Critical Situation in Venezuela SF Rally in Support Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution Coordinated with Actions Nation-wide
*Please Forward to Allies* Opposition forces in Venezuela plan to push the country towards civil war by marching on the Presidential Palace on Friday. Confrontations such as these will only lead to more violence and possibly result in the overthrow of the progressive, democratically elected government of President Hugo Chavez Frías. Please join us as we, the Venezuela Solidarity Group (VSG), send off our second delegation to Venezuela in support and solidarity with the people and their Bolivarian Process. We are asking all allies and supporters of peace, justice, and democracy to come out and show your support at this very critical time. This Press Conference/Rally will be in conjunction with other rallies of solidarity throughout the US and the world, including Chicago, New York, Washington DC, and Paris, France. The Venezuela Solidarity Group (VSG) is calling on allies and advocates of democracy and justice to do the following: 1. Press Conference/Rally in support of the democratically elected government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela! Where: Consulate of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 311 California St. in San Francisco When: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 12PM Bring: Pots and Pans to Bang for Justice! 2. Oppose United States intervention in Venezuela. 3. Oppose the opposition's efforts to destabilize the government, including the corporate media's distorted coverage of events. 4. Support the governmental and international efforts to dialogue with the opposition within the framework of the Constitution. ACTIONS TO TAKE NOW: *** Call on US State Department to strengthen its position against the opposition's tactics of non-cooperation and destabilization. Secretary of State Colin Powell- 202-647-5291, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Special Envoy to the Western Hemisphere Otto J. Reich- 202-647-5780 Assistant Secretary of State J. Curtis Struble- 202-647-8386 *** Call the Carter Center for Human Rights to support their efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela. Jimmy Carter, The Carter Center- 404-420-5108, [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more information on how you can get involved, please contact the Venezuela Solidarity Group at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Adelante, Joel Tena for the Venezuela Solidarity Group BACKGROUND ON THE CURRENT SITUATION Venezuela is currently experiencing the longest sustained general strike in its history. This strike has been coordinated by the richest sectors of Venezuelan society, some of which briefly overthrew the democratically elected government of President Hugo Chávez in a violent coup on April 11th of this year, and some of which have publicly called for similar unconstitutional measures in the current conflict. On April 11, the head of the Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce was installed as head of the coup government, which was immediately recognized by the US government. In fact, US diplomats met several times with opposition leaders in the months leading up to the coup, suggesting knowledge of subsequent events. Furthermore, US government monies were sent to opposition groups in the year preceding the coup. The State Department's Office of the Inspector General, in its evaluation of US involvement in the April coup, wrote that these actions may have "been seen [by the coup plotters] as lending support to their efforts, notwithstanding our ritualistic denunciations of undemocratic and unconstitutional means." The Bush Administration and the Organization of American States (OAS) must declare that there would be no normal commercial and diplomatic relations with a coup-installed government, and that they will not use intervention in the affairs of the democratically elected government of Venezuela. For more information on Venezuela, go to http://www.zmag.org/venezuela_watch.htm
