This Blog aims to help build a national progressive movement capable of affecting US policy in this hemisphere, to discuss the truth about US-Latin American relations and learn how to best educate the public, the media and Congress. How can we do this?
Over the last month, the CIA has funneled $8 million into Venezuela through the USAID. A recent Huffington Post blog notes that mainstream U.S. media have ignored the story. Although the press in the US has presented student violence as originating in the pro-Chavez camp, actually the opposition has instigated most of the very few incidents that have occurred, including the death of a man this week who was trying to cross the road during an opposition demonstration. New polls show however, that those in favor of the reforms greatly outnumber those against them and that on Sunday the reforms will likely pass by at least 7 percentage points. This is according to the most recent poll carried out by Consultores 30.11 who correctly predicted last year´s presidential election results. To see the full survey visit www.veninfo.org
— Olivia Goumbri · Nov 29, 05:33 PM · #
The Venezuela Solidarity Network issued a statement today..after the Referendum vote (venconf@lists.mutualaid.org) with many clear points like:
—It is time for the US and media to acknowledge he is not a dictator…or the amendments (to the Constitution) he supported would not have been voted down.
—It is time for the US to close the Office of Transition Initiatives housed in the US embassy in Caracas.
(Did you all see—in the masses of news about this conflict—the name of Oliver North?)
— Peter Mott · Dec 3, 06:14 PM · #
Here is a commentary I developed in response to an invitation for a 225 word commentary from the InterAmerican Dialogue.
The victory of “No” is a setback for Chávez but also for opponents who urged abstention and predicted fraud. Chávez’s acceptance of defeat should provoke reflection among critics who dismiss him as a dictator. However, the Venezuelan president should not take comfort in the close margin. The high abstention (46 percent) indicates more profound disagreement in the electorate. When Venezuelans en masse rescued Chávez from coup-makers in April 2002, they were defending not only their elected leader but also democratic rights and gains under the Bolivarian Constitution of 1999. Many were clearly reticent to change the charter. Certainly, victory for Chávez would not have made him “president for life,” as some reports claimed; periodic elections and recall were not at issue. However, Chávez imprudently boasted he might remain president until 2050, which had to raise doubts. Chavistas said the proposals did not change the constitution’s fundamental structure and goals, but they also said reform was a “motor” for transition toward socialism, now elevated to constitutional status. Another proposal sought to decentralize and democratize control over some oil revenues through local community councils, but even Chávez supporters worry the councils may be co-opted by politicians linked to the government. Poor Venezuelans have benefited from government social programs but now expect progress against social violence, corruption, inflation, economic shortages, and corruption. Then they might back loftier goals.
— Daniel Hellinger · Dec 3, 07:51 PM · #