Tens of thousands march for Chavez, one week before Venezuela referendum

[Judi Lynn]

Tens of thousands march for Chavez, one week before Venezuela referendum

Sun Aug 8, 8:51 PM ET !


AFP Photo

CARACAS (AFP) - President Hugo Chavez urged tens of thousands of supporters marching in the Venezuelan capital to prepare for a "final attack" against a crucial recall referendum coming up in a week to remove him from office.

Chavez supporters gathered on Bolivar Avenue in downtown Caracas, where the leftist president called on supporters to stay alert ahead of the August 15 vote.

"We start today the final attack, a popular offensive from all directions, with much intelligence and without losing calm," Chavez told a throng of supporters.


"We will win, but we have not won yet," said Chavez, who was wearing a shirt in his trademark red color. "Careful with triumphalism. There are many days left. We cannot commit any mistakes in the seven days we have left."
(snip/...)

[Zhade]

1. Viva Chavez!

Godspeed, Hugo. The people will not let the oligarchy win!

[mom cat]

2. That looks more like a million people to me!

:toast: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :toast:

[snippyMcNippy]

3. Did I read that Chavez was hoping Kerry wins?

Would Chavez and Kerry strike a deal for cheaper oil?

[Judi Lynn]

5. Yes, Chavez has stated he would see Kerry as a great choice,

however, in a gesture meant to appeal to Venezuelan expatriots living in South Florida, Kerry has made very unflattering statements about Hugo Chavez.

Still, Hugo Chavez, even after knowing this, maintains he sees Kerry as a far, far better candidate.

Welcome to D.U., snippyMcNippy! :hi: :hi:

[Larkspur]

6. Kerry says Bush is soft on Chavez...

On March 23, 2004,
Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, issued the statement on his campaign website, charging that Bush's passive approach to backing opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez reflects a larger record of "sending mixed signals by supporting undemocratic processes in our own hemisphere."

The message from Kerry was an attack on Bush's image on Latin America policy, but strategists said Monday it was primarily intended to further erode the president's standing among Cuban-American voters in Florida, who view Chávez as an ally of Fidel Castro and support stronger U.S. action to assist a recall vote against him.

Kerry has been under fire in recent days for his shifting stands on Cuba -- including his assertion in Florida recently that he backed a 1996 law to stiffen sanctions on the communist island even though he actually voted against it on final passage.

In his new statement, Kerry lumped Castro and Chávez together, accusing the Venezuelan leader of punishing political opponents and aiding drug traffickers.

"His close relationship with Fidel Castro has raised serious questions about his commitment to leading a truly democratic government," the statement said.
Kerry says Bush is soft on Chávez http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/news/news_2004_0323b.html


On May 27, 2004 Kerry said of Chavez...
When the referendum process presented a legitimate challenge to his leadership, President Chavez lost an opportunity to demonstrate the popular support he claims to enjoy, instead showing a troubling disregard for the rule of law... (Chavez) has undermined the constitution and used his Bolivarian Circles to repress peaceful dissent…
from Kerry Statement on the Referendum Process in Venezuela http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0528d.html


In regards to the 1st sentence and the march of thousands of Chavez supporters in Venezuela, Kerry today was seen trying to pry out his foot from his mouth. </sarcasm>

Here's the Bolivarian Circle's response to Kerry
Open Letter to John Kerry About Venezuela's Peaceful Revolution
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1198

The US citizen members and supporters of the International Bolivarian Circles of the US (social groups that sympathize with the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez) would like to openly express our support for your candidacy, and assure you that we will go to the polls this November to welcome you into the Whitehouse.

As you stated so clearly in your May 27, 2004 statement on Venezuela “ tacit support for the ill-conceived April 2002 military coup against Chavez” determined this long ago.

Our members will be voting for John Kerry. Those who have been following your statements on Venezuela may find this odd considering that you have made some pretty harsh accusations against President Chavez. Those who have read your May 27 statement may even find our support shocking given that you claimed “ has undermined the constitution and used his Bolivarian Circles to repress peaceful dissent….” While we refute this statement, we understand that you have been ill informed about what is going on in Venezuela today, what the constitution includes, and what the Bolivarian Circles are and do.
<SNIP>
How many Venezuelan papers does Kerry read?

President Chavez’ goal, and the goal of peaceful Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela is to invest the country’s oil wealth in the people of the nation. Already many social reforms and programs have produced impressive benefits to the great majority of the population, many of whom have lived in dire poverty for decades. For example since 1998, 3 million people have received access to potable water for the first time and another 1 million have received sewage service. The military has built or refurbished over 30 thousand homes, built 700 new schools and refurbished over 2 thousand--employing 36 thousand new teachers. Over the past year 8 hundred thousand illiterates have graduated from the second phase of a 3 phase literacy program, 28 thousand children have received free vaccinations, and 18 million patients have been seen by clinic doctors in areas that had no medical facilities just 2 years ago. Thanks to micro-credits and grassroots empowerment, there are over 10 thousand cooperatives with over 6.5 thousand members. Similarly, hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone into the hands of women-owned, small businesses and cooperatives through the Women’s Bank. Landless campesinos have received over 2.5 million acres of productive land and over 30 thousand titles have been given to urban squatters. The airwaves have been opened up to accommodate dozens of independent radio and TV broadcasters who provide much needed uncensored news. These are just some of the current national programs; there are also tens of thousands of state, local, and community projects in complement. Mr. Kerry, in the past a minority of elite controlled the oil revenues of Venezuela; now the wealth of Venezuela belongs to all Venezuelans.
<snip>

I guess Kerry relates better to the oligarchs, who are trying to unseat Chavez and are the ones planning on using violence if the referendum does not favor them.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Kerry's going to have to spend a lot of time getting up to speed

on Latin America, no doubt about it.

I haven't heard a word on Chavez' lack of a responsible policy on handling drug dealers. Not a word. He's had his hands full with Colombia bordering his country, too.

Cuba has repeatedly offered the U.S. its assistance in an effort to team up to control the ocean around Cuba, Florida, etc. to be able to grab dealers more efficiently, and _Bush has turned a total cold shoulder to these overtures, continually.

In the meantime, Cuba has snagged a HUGE Colombian drug dealer John Ashcroft made a big deal of putting on our most wanted list only a short time ago:

Cuba holding Colombian drug kingpin
U.S. has $5 million reward for his arrest, but no extradition pact
Saturday, July 10, 2004 Posted: 8:00 PM EDT (0000 GMT)

HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuba's Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it was holding one of Colombia's top drug kingpins, Luis Hernando Gomez Bustamante.

Bustamante, alias Rasguno, was captured when he entered the country July 2 on a false passport.

The top figure in the Northern Valle drug cartel was being held at an Interior Ministry center for crimes against state security, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

U.S. authorities describe Northern Valle cartel as Colombia's largest and most-feared narcotics organization. The heir to the now-defunct Medellin and Cali cartels is accused of smuggling hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States during the past decade.

The United States has been offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Bustamante's arrest.

He was indicted last May on charges of drug-trafficking, money-laundering and racketeering. If convicted on all counts, he could face life in prison.

However, there is no extradition agreement between Cuba and the United States, which has enforced economic sanctions against the island nation since October 1960.
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/07/10/colombia.druglord/

Here's a gigantic drug dealer Cuba caught in 2002 which the U.S. wanted. Same story:

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
315 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: [phone] * Fax: [phone]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 18, 2002

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA

PROMINENT DRUG TRAFFICKER ARRESTED IN OUR COUNTRY

THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT SUBMITS TO THE UNITED STATES A SET OF PROPOSALS
FOR BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON MIGRATORY ISSUES, COOPERATION IN DRUG
INTERDICTION AND A PROGRAM TO FIGHT TERRORISM


Last March 6, at 9:45 am, a Colombian by the name of Rafael Miguel
Bustamante Bolanos was arrested in a private house at the Siboney
area, in the municipality of Playa, where he had rented a room. He
had arrived in the country on January 6, 2002, after traveling from
Jamaica with a Venezuelan passport under the name of Alberto Pinto
Jaramilllo.

Through cooperation mechanisms established with several
drug-interdiction services in the region, information had been
obtained since January 31, about the presence in our country of
Bustamante Bolanos, who faces numerous charges related to
drug-traffic in the region.

It was through the aforementioned mechanisms that we learned, among
other things, that Bustamante Bolanos has connections with a major
gang of Bahamian drug-traffickers and that approximately 10 years ago
he had escaped from prison in Santa Marta, Colombia where he was
serving a sentence for money laundering. It has also been known that
he is a target of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for his
involvement in operations to introduce drug in that country.

Additional information indicates that this individual is also claimed
by the U.S. authorities for his escape from a federal prison in
Alabama, where he was serving a sentence for money laundering and
cocaine traffic. He is also involved in a major drug-traffic case
presently under investigation by the DEA and related to the
introduction of cocaine in the United States from Jamaica.
(snip/...)

http://www.blythe.org/nytransfer-subs/Covert_Actions/Prominent_Drug_Trafficker_Arrested_in_Cuba

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So Bush will make arrangements to send people to Colombia, if Cuba extradites this guy, to pick up the criminal, who's also missing from an Alabama jail, and process him while NEVER giving a slight nod to Cuba.

We should be ashamed of _{George W. Bush} and his total lack of professionalism. What a selfish, ignorant waste of skin. Surely Kerry would like to update, and improve our laughable government position toward Latin American countries, and give them the respect due for running their own affairs.

[On the Road]

4. I Believe He'll Win

a lot of Venezuelans are not enthralled with him, but NOBODY likes the opposition. All the energy is on Chavez's side.

VOTA NO!
Uh! Ah! Chavez No Se Va!

[geek tragedy]

7. Good thing Diebold doesn't do business there.

I don't like Kerry's position regarding Venezuela. Oh well, only another 20 years before all of the anti-Castro/anyone who says a nice word about Castro crazies will have died off.

[tlcandie]

8. What a glorious site!!!

Thanks JudiLyn!!! Very best to all there who wish for true democracy.. may they find peace and happiness without US intervention/invasion!

:bounce:

[Judi Lynn]

10. Hi, tlcandie. They have as urgent a situation as we do, rearranged.

They've already been through unbelievable hardship at the hands of the oligarchy, and we are right at the brink here, aren't we?

Here's a great article from yesterday. This site is free registered only, but this is a terrifc article, and the whole site's great to read, for info. we just aren't getting here:

Social programs may be key for Venezuela's Chavez Frias

Miami Herald's Steven Dudley writes: Conchita Carrillo's fingers are crooked and her eyes worn from half a century of toiling behind a sewing machine. But as she struggled to remember the alphabet, the 77-year-old hunched over her work like a little girl before releasing a satisfied grin when she'd discovered the answer.
(snip)

Carrillo's smile is what the government of President Hugo Chavez hoped for when it launched a literacy campaign late last year. In Carrillo's poor Caracas neighborhood, teenagers and the elderly alike learn to read and write. Others get their high school diplomas and do college prep courses. Chavez and his followers have also refurbished schools, apartment buildings and hospitals and have paved roads.
(snip)

''One of the things I most admire about him is that I always see him working, working, working,'' said Carrillo, wearing a bright red 'No' T-shirt, courtesy of the government. ``All of us Venezuelans should have the same ethic as him.''
(snip)

Every day, there are pro-Chavez rallies and meetings that end with the refrain, ''They will not return,'' a reference to the corrupt ruling class that these residents say governed Venezuela for decades.
(snip/...)

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=22342

Later in the article it's written that some of the pro-Chavez activists have learned they are on hit-lists, but they aren't going to back down, as it's that important to them to make sure their country improves for everyone concerned, not just the wealthy.