By Muhammad Mussa
LONDON (AA) - Demonstrations have taken place outside the headquarters of the BBC in London, criticizing the broadcasting company for unfairly covering the political crisis unfolding in Venezuela.
The demonstration on Saturday was organized by the Revolutionary Communist Group that campaigns against western intervention in Venezuela and other nations that are governed by leftist and socialist governments.
Chanting slogans such as “Hands off Venezuela!” and “BBC no more lies!”, the protestors demanded that the west stay clear from intervening in Venezuela and that western media outlets, such as the BBC, should be unbiased in their coverage of the political crisis occurring in Venezuela.
“We’re standing in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their government that's been under siege from the US and anti-revolutionary forces and we are here complaining about the one-sided press coverage that has been given by the BBC,” said Niki, a member of the Group.
“Russia, Turkey and China are not taking this lying down and are saying ‘we are not interested in your intervention or your one sidedness’ and so that upsets the BBC which hates Russia particularly even more,” she added regarding Turkey’s unequivocal support for Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
“I am disgusted by the BBC… and I have been disgusted by the BBC for as long as I have been politically aware, I am disgusted by the BBC as they lie about Venezuela,” said Ihtisham, another member of the Revolutionary Communist Group.
Organizers of the demonstration called on journalists to investigate the truth on what is happening in Venezuela and argue that western nations such as the U.S., the U.K. and the EU are helping to orchestrate a coup against the democratically elected government of Maduro in favour of the right-wing Juan Guaido.
Last week, Juan Guaido, president of the opposition run National Assembly and leader of the Popular Will party, declared himself president of Venezuela in an attempt to force president Maduro out of power.
Maduro has remained resilient and has argued that he is the legitimate leader of the South American nation. Maduro has the support of many including the influential military and nations such as Turkey, Russia, China and Iran.