The Venezuelan Government on Monday accused Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe administration of lying and being the only government on the continent guilty of acts of war.
The accusation follows Colombia’s announcement it would turn to the United Nations Security Council and the Organization of American States after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told the Venezuelan army and people to prepare for war with the neighboring country.
According to a statement by the Venezuelan government, Colombia’s announcement to seek the support of the international bodies is “immoral” and “reflects the hypocrisy that caracterizes the Colombian oligarchy.”
“The government of Uribe lies, as it has been demonstrated that the pact that officializes the U.S. military occupation of Colombia serves to protect the strategic domination of the empire over South America, allowing broad military operations in all of the region,” the statement said.
So far, Colombia has been the only country to commit acts of war, the Venezuelan government says, referring to the March 1, 2008 cross-border attack on a FARC camp in Ecuador.
According to the government of the leftist Hugo Chavez, Colombia is trying to undo the work of Simon Bolivar, who liberated a large part of South America from Spanish rule.
Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have been tense for years as their governments are of opposing ideologies. Chavez rejects any U.S. meddling on the continent, while Colombia depends on the U.S. to combat leftist guerrilla groups like the FARC and numerous drug gangs.
A recent pact between Colombia and the U.S. that allows the Americans extensive use of Colombian military bases and airports to fight terrorism and drug trafficking triggered Venezuela to freeze diplomatic relations as it considers an increase of American military presence in Colombia a threat to its sovereignty.