Sao Paulo Forum to Condemn Campaigns against Governments

Havana, Jul 10 (Prensa Latina) The Sao Paulo Forum will condemn the destabilizing campaigns against Nicaragua and Venezuela, the U.S. blockade of Cuba and the imprisonment of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, analysts and political leaders from the region denounced.

The 24th edition of the event, to be held in this capital from July 15 to 17, will be attended by representatives of progressive and left-wing organizations from several countries.

Latin America is today subjected to an intensive imperialist counteroffensive, warned the renowned Argentinean intellectual Atilio Boron, who noted that this counteroffensive aims to overthrow the government of Venezuela, further tightened the tourniquets of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, isolate the Bolivian government of Evo Morales and create an opposition beachhead in Nicaragua.

In light of the situation in Latin America today, it is necessary to create a big anti-neoliberal and anti-imperialist wave, and build strategies of unity, said the executive secretary of the Sao Paulo Forum, Monica Valente.

Valiente, who is also the International Relations secretary of the Workers' Party (PT) of Brazil, noted that the meeting in Havana will contribute to denouncing the political persecution against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been in prison for more than 90 days in Curitiba, on charges that he did not commit and that, according to denunciations, are a maneuver to prevent his candidacy to the presidency, as he is leading all vote intention surveys.

That will be the main issue that the PT will submit to the meeting of the Forum in Havana, Valente pointed out.

Lula and the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, played a key role in the foundation of the Forum in 1990 in Brazil, with participation of more than 100 left-wing parties and groups.

On the last day of the meeting, participants will hold a plenary session dedicated to Fidel Castro's thinking.

'Fidel will be present in that forum. He has been since he summoned us and we want to feel dignified sons and daughters of him,' said the general secretary of the Communist Party of Uruguay, Juan Castillo, who added that the best tribute to the revolutionary leader is to continue to strengthen unity.

According to the official from the International Relations Department of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), Idalmis Brook, the meeting in Havana will allow discussing urgent issues for the region's left-wing forces, particularly the importance of unity.

For his part, Chilean writer and journalist Manuel Cabiese noted that Havana offers 'the best scenario' for a serious debate on the prospects of Latin America's left wing.