I am writing today on behalf of millions of Venezuelans currently fighting to get their country back and to recover their dignity, after being trampled by a man that Jeremy Corbyn seems to openly support despite his part in burying an entire nation in the utmost misery.

While I understand how foreign intervention in our domestic conflict could be considered worrisome, I don’t think those concerns move Corbyn. He has not directly expressed his position in relation to the Venezuela crisis and, during his meeting last week with ambassadors from Latin America and the Caribbean, only a spokesman from the Labour Party addressed the issue in a general statement.

In the past, Corbyn has openly given his support for the now deceased Hugo Chavez, but he has never explicitly expressed his position towards Chavez’s successor, Nicolas Maduro, dismissing pressure from his peers to do so. I highly doubt that he cares about what is happening in our country. Much worse, he brazenly ignores it.

Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Show all 18 1 / 18 Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Protesters clash with the Bolivarian National Police during a demonstration against the government of the Venezuela and president Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on 23 January 2019 EPA Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Demonstrators cheer as Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido declares himself the country's "acting president" at a rally in Caracas AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Opposition supporters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Opposition supporters take part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Juan Guaido, head of Venezuela's opposition-run congress, declares himself interim president of the nation until elections can be held during a rally in Caracas demanding leader Nicolas Maduro's resignation AP Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Opposition supporters carry letters to form the word "Democracy" while taking part in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Police watch over marching anti-government protesters in Caracas EPA Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government A vehicle is overturned as opposition demonstrators block a road during a protest against the Venezuelan government AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government A National Police officer fires rubber bullets during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government A demonstrator throws back a gas canister while clashing with security forces during a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Security forces look on after clashing with opposition supporters participating in a rally against Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro's government REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira in Caracas Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira in Caracas Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government epa07313731 Opponents of Chavism demonstrate against the Government of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, 23 January 2019. Chavists and opponents are again demonstrating in the streets of the country to support or question the legitimacy of the head of state, which the Parliament and a large part of the international community do not recognize. EPA/CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ EPA Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Riot police clash with opposition demonstrators during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas on January 23, 2019. - Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido declared himself the country's "acting president" on Wednesday during a mass opposition rally against leader Nicolas Maduro. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images YURI CORTEZ AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government The remains of a statue of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez is seen hanging from a pedestrian bridge after it was destroyed in San Felix, Venezuela REUTERS Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Riot police on motorcycles clash with opposition demonstrators during protests in Caracas AFP/Getty Images Venezuela protests: thousands rally against government Supporters celebrate Juan Guaido declaration that he is Venezuelan president EPA

I would like to point out to Corbyn that during the last 20 years, Venezuela has gone through more elections than many Latin American nations put together. But amid ongoing turmoil, we still believe in democracy, and have done our best to respect it and maintain it.

However, Maduro’s government has, in my view, mocked the Venezuelan constitution, violated our human rights; destroyed our economy; starved the citizens; killed sick children left abandoned by the regimen in hospitals that significantly lack resources; forced mothers to give away their children because they cannot feed them; and forced more than 3 million citizens to abandon their country in hopes of finding a way to feed themselves and their families.

The Maduro regime is, in my opinion, responsible for making thousands of children live in the streets, barefoot, barely dressed and searching for food in garbage bins. It has made Venezuelan women sell their hair for money, and sent doctors, engineers, teachers, nurses, researchers and scientist to work as taxi drivers, cleaners, waiters or dishwashers in numerous countries where these jobs provide them with a higher income than their original careers in Venezuela.

Maduro has destroyed PDVSA – an iconic oil and gas company in our country that vastly contributed to our economy – through alleged corruption, not to mention fiscal irresponsibility. And yet, he continues to do as he pleases, even going as far as launching his own salsa radio show and staging dances in public amid all the aforementioned chaos. Meanwhile, citizens from the young to the elderly are still dying in droves.

In perhaps the most overt threat to democracy from the president, the same move that has drawn condemnation worldwide, Maduro has also been accused of forging the results of the last election, as well as openly threatening his citizens with blocking their access to Comités Locales de Abastecimiento y Producción (Clap) bags, if they did not vote in the government’s favour.

Originally introduced by Chavez, the Clap bags are the product of Maduro’s flagship scheme to manage food distribution in the Venezuela. The bags are managed by the Local Committees of Supply and Production, which ensure that only those registered with the government party receive them.

Sadly, none of the above is hyperbole; these are all widely documented facts.

So why does Corbyn still appear to recognise this man as the rightful president of a nation that bleeds from within and longs for its freedom from him?

I had the opportunity as a young journalist to meet and talk with Chavez, the man who 20 years ago set up the country to live its worst political tragedy known to modern times.

I cannot say that Corbyn reminds me of this man, who undoubtedly exuded charm and a devastatingly magnetic personality. No one would accuse Corbyn of possessing those traits. However, when I hear him spread his ill-conceived rhetoric and see his body language, I can’t help but think of Chavez.

I never supported Chavez, and, in fact, I left my country a year after he took power. I foresaw what was coming, having met the man, but when I later moved to the UK 12 years ago, I was inclined towards what I thought were the beliefs of the Labour Party – a less dramatic version of the positive aspects of socialism.

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Now, based on my observation of the Corbyn-led party, my vision has changed. I am fearful of the prospect of reliving the social resentment I experienced with Chavez. Chavez stirred people’s hatred towards each other and created a polarised society that did not exist before. The strategy to “divide and conquer” shouldn’t be applied in this context where the lives and destinies of millions are at stake.

Does Corbyn have any idea how long it will take Venezuela to recover from this political, social and economic catastrophe? Doesn’t he think we have the right to start our recovery as soon as possible?

All Corbyn appears to be doing at this point is confusing the debate with thoughtless, yet highly predictable contributions. Part of the general statement of the Labour Party, says that “all parties need to respect the rule of law, human rights and democratic processes”. Where have these been for the last 20 years?

Does Corbyn think that Maduro will follow these suggestions? The rest of their statement denies any support to outside interference in Venezuela “…the future of Venezuela is a matter for Venezuelans”. But this is exactly what the Venezuelans are trying to do, to have their country and their democracy back.