The Venezuelan Solidarity Campaign in Nigeria (VSCN) has said that the “illegal custody” of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, in the United States was a US-organised kidnap, adding that his release is a victory for international solidarity grassroots movements.
The VSCN, a campaign platform formed by social movements, community organisers, trade union activists, socialist activists and youth groups to kick against the ‘continued aggression’ of the US against the Venezuelan people, said this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Coordinator, Dimeji Macaulay, in reaction to Saab’s release by the US government.
SaharaReporters on Friday reported how human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who had knocked the US on several occasions over its involvement in the arrest and detention of Saab, a special envoy of the Venezuelan government who was arrested in Cape Verde, welcomed the diplomat’s release.
Saab was arrested on June 12, 2020, after his private jet made a stopover in Cape Verde on his way to Iran for a humanitarian mission on behalf of the Venezuelan government.
The businessman was caught up in a feud between Venezuela, his country, and the US.
The US put pressure on Cape Verde to arrest Saab with plans of extraditing him to face corruption charges, but Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, who appointed Saab as ambassador to the African Union (AU) had kicked against the move.
Mr Saab, who was accused of laundering money for the Maduro government, an allegation which he denied, was released on Wednesday as part of a swap deal.
Reacting to Saab’s ordeal and release, VSCN recalled that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court had condemned his arrest and awarded $200,000 in damages to him.
The statement reads, “Venezuela Solidarity Campaign in Nigeria received the news of the release of Mr Alex Saab on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Mr Alex Saab, was released after 1,260 days in the US organised kidnap.
“The release of Mr Alex Saab again shows that if we fight, we can win. If we don't fight, we've already lost.
“We congratulated everyone who participated in this campaign across the world, the family of Alex Saab, the wife Camila that stood so strong and organised different campaigns for release of Mr Alex and all other people including Mr Femi Falana (SAN) who happens to be his lawyer throughout the travail in Africa.
“Comrade Owei Lakemfa, a veteran journalist in Nigeria, who wrote extensively to condemn US impunity against Mr Alex Saab and others like Julian Assange.”
The VSCN further stated, “The United States’ arrogance is an international embarrassment, and people of the world must stand up to reject it. The ongoing mass murdering of Palestinians by the Israeli Zionist must continue to face condemnation and resistance by people of the world. We're opposed to war and ethnic cleansing of any form.
“The actions of the US against Cuba, Venezuela, and extension to Mr Alex Saab show that the US campaign of democracy and human rights is just a smokescreen. The US has no moral rights to campaign for democracy or human rights anywhere in the world, with the roles it plays around the world by sponsoring coups, arrests and also attempts to extradite Julian Assange.
“That Mr Alex spent over three years in detention and the US couldn't get any evidence to convict him and then offer to release him in prisoners swap with Venezuela again shows that the US government has no locus standi to place Mr Alex Saab on trial in the first instance.
“While Mr. Alex Saab was welcomed as a hero of the Venezuelan people, Mr Joe Biden can't welcome those who he claimed to be his citizen openly because they're all convicted in Caracas for terrorism and they're all renowned mercenaries of the US.”