------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the April 22, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BULLETIN FROM VENEZUELA: "WE ARE OBLIGED TO WIN" By Teresa Gutierrez & Berta Joubert-Ceci Caracas, Venezuela Two years ago the U.S.-backed oligarchy in Venezuela attempted to oust the popularly elected president, Hugo Chavez Frias. The failed coup was commemorated this year amidst a growing and thriving revolutionary movement of the Venezuelan people. To commemorate the failed coup, the Second Encounter in Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution was organized in Caracas with approximately 200 invited international guests. The event will end on April 17. But the highlight was when Chavez spoke on April 13 in Miraflores--the presidential palace--to a waiting crowd of Venezuelans from the neighborhoods. Although there had been no plans for a mass event--the focus was on seminars, invited guests and a thorough discussion of major Latin American and world events--thousands spilled into the streets and waited for hours to hear Chavez. It was a glaring example of the kind of support Chavez has among the people. People in the crowd held pictures of Che Guevara and Simon Bolivar and held signs reading, "Con Chavez y sin miedo" (with Chavez and without fear) and "Yankees go home." Chavez's stirring two-hour talk hit the U.S. government and Bush administration very hard. He correctly pointed out that the coup that failed two years ago was designed in Wash ington. He gave a moving account of how the Venezuelan people, the heroic and firm people of Simon Bolivar, had wrested him from the clutches of the pro-U.S. oligarchy two years ago. Chavez said he had thought he might have to be in prison or out of office for six months or a year, and that he never expected to be back in Miraflores within 48 hours. The affectionate support of the masses for their leader was very clear for the world to see. Chavez vowed, "I have not gotten this far to betray the people!" And he made it clear, to cheers in the crowd, that this revolution was not going back; the gains of the last two years, including improved education and health care, would not be reversed. Chavez reaffirmed that he does not recognize the current puppet regime in Haiti, after the U.S.-backed coup. He also spoke about world events. He expressed Venezuela's solidarity with the people of Iraq. He talked about how the collapse of the Soviet Union emboldened the imperial empire--but stressed that the empire was not the end of history and the mass struggle was proving this. Chavez called on the Venezuelan people to strengthen unity and consciousness. He concluded that the battle will be long "but we have no other option," he told the people. "We are obliged to win." - 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 wwnews- [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]>
