Venezuela’s ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) has condemned the arrest warrant issued in the US state of Florida against former Cuban President Raul Castro.
Calling it an attempt to intimidate the Cuban leadership, the party has appealed to Latin American and Caribbean countries to come forward in support of Cuba.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the PSUV expressed solidarity with Cuba and rejected the arrest warrant, according to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.
The party says the move violates international law and Cuba’s sovereignty and has no valid legal basis.
Linking this matter to the increasing American pressure on Havana, the party said that since January, American economic sanctions against Cuba have become more stringent, which is putting additional pressure on the people there.
The PSUV also reiterated its support for Cuban independence and the right of its people to self-determination.
The arrest warrant against Raul Castro is related to the shooting down of two civilian planes of the Miami-based Cuban exile organization ‘Brothers to the Rescue’ in 1996. Four people died in this incident.
Raul Castro was the Defense Minister of Cuba at the time of the incident. American officials allege that he had a role in approving the action of downing the planes.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state would seek accountability for the deaths in the incident. Following the arrest warrant, Castro faces arrest in jurisdictions that are willing to extradite him to Florida.
There has been a long standing dispute between America and Cuba regarding this incident. Cuba says both planes entered its airspace.
At the same time, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had concluded that the planes were in international waters at the time of their downing.
This difference of opinion has further increased the tension between Washington and Havana. The arrest warrant against Raul Castro has been issued at a time when there are differences between the two countries regarding US sanctions and political pressure on Cuba.
This new legal action started in Florida has again brought the case related to the 1996 plane crash into discussion. At the same time, Venezuela’s ruling party has opposed this move and called on regional countries to unite in support of Cuba’s sovereignty and independence.