All-African People’s Revolutionary Party ^(GC)

Says

FREE

ALEX SAAB

Human Rights Day was proclaimed almost 75 years ago by the United Nations in 1948. The All-African People’s Revolutionary Party ^(GC) calls upon the United States government, the most grievous abuser of human rights; and its capitalist and imperialist institutions to adhere to their self-proclaimed purpose of ensuring the fundamental human, political, economic, civil, and judicial rights of the world’s people, and to immediately free Alex Saab.

The prosecution and persecution of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab are one of the most egregious examples of the violation by the United States government of the human and civil rights of an individual and of a diplomat; additionally, the continued economic sanctions against the Venezuelan people are likewise heinous.

The All-African People’s Revolutionary Party ^(GC) and its women’s wing, the All-African Women’s Revolutionary Union, join the call for the immediate and unconditional release of Venezuelan Diplomat ALEX SAAB.

Alex Saab was appointed a diplomat by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and tasked with negotiating with the government of Iran for food, medications, oil, and other critical supplies. This was necessary because of U.S. economic sanctions against Venezuela that continue to cause extreme hardship to the Venezuelan people.

While on a refueling layover in the Republic of Cabo Verde, an independent African island nation off the coast of West Africa, Alex Saab was kidnapped and imprisoned by the Neo-colonial Cabo Verdean government of President Jorge Carlos Fonseca at the behest of the United States Government on June 12, 2020.

The capture of Alex Saab was made without any proper legal basis. The United States has no extradition treaty with the Republic of Cabo Verde. Moreover, while Cabo Verde authorities claimed that Saab was detained pursuant to a valid Interpol notice, a regional court in Nigeria found that the detention took place before the Interpol notice was issued, raising huge concerns about the legal validity of Saab’s detention and imprisonment.

Cabo Verde was well compensated for its actions against Diplomat Saab. The US bribed them with $1.5 million for COVID-19 relief, a new $400 million U.S. embassy building, and $100 million in fees to be paid directly to Cabo Verde government.

If the money was not enough incentive for Cabo Verde to comply with US demands, there is the matter of military threats. The New York Times reported that the US Navy Cruiser San Jacinto anchored off the coast of Cabo Verde “to make sure that Saab did not escape.”

The timing of Alex Saab’s rendition, one day before the national election in the Republic of Cabo Verde is highly suspicious., The United States illegally trafficked Alex Saab to prison in Miami, FL. Then-president Fonseca was expected to lose the election and the winner, Jose Marta Neves, was known to be fervently anti-colonialist. The US government knew that a win for the PAICV government would mean the release of Alex Saab.

The US charged Saab with eight counts, seven of which were dropped. The only current charge is a conspiracy to launder money charge. A court appearance was scheduled for December 12, 2022, to determine Ambassador Saab’s diplomatic status. During that hearing, the US admitted that Mr. Saab is a diplomat, but only an extraordinary diplomat, and thus has only temporary diplomacy. Then they contended that American treaties do not recognize temporary diplomats. The final judgment is scheduled for Monday, December 19^th.

Obviously, in this whole tawdry episode of true American Justice Alex Saab is the victim of his own good deed. Diplomat Saab’s true crimes are getting food for the people of Venezuela, procuring clean water equipment, getting medicine, and procuring oil for the people of Venezuela who have been left starving and dying because of the genocidal effects of US Sanctions which have forced thousands of Venezuelans to flee their home and camp out at the US – Mexican border.

 The A-APRP ^(GC) and its women’s wing the A-AWRU ^(GC) stand with the progressive forces in the US and the World in calling for the unconditional and immediate release of  Diplomat Alex Saab. We also suggest that you acquire more information on this case by visiting the Free Alex Saab Movement website.

FREE ALEX SAAB