BLF condemns US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal

Posted on September 3, 2018September 4, 2018 by Black First Land First

Black First Land First (BLF) is appalled by the escalation of United States (US) aggression towards Iran that has seen the US withdrawing on May 8 this year from the Iran nuclear deal and imposing severe sanctions on the country.

The nuclear deal which was adopted in October 2015 as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had at least provided a relaxation of US sanctions – which had deterred ‘European and other companies’ from trading with and investing in Iran – in exchange for the Iranian government curtailing its nuclear program and submitting to international inspectors.

BLF condemns the actions of the US amid empty allegations (by itself and Israel) that Iran had reneged on the nuclear deal. This is a war led by the US against Iran to consolidate imperialist power. We applaud the efforts of the Iranian government and its people to defend the sovereignty of the country and to advance the commitment to peace, security and economic independence.

US imperialism, in cahoots with counter revolutionary forces within the country, is hellbent on effecting regime change by removing the democratically elected President Hassan Rouhani from power and replacing him with a US puppet via a Brazilian like coup. To achieve this the US has withdrawn from the nuclear deal which had been adopted by Germany, the European Union, Britain, France, China and Russia over and above the US and Iran. Furthermore, imperialism has imposed sanctions and conducted economic terrorism which has led to inflation levels increasing and ultimately the Iranian currency being attacked.

It must also be stated that imperialism has in cahoots with certain political parties, civil society organizations and other entities created political instability in Iran. To this end society has been mobilized via the captured mainstream media to create hostility against President Rouhani and to effect regime change. In this regard President Rouhani has been deliberately and wrongly projected by imperialism as the real enemy of the Iranian people. BLF is anti imperialist. We stand with the government and people of Iran in the struggle against US aggression and imperialism in general.

We condemn the audacity of the US to rally against Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities which in turn provides a significant measure of independence against the thieving imperialists. We remember the many crimes of the US and other imperialist nations against Iran including Britain’s fight for Iran’s oil, the US led coup in 1953 that ousted Mohammad Mossadeq from power, and the striking down of Iran Air flight 655 by the US Navy in July 1988 which resulted in 300 innocent people dying.

We further recall that in 1995 the the Clinton administration barred US entities from trading with Iran and investing in the country’s oil as well as gas; and in 1996 the US legislated on the imposition of penalties on foreign firms having significant investments in the said sector. We also note the intensification of sanctions during the Obama tenure including to this end legislating the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 and escalating sanctions in terms National Defense Authorization Act of 2012.

The nuclear deal of October 2015 has served to relax the monstrous sanctions that were imposed by the US, the European Union and the United Nations and thus give it a measure of independence. It further enabled Iran to gain access to its foreign frozen assets to the tune of $30 billion. We note that even though Iran increased its oil exports substantially through the nuclear deal, the deal didn’t address the fact that many of the western companies, particularly those relating to banking, were dissuaded from investing in the country.

BLF supports the decisions and commitments of the ministerial level meeting of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA which was held on 6 July this year in Vienna at the instance of the Islamic Republic of Iran to pave the way ahead so as to guarantee the effective implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and the review of unresolved challenges resulting from the withdrawal of the US from the said deal and its reimposition of sanctions that were previously lifted. We applaud the commitment of the participants to devise and implement practical solutions in relation to inter alia the following: ‘the maintenance and promotion of wider economic and sectoral relations with Iran’; ‘the preservation and maintenance of effective financial channels with Iran’; ‘the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas condensate, petroleum products and petrochemicals’; ‘the continuation of … (all) transportation relations’; ‘the promotion of export credit cover’; ‘clear and effective support for economic operators trading with Iran, particularly small and medium sized enterprises which are the backbone of many economies’; ‘the encouragement of further investments in Iran’; ‘the protection of economic operators for their investment and other commercial and financial activities’ regarding Iran in or in relation to Iran’; ‘the bringing together of private and public sector experts’; ‘the practical support for trade with and investment in Iran’; and ‘the protection of companies from the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions’.

We call for an end to all sanctions against Iran and for all the progressive nations and forces of the world to defend Iran against any attack by the US and its partners. President Rouhani is problematic to imperialism. He has consequently been deliberately and wrongly made to be the enemy in a bid to distract the people of Iran with side issues and to this end effect regime change in imperialist interests.

BLF calls on all to stand in solidarity with the Iranian government and its people. We say “hands off President Rouhani”, “no to regime change” and “fight imperialism, take back the economy”.

Issued by the National Coordinating Committee of Black First Land First (BLF NCC)

3 September 2018

Contact details

Black First Land First Email:[email protected]
Facebook: Black First Land First

Twitter: @black1stland1st
Website: www.blf.org.za

International Relations Secretary: Shantha Balakrishna
Cell number: +27 72 114 3670

Deputy President: Zanele Lwana
Cell: +27799867225

National Spokesperson: Lindsay Maasdorp
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Head of Media & Communications: Brian Tloubatla
Cell: +27 82 216 7664

BLF held successful meeting with Venezuela embassy

Posted on June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 by Black First Land First

Today, a delegtion of five Black First Land First (BLF) members led by the President of the movement, Andile Mngxitama, met the Ambassador of Venezuela Mrs Mairini Moreno Merinda and Deputy head of Mission Mr Omar Berrotena in Pretoria.

The meeting was at the request of BLF as part of its anti imperialism activities. During the meeting, BLF was informed about the regimen change campaigns in Venezuela by the opposition parties who are sponsored and directed by imperialism. The regime change efforts in Venezuela by the opposition parties is directed at stopping the Radical Economic Transformation in that society.

BLF also learnt about the unreasonble and false demands of the opposition parties which are all calculated to prolong the economic terrorism driven by the United States of American (USA). The revolution in Venezuela is in danger. The prolonged economic terrorism is wearing the population out. The USA funded demonstrations and protests are getting more and more violent.

BLF on its part has expressed 100% support for the Bolivarian Revolution. We believe that the regime change template being pursued in Venezuela is the same as the one that is pursued by the opposition parties and the pro imperialist faction of the ANC which is led by the corrupt Pravin Gordhan and the murderer of the Marikana workers, Cyril Ramaphosa. Imperialism must be defeated in Venezuela as well as in South Africa (SA).

BLF shall be undertaking further campaigns to popularise the “Hands Off Venezuela” campaign, including engaging in protest action at the USA embassy. Last month BLF sent a letter to President Maduro expressing its support for the withdrawal of Venezuela from the Organisation of American States (OAS). The attack on Venezuela is the same attack that is awaiting South Africans when we take back the land. Furthermore, BLF shall he countering the lies told by the white owned media about what’s going on in Venezuela.

The meeting ended on a high note where both parties agreed on further engagement to defend revolutionary government of Venezuela.

Issued by Black First Land First, National Coordinating Committee (BLF NCC)

1 June 2017

Contact details

Black First Land First Email:[email protected]
Facebook: Black First Land First | Twitter: @black1stland1st
Website: www.blf.org.za

Zanele Lwana
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 986 7225

Lindsay Maasdorp
(National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 79 915 2957

Brian Tloubatla
(Deputy National Spokesperson)
Cell: +27 82 216 7664

Letter to President Maduro: BLF welcomes withdrawal of Venezuela from OAS

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Black First Land First

President Nicolas Maduro
Final Avenida Urdaneta
Esq. de Bolero, Palacio de Miraflores Caracas, Distrito Capital
Venezuela

C/o Venezuelan Embassy in Pretoria,
South Africa

May 3, 2017

Via email to: [email protected]
[email protected]

Your Excellency

BLF SUPPORTS WITHDRAWAL OF VENEZUELA FROM OAS

Black First Land First (BLF) is a Black Consciousness, Pan Afrikanist movement which embraces a Sankarist leadership ethos. To this end we are an anti racist, anti capitalist, anti colonial, anti imperialist, anti sexist, pro LGBTQI, internationalist, people’s movement. We are also registered with the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa as a political party.

BLF supports the decision of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under your leadership to withdraw its membership from the Organization of American States (OAS).

We echo the leftist sentiment that the OAS should be abolished as it “does not represent or respect the sovereignty of its member states”.

BLF further notes the regime change agenda of Western imperialism which was hatched in Washington regarding all the progressive governments of Latin America – including Venezuela where the OAS is employed to undermine its sovereignty via foreign intervention. We note that prior to the decision to withdraw from the OAS, Venezuela has been subjected to frequent threats by the OAS Secretary-General, Luis Almagro, to suspend its membership owing to its leftist political, economic and social perspective.

Almagro for his part has not used his position to elaborate an anti imperialist perspective for the Latin American situation. He in fact has demonstrated his role as “a spokesman for the North American empire” who has displayed “a colonial and undemocratic attitude” by calling for foreign intervention and thereby promoting a coup in Venezuela. Moreover in August last year he indicated strong support to the Venezuelan opposition via a letter to its leader Leopoldo Lopez who was mobilizing support for the recall referendum against you which later failed. Quite clearly, Lopez has served invaluable time for imperialism. We remember how in 2014 he led protests against you that resulted in 43 people dying and over 800 being injured. President Morales of Bolivia has correctly pointed out that the OAS is biased against the left in Latin America and to this end Almagro is nowhere to be seen “[w]hen there’s a conspiracy against leftist democratic governments (and he) … only appears to defend the right wing.”

Evidently, your country Venezuela is under assault by imperialist forces. To this end western imperialism – in partnership with the national bourgeoisie and settler monopoly capital as well as in collaboration with the US funded opposition forces and “civil society” organizations – is conducting its war via the OAS. In this context, the OAS is playing its counter revolutionary role as a mechanism to promote and realise regime change by facilitating your removal as President so as to ultimately replace you with their puppet – notwithstanding the fact that you were democratically elected into office by the Venezuelan masses.

During this time of the western imperialist onslaught, BLF calls on the Venezuelan people under your leadership to heed the call of the revolution intimated by you to defend the sovereignty of the country and to advance the struggle for economic liberation. In this regard, the planned withdrawal of your country from the OAS signals clear and radical leadership on your part as President of Venezuela. You have indicated a very significant move [withdrawal from OAS] that must be supported by all the progressive people and forces with unremitting commitment to fight imperialism, take back the economy, and restore national sovereignty.

We know that under the pretext of fighting corruption and bad governance society is being mobilized via the imperialist funded and controlled media to cause and intensify hostility against you. In Venezuela like it happened in Brazil, and is currently happening in South Africa, corrupt agents of regime change are leading the supposed fight against corruption. In this regard, the OAS is their weapon to facilitate regime change in Venezuela. We are accordingly, not surprised that the OAS has not condemned the impeachment and removal last year of the democratically elected President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil and her replacement by the US puppet, Michel Temer.

As an anti imperialist movement, BLF understands that once imperialism is allowed to reverse the gains of the Bolivarian Revolution, the Venezuelan people shall be faced with naked oppression in the interests of profits.

BLF says that the best form of defence against imperialism in this current context is attack. To this end BLF calls on you, to use (in your representative capacity) the nominal power that your party already has as well as the other gains achieved via the Bolivarian Revolution, to deliver economic liberation now! In this way the objective of restoring the national sovereignty and taking back the economy can meaningfully begin to be addressed.

BLF fully supports the withdrawal of Venezuela from the OAS.

#USHandsOffVenezuela
#AbolishOAS
#EndOASmembership

In Solidarity

BLF President: Andile Mngxitama

Contact Details:

Black First Land First Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Black First Land First
Twitter: @black1stland1st
Website: www.blf.org.za
Andile Mngxitama
Cell number: +27 82 678 3200