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IN-DEPTH Venezuela Watch August 15 , 2004 will go down as a significant date in the history of Venezuela and Latin America. In an unprecedented voter turnout, Hugo Chavez's presidency was ratified by close to 59% of the population, as they voted 'No' to the recall referendum. It is clear now that the political project Chavez is leading represents a real threat to the interests of his country’s corrupt and decadent ruling elites, as well as to their patrones in Washington and elsewhere. The millions of votes for Chavez were not just votes for a charismatic leader who champions the poor; they were votes for social programs that are bringing concrete benefits to the Venezuelan people, and votes for genuine, participatory democracy. Importantly for the broader global social justice movement, they were also votes against the Free Trade Area of the Americas and policies of war and empire. Despite the democratic victory of the Bolivarian Revolution on August 15, real dangers remain present. Latin America's history reveals that the United States and their allies will seek to eliminate oppositional political projects like Chavez's by any means necessary. The specter of violent destabilization remains, as exemplified by the despicable statement of former Venezuelan president Carlos Andres Perez that Chavez "must die like a dog, because he deserves it." From our very first issue, Seven Oaks has covered the unfolding proceso in that oil-rich South American country, hoping to help provide a perspective not on offer in the corporate media. So, to that end, we’ve assembled below some of our coverage from the archives, as well as indicated a number of links to the best sites available for up-to-date news and analysis from Caracas. When the April 2002 coup briefly toppled Chavez, it was largely still off the world’s political radar. Venezuela is beginning to capture the attention and the imagination of progressives worldwide, and it richly deserves and needs our solidarity in defending its people's right to self-determination.From the archives:
Links to Venezuela news and analysis: |
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