Venezuela’s government said Wednesday it will withdraw from the Organization of American States, accusing the Washington, D.C.-based body of backing violent protests seeking to oust socialist President Nicolás Maduro. This is Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s ambassador to the OAS.

Samuel Moncada: “The Venezuelan people have the right to resolve their internal problems without the guardianship of any of those who are here, of anybody. Much less will Venezuela’s destiny ever be decided from Washington. The Venezuelan people fought very hard 200 years ago so that we could decide our own matters in Venezuela. And all Venezuelans, of all colors, are proud of our people and of our freedom.”

The OAS has long been criticized as a conservative organization closely aligned with U.S. foreign policy. Venezuela’s move to withdraw from the OAS came as opposition parties continued to lead mass street protests across Venezuela. On Wednesday, three more demonstrators were killed in clashes with police, including a 20-year-old student who died after he was shot with a tear gas canister.