Public Services International (PSI) is a global union federation that represents more than 20 million workers worldwide.
In the face of the very serious political and socio-economic situation that exists in Venezuela, and the threat of external military intervention in that country:
PSI is firmly against any armed solution to solve the serious problems experienced in this Andean nation. PSI rejects the possibility of external military intervention, a possibility that has not been ruled out by US President Donald Trump. The sovereignty and self-determination of peoples is a principle that must be respected by all.
Alternatively, PSI supports all initiatives that aim to promote dialogue between the government of Nicolás Maduro and the opposition. PSI welcomes, for example, the initiative of the governments of Mexico and Uruguay, which held an international meeting on February 7, and the statement of Rosemary DiCarlo, the undersecretary general for Political Affairs of the United Nations (UN), where, before its Security Council, she claimed that dialogue and cooperation are essential to end the conflict in Venezuela.
PSI urges the Maduro government to immediately put an end to the excessive repression and arbitrary arrests of the opposition and instead, respect human rights and listen to their legitimate demands.
PSI urges the opposition to put aside its attitude of confrontation, exemplified by the self-proclamation of deputy Juan Guaidó that he is the "acting president", a position that does not contribute to a solution to the country's problems. On the contrary, such an attitude, supported by some foreign governments, threatens the stability of the country and the region, returning it to times when coups and military dictatorships were much more common.
Finally, PSI reinforces its call for peace, dialogue, respect for human rights and insists that the principles of sovereignty and self-determination of peoples are essential conditions to end the conflict in Venezuela. PSI makes itself available to contribute to a peaceful solution.
Rosa Pavanelli
PSI General Secretary