Pink Floyd singer criticizes benefit concert for Venezuelans

"It has nothing to do with the needs of the Venezuelan people, it has nothing to do with democracy, it has nothing to do with freedom, it has nothing to do with aid": Ex-Pink Floyd singer Roger Waters has the British billionaire Richard Branson sharply criticized the planned charity concert in favor of the Venezuelan population. Branson fell for a trick by the US, Waters said in a video posted on Twitter.

Branson is organizing a big concert on Friday in the Colombian city of Cucuta, on the border with Venezuela, with stars like former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel and Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi ("Despacito"). The revenues are to benefit the needy Venezuelan population. Pressure is also to be exerted on the Venezuelan leadership to allow relief supplies into the country.

The aim is to raise $ 100 million within 60 days and open the Venezuelan border, "so that humanitarian aid can finally reach the millions of people who need it most," it said on the website of Venezuela Aid Live ".

The Red Cross and the UN, unequivocally agree, do not politicize aid. Leave the Venezuelan people alone to exercise their legal right to self determination. pic.twitter.com/I0yS3u75b6

The planned humanitarian aid for Venezuela is increasingly becoming a plaything in the power struggle between the controversial head of state Nicolás Maduro and his counterpart Juan Guaidó. The opposition leader, who has since been recognized by about 50 states as transitional president, has called on Maduro to let US-supplied medicines and food into the country.

Maduro rejects this categorically. The left-nationalist sees the aid as a pretext for a US-led military intervention that is holding US President Donald Trump open.

"Do we really want Venezuela to become a new Iraq, Syria or Libya," Pink Floyd singer Waters now asked, looking at other US military deployments. "Not me, nor the Venezuelan people either."

AFP

Richard Branson

He has friends in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, continued the British musician. Contrary to the US claims there is "no civil war, no chaos, no murder, no obvious dictatorship, no mass detention of the opposition, no suppression of the press".

Guaidó and the US regularly refer to Maduro as a dictator. The human rights situation in the South American crisis state is repeatedly sharply criticized.

The world's most oil-rich country suffers from a severe supply crisis. Many people are starving, hospitals lack medicines and materials. Around three million people have already fled abroad.