“95% of our consulted peasant population recognizes the United States Government and the Venezuelan opposition as responsible for the economic and financial blockade,” declared the deputy (PSUV-Barinas) Maite García, spokeswoman for the Foundation against the Peasant Hitman.
García presented the balance of the consultation made to 17,913 families in the rural Venezuelan sector about the blockade imposed by the US and other powers.
The parliamentarian offered a press conference at the Human Rights School of the Ombudsman’s Office, where she ratified that the Venezuelan peasantry demands an end to the blockade. She explained that since last January the foundation started the Peasants on the March against the Blockade initiative, with which they visited 149 communities in 14 states where they collected 17,913 queries from 56,906 people.
“Our peasants have been at the forefront, organized and mobilized to present themselves to the country as a productive force,” he said.
Among the consequences of this blockade are the difficulties in acquiring inputs and tools necessary for agricultural and livestock work. “23% of our respondents have manifested these perverse conditions,” the deputy clarified.
The consultation also showed that 20% of the peasant population believes that the lack of incentives for farm workers is a product of the blockade against Venezuela.
89% of the peasantry consulted said that President Nicolás Maduro “has made epic efforts to maintain and raise production levels,” said the deputy.
Parallel to the consultation, the foundation has maintained a mobilization agenda that included the concentration of last September 21 in front of the United Nations headquarters in Venezuela where they delivered a document demanding that organization make a pronouncement in relation to the blockade imposed on Venezuela. “These measures affect the human rights of the entire Venezuelan population,” Garcia said, adding that the document delivered to the UN also calls for the lifting of sanctions against Venezuela.
García announced that the Foundation against Peasant Killings is in permanent assemblies, makes consultations and seminars. They also have two sit-ins on their agenda: one before the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the other against the European Union.
“These instances are directly linked to the sanctions imposed on Venezuela,” said Garcia, who was accompanied by representatives of the peasant sector.
“We trust that we are going to overcome this perverse blockade,” he said.
