now freed and reunited], who is being unjustifiably detained in the United States. However, the high commissioner has remained complicitly silent, failing to call for their release or issue a clear statement.”
Roger Harris: Human Rights Watch Pushes for Harsher Venezuela Sanctions HRW’s latest report on Venezuela calls for intensified illegal measures that cause misery and death, outflanking Trump from the right. On April 29, the State Department highlighted the revocation of oil importing licenses and the establishment of potential secondary tariffs on countries that still dare to import Venezuelan oil. The next day, HRW’s report demanded even harsher punishment. Frustrated that the “Trump administration appears to be prioritizing cooperation” with Venezuela, HRW called for expanding sanctions and deepening pressure. And this is despite Washington’s plans to further maximize its maximum pressure campaign to achieve regime change in Caracas.
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Cuba
Kawsachun News: NED targets Cuba with $6.6 million in 2025 The US government is lifting restrictions and will restore funds to the National Endowment for Democracy towards foreign interference in countries such as Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. According to a statement on its website, the NED regained access to congressionally appropriated funds that had been unavailable since late January, allowing the agency to fully continue its mission to undermine, coerce, and work towards the overthrow of foreign governments around the world.
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Nicaragua
NicaNotes: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition Responds to UN Request for Evidence on Effects of Sanctions The UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures (or sanctions) made a global request for evidence on unilateral coercive measures and humanitarian action. Given that sanctions against Nicaragua are having a considerable effect on the Nicaraguan government’s humanitarian work, the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition made the following submission to the inquiry on May 1st.
“The UN General Assembly, the organization’s highest decision-making body, has clearly condemned the use of UCMs. However, as in the case of Nicaragua, political manipulation of some UN bodies, such as the Human Rights Council, has led to recommendations that violate the UN’s own policies. For example, the so-called “Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua” (the “GHREN”) has recommended the continuance and further use of UCMs in several of its reports, including the one issued in February of this year. That document called on governments to “expand legal actions and sanctions” against individuals and entities linked to the Nicaraguan government.”
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Bolivia
Orinoco Tribune: Bolivia’s President Arce Declines to Run for Reelection “I will not be a factor in dividing the popular vote,” Arce said during a nationally broadcast speech May 13, “much less will I facilitate the realization of a fascist right-wing project that seeks to destroy the Plurinational State, with which they seek to destroy the productive socioeconomic model.” “I reaffirm that unity is the only way to save the Plurinational State.” Arce also urged Evo Morales to step aside and not run in the upcoming elections, proposing Senate leader Andrónico Rodríguez as a potential unity candidate for the left. Early on Wednesday, Morales rejected Arce’s proposal on social media:
MercoPress: Bolivian court bans Evo Morales from running again for president Bolivia’s Plurinational Constitutional Court ruled May 14 that former president Evo Morales cannot seek reelection after two terms in office, regardless of whether continuous or discontinuous. The decision rendering such an endeavor unconstitutional came after a long session to be published in the Plurinational Constitutional Gazette.
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Events
May 18: Nicaraguan programs of maternal & child health: A cross-national comparison Speakers describe special programs, such as the casas maternas for women about to give birth, to protect and enhance the health of mothers and their children. They will also compare health outcomes in Nicaragua and other nations, particularly the US.
May 30: Event with Cuban Embassy’s David Ramirez and Yasser Ibarra. At International Association of Machinists Hall at 7pm. 1261 Avalon Blvd. Wilmington, CA For more info, email LA.US.Handsoffcuba@gmail.com
May 31: Chicago Reportback from Cuba May Day delegations in person and online.
Sunday, June 22, 3 pm ET Nicaragua Webinar: Report-back from the recent official Veterans for Peace Delegation to Nicaragua, with Gerry Condon with other veterans.
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Delegations to Cuba, Nicaragua:
Cuba
Different Brigades and Solidarity Trips to Cuba
Witness to Peace delegations to Cuba
Friendly Planet delegations to Cuba
Nicaragua
Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:
July 2025: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution
November 2025: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
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This is also available at ChicagoALBASolidarity.org. If you have events to publicize, send them to venezuelaweekly@afgj.org or stansfieldsmith100@gmail.com.
Chicago ALBA Solidarity 