Letter of the Day: Global solidarity is a form of action – The Province

Letter of the Dayewhyte / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Re: Indigenous peoples in Latin America once again victims of oppression (SP, Nov. 16)

A big thank you is due to columnist Doug Cuthand for his expression of international solidarity. Cuthand briefly described some of the atrocities committed recently towards Indigenous peoples throughout Central and South America.

His emphasis was on the recent coup in Bolivia where Indigenous President Evo Morales was overthrown by the military before his term was up in January.

As of the morning of Nov. 18, at least 23 people had died amid escalating violence. On Nov. 15, military forces opened fire on Indigenous pro-Morales protesters, killing at least nine people, injuring more than 100. The massacre came one day after self-proclaimed President Jeanine ez issued a decree protecting the military from prosecution for violent acts. ez has previously called Indigenous communities Satanic.

Cuthands call for international solidarity is one form of action which almost 30 years ago helped end South African apartheid. Yet Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs endorsed the coup. The federal government also financed and promoted an effort to discredit Bolivias presidential election by supporting an Organization of American States (OAS) call for Moraless resignation, although the grounds for this call were disputed by multiple international organizations.

Canadas role is less surprising given its record of supporting resource companies in the country in their antagonism to the Morales government. It is also less surprising given Canadas shameful record regarding the failed overthrow of Maduro in Venezuela this year and, a few years ago, Haiti. Both were cases of violently undemocratic actions.

Rick Hesch

Saskatoon

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Letter of the Day: Global solidarity is a form of action - The Province