------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Oct. 17, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
VENEZUELA: CAN BOLIVARIAN CIRCLES STOP ANOTHER COUP? By Rebeca Toledo [Excerpts from a talk at the Sept. 21-22 Workers World Party Conference.] The April 11 coup orchestrated by U.S. imperialism and carried out by the ruling-class elite and generals in Venezuela was the first real test of the three-year-old Bolivarian revolution. The golpistas patted themselves on the backs as they took President Hugo Chavez host age; they lied and claimed he had resigned; they dissolved the Constitution, took Bolivarian out of the name of the Republic; they dissolved the National Assembly and vowed that "not one drop of oil" would go to Cuba. The media were on their side, as were the Catholic Church and the United States. They hunted down Chavistas, torturing and killing several. Were the masses organized to defend themselves? Their emails, cell phones, community radio and TV, and word of mouth got out the truth about the coup--and thousands of people poured into the streets. Rank-and-file and middle-ranking military personnel declared themselves with Chavez. The Bolivarian Circles were instrumental in organizing this resistance and beating back the coup. Forty-eight hours later, Chavez was back in power and the golpistas went running for cover. But now, almost six months later, pressure from the right is relentless. The media, banks, private industries, including the state petroleum company, remain in the hands of the ruling class who are puppets of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and U.S. imperialism. The military remains split, as are the police. The government is strapped for cash and resources. The elite continue to call for the ouster of Chavez. A paramilitary group modeled after and organized by the AUC--the right-wing paramilitaries--in Colombia is operating in Venezuela. In a terrorist bombing at the home of a Chavista congresswoman two weeks ago, the AUC dropped leaflets that read: "No to the guerrillas! No to the Bolivarian Circles! Yes to social cleansing." Hugo Chavez was elected in a landslide in 1998. It was the result of an alliance of his military ties, his party and the parties of the working class and the left. His government immediately called for dismantling the political power base of the rich oligarchy. A new Constitution and National Assembly were created based on mass participation and progressive ideas like equal rights for lesbians and gays. In foreign policy, Chavez was the first head of state to meet with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Chavez encourages an independent Oil Petroleum Exporting Countries organization. He embraced Cuba and sold oil to it. Last November, Chavez signed a package of 49 laws aimed at land reform and restrictions on the ruling elite's power. The question remains, however: Will the working-class organizations be able to defend this revolutionary process? The Bolivarian Circles are targeted by the oligarchy and paramilitary. Formed in 2000, they are the organized people in the neighborhoods, towns and cities. They organize community-based work like building housing and promoting political education, food programs, sports, culture, etc. They are an embryo of an armed organization of the masses. Since the coup attempt, the Bolivarian Circles have more than tripled to 150,000. That amounts to over a million people organized in the circles. The revolutionary process in Venezuela is a living, breathing struggle. The workers and peasants are in motion. They have gained much confidence since beating back the coup attempt. And we are confident that they will continue to grow stronger. We must defend the Bolivarian revolution against ongoing imperialist threats. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
