TORONTO: February 25, 2010. (PCP) The Latin American Solidarity Network will rally at 5 p.m. this Thursday, February 25th in front of the Venezuelan Consulate to demonstrate support of the democratic people’s movement in Venezuela and to expose the hypocrisy of the Harper Conservatives who are waging war in Afghanistan while avoiding public accountability at home. Conservative Minister for the Americas Peter Kent has publicly criticized Venezuela as ‘undemocratic’ for applying its laws to TV and radio broadcasters. These comments were made on the heels of Harper’s closing of parliament for months to avoid being investigated for complicity in handing over detainees to torture in Afghanistan. The demonstration will take place at 5 p.m. in front of the Venezuelan Consulate in Toronto, located at 365 Bloor St. East (at Sherbourne). This rally will be part of a number of simultaneous demonstrations taking place in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Caracas, Venezuela. “It’s the height of hypocrisy for Minister Kent’s minority government to lecture another nation about democracy after cancelling our parliament” said Pablo Vivanco, an organizer of the rally. “The people of Canada want Minister Kent and the Harper government to get back to investigating their government’s role in torture in Afghanistan rather than acting as the torch bearers of the former Bush administration by meddling in the affairs of sovereign nations.” Latin American Solidarity Network is an independent and inclusive group of people and organizations working in solidarity with Latin American grassroots movements and struggles.