US Trying to Extradite Venezuelan Diplomat for the "Crime" of Securing Food for the Hungry:

[Judi Lynn]

US Trying to Extradite Venezuelan Diplomat for the “Crime” of Securing Food for the Hungry: The Case of Alex Saab v. The Empire
by Roger D. Harris / May 22nd, 2021

The case of Alex Saab raises dangerous precedents in terms of extraterritorial judicial abuse, violation of diplomatic status, and even the use of torture to extract false confessions. This is according to Montréal-based international human rights lawyer John Philpot. He spoke on May 19 at a webinar sponsored by the Alliance for Global Justice and other groups about this example of the long reach of the US empire enforcing its deadly sanctions on some one third of humanity.

US sanctions Venezuela for being sovereign

Stansfield Smith of Chicago ALBA Solidarity commented that the Saab case is part of a larger US effort to use “lawfare” to impose its illegal sanctions, which the United Nations condemns as “unilateral coercive measures.” The US employs sanctions to discipline countries that attempt to develop independent of its dominion.

The US is able to extend its imperial reach through its domination of the international financial system, which is US dollar denominated and meditated through the monetary exchange known as SWIFT. By controlling the international financial system, Smith explained, Washington can demand banks in foreign countries to accept US restrictions or face sanctions themselves.

Venezuela’s resistance to US interference, starting with Hugo Chávez’s Bolivarian Revolution two decades ago, has been punished by the US with mounting sanctions so extreme that they now amount to an asphyxiating blockade, causing severe shortages of food and medicine. William Camacaro of the Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle attested to the impact on the people of Venezuela. This US effort to achieve regime change is, in effect, collective punishment to coerce the Venezuelans to reject their elected government.

More:
https://dissidentvoice.org/2021/05/us-trying-to-extradite-venezuelan-diplomat-for-the-crime-of-securing-food-for-the-hungry-the-case-of-alex-saab-v-the-empire/

[Judi Lynn]

1. More from the OP:

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The Swiss government, after a two-year investigation into Saab’s transactions with Swiss banks, concluded on March 25 that there was no money laundering. The real reason Saab is being persecuted is because he is serving his country’s interest rather than that of the US. Saab was born in Colombia but now holds Venezuelan citizenship.

The US mandate for the arrest and extradition of Saab would be like Saudi Arabia demanding the arrest and extradition of a British citizen visiting Italy for wearing short-shorts. In essence, the US does not have legal jurisdiction over a Venezuelan in Cabo Verde on his way to Iran.

As Indhriana Parada wrote in the webinar chat: “Greetings from Venezuela. We support the release of Alex Saab. It is a totally political case, and we want him back. Alex Saab did not launder money. Alex Saab bought food and medicine for Venezuela.”

More:
https://dissidentvoice.org/2021/05/us-trying-to-extradite-venezuelan-diplomat-for-the-crime-of-securing-food-for-the-hungry-the-case-of-alex-saab-v-the-empire/

[Judi Lynn]

2. The US Plan to Imprison Businesspeople in other Countries for "Violating" Illegal US Sanctions: The

The US Plan to Imprison Businesspeople in other Countries for “Violating” Illegal US Sanctions: The Case of Alex Saab
May 16, 2021
by Chicago ALBA Solidarity



Image from Feb 2021 the protest in Caracas, Venezuela. (Premium Times)

Alex Saad was detained in Cape Verde June 12, 2020 during a stopover to Iran, to be extradited to the US for the “crime” of violating US unilateral sanctions on Venezuela. He had been on a mission to acquire basic food and medicine to supply the government’s social welfare food program (CLAP).

The US uses economic sanctions as a tool to overthrow governments, such as Venezuela’s, that do not kow-tow to it. Sanctions are a weapon of war on civilians the US uses to “make the economy scream,” preventing the import of necessities such as food, medicine, and equipment to keep infrastructure and industries running. Sanctions drive capital flight from countries as corporations and financial institutions seek to distance themselves and avoid being targeted themselves.

US sanctions have both world reach and crippling effect because 95% of trade and currency exchange between countries takes place with US dollars or the currencies of its close allies. These financial and trade transactions must go through the US dominated SWIFT banking system, which enables the US to block money transfers for the smallest transaction and to confiscate billions of dollars held by targeted governments and individuals. By controlling the international financial system, Washington can demand banks in foreign countries accept US restrictions or face sanctions themselves.

The United Nations makes clear that US sanctions are unilateral coercive measures that violate international laws. The UN General Assembly has repeatedly called on all states not to recognize or apply unilateral coercive measures, such as those employed by the US.

More:
https://afgj.org/the-us-plan-to-imprison-businesspeople-in-other-countries-for-violating-illegal-us-sanctions-the-case-of-alex-saab?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-us-plan-to-imprison-businesspeople-in-other-countries-for-violating-illegal-us-sanctions-the-case-of-alex-saab

[Judi Lynn]

3. More from preceding article:

- snip -

Saab said in a recent interview, “For seven months…from the first day of my abduction, they tortured me and pressured me to sign voluntary extradition declarations and bear false witness against my government.” He refused, stating “President Maduro has shown incredible leadership in the face of unprecedented sanctions and dirty political tricks from the US. I am honored to be able to assist President Maduro in any way I can, as he seeks to ensure the well-being of the people of Venezuela.” In jail he was kept in the dark for 23 hours a day, “lying on the concrete [floor].” He partially lost his eyesight. “I was forbidden to speak to anyone inside the prison, and everyone else was forbidden to speak to me…I have lost 25 kilos [55 pounds].”

On March 25, 2021, courts in Switzerland, determining there was no evidence that Saab committed any irregularity, formally closed its two-year investigation against him for money laundering through Swiss banks. Soon after the Swiss statement, on March 31, the US Treasury Department withdrew the sanctions that President Trump had issued on a group of companies allegedly linked to Alex Saab.