http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org/?q=3Dnode/2715
=93We must confront the privileged elite who have destroyed a large
part
of the world.=94 Hugo Chavez
What only a few days ago seemed like a remote prospect has suddenly
become a real possibility. The Colombian military=92s brutal massacre
of
21 (at last count) guerrillas with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia =96 Peoples Army (FARC-EP), including Raul Reyes, the FARC=92s
chief negotiator and spokesperson, in Ecuador on March 1 marks a
dramatic leap in the United States=92 plan to potentially trigger off
an
armed confrontation between Colombia and Venezuela. These events
should be of major concern for all sup****ters of the Venezuelan
revolution, and anti-war and peace activists the world over.
On March 1, in violation of all international treaties regarding
defence of national sovereignty, the Colombian government of
President
Alvaro Uribe bombed Ecuadorian territory to assassinate of Reyes and
the other FARC guerrillas. The governments of Ecuador and Venezuela
responded by mobilising troops to their respective borders with
Colombia, stating their willingness to defend their national
sovereignty at all costs. Both countries broke diplomatic ties with
the Colombian regime and announced that they would seek an
international condemnation of its action.
The Colombian government has attempted to justify its actions as part
of the fight against =93terrorism=94. But this is just the latest in a
string of lies the Colombian government made in order to keep face.
Its first lie was claiming that it never violated Ecuadorian
sovereignty. Then the lie that its actions were a response to FARC
attacks was exposed as images emerged of the murdered guerrillas in
their pyjamas.
Following these unjustifiable actions and, subsequently, a weak
=93apology=94 to Ecuador, the Colombian government has tried to claim the
existence of documents, obtained from three laptops that
=93miraculously=94 survived the bombing, that link Ecuador and Venezuela
to the =93terrorism=94 of the FARC. Both Ecuador and Venezuela have
denounced the claims as =93absolute lies.=94
Judging by the quality of the claims made in these documents, (in
which the FARC seem to have discussed highly sensitive information
without using any form of code), it appears that what were found were
the same laptops that provided the =93information=94 about Iraq=92s
supposed
weapons of mass destruction in the lead-up to the US invasion of
Iraq.
All this is a smokescreen for the real aim - part of a plan drawn up
in Wa****ngton and being enacted by its puppets in Colombia. The
Colombian government has revealed that it had the coordinates of
Reyes=92 whereabouts for several weeks, including while he was in
Colombian territory, yet it chose to act while he was in Ecuador.
Moreover, the bombing was carried out only days after Venezuela, with
Ecuador=92s sup****t, led a successful international mission to receive
the unilateral handover of four FARC prisoners, the success of which
gave hope to many that a peaceful solution to the conflict in
Colombia
was possible. The timing of Colombia=92s bombing reveals that it was
aimed at destroying any chance of a peaceful solution in the near
future. Reyes was the key contact point for negotiations with France
of the release of French-Colombian prisoner held by the FARC, Ingrid
Betancourt.
Despite the brutal attack on them, the FARC guerrillas have declared
their willingness to continue with the process of releasing prisoners
as part of trying to reach a political solution. The FARC's pursuit
of
a humanitarian accord combined with the Colombian state's brutal
assassination of the Reyes and other FARC guerrillas, reveals who the
real terrorists are.
The longer term aim of the Colombian government=92s most recent attack
is to establish a precedent for violating the sovereignty of other
countries so it can carry out military actions outside its borders as
part of its supposed war on =93terrorism=94. In other words, it wants to
establish itself as the =93Israel of Latin America=94, with sup****t from
Wa****ngton to carry out further such actions.
More immediately, the Colombian regime, which receives more US
military funding than any other country in the region, is attempting
to end the humanitarian accord being promoted by the FARC and to
provoke a conflict with Venezuela, whose president, Hugo Chavez, has
played a central role in efforts to achieve peace in Colombia.
Colombia has suffered from six decades of brutal state-sponsored
terrorism, including from infamous right-wing death squads linked to
the military. Hundreds of trade unionists and other activists are
assassinated in Colombia each year. A humanitarian accord would force
Colombia=92s elite to dismantle this terror apparatus.
Wa****ngton too fears a political solution to Colombia=92s internal war
which provides a pretext for the militarisation of the region through
Plan Colombia and now Plan Patriot. Any moves towards peace put into
question the role of the US, which has pushed a policy of violence
and
conflict that, after decades, has achieved worse than nothing.
Frightened by the powerful alternative provided by the pro-people,
pro-
peace policies of the revolutionary government of Venezuela =96 an
alternative that is inspiring millions of people around the world and
strengthening Latin American integration - the US and Colombian
regimes are escalating their policy of war to try to derail
Venezuela=92s Bolivarian revolution. Alongside their military
provocation, their lies about Venezuela being a =93gateway for narco-
trafficking=94 and involved in =93aiding terrorism=94 are aimed at
justifying any attack on Venezuela as a =93necessary=94 part of the US=92s
so-called war on terror.
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN) joins with the
overwhelming majority Latin American governments in condemning
Colombia=92s actions. We sup****t the actions taken by Venezuela and
Ecuador to defend their national sovereignty. We applaud their
dignified stance in breaking relations with Colombia, and demand that
the Australian government do the same.
Without peace and justice in Colombia, there can be no peace for
revolutionary Venezuela. That is why the AVSN is actively sup****ting
the March 6 international day of action called by the families of
victims of state and paramilitary violence in Colombia, and urges all
people who sup****t a peaceful, political solution to the Colombian
conflict and Venezuela=92s right to self-determination to join us.
US, Colombia hands off Venezuela and Latin America!
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=AD------------------------------------------------------------------
http://venezuelasolidarity.org/?q=3Dnode/44
About the Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network
Who is the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network?
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network AVSN has brought together
a
range of existing organisations and sup****tive individuals now
campaigning to demand US hands off Venezuela and to break down the
mass media's silence and lies in regard to the Bolivarian Revolution.
The Network was formed at the Second National Australian Conference
in
Solidarity with Latin America in 2004.
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network is an organisation of
volunteers. The success of our activities in sup****t of the
Venezuelan
people depends on the energy and commitment of people around
Australia.
If you have some time, skills and/or enthusiasm to offer the AVSN,
please get in touch with us. Help with everything from fundraising,
to
letter-writing, phone calls and computer work, to Spanish-English
translations =96 and lots of other things - is always greatly
appreciated.
The Network has three main aims:
1. Sup****t communities and organisations participating in the
fundamental social transformation now underway in the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela.
2. Campaign against the US led aggression against the Chavez
government and people's of Venezuela.
3. Demand that the Australian government condemn the U.S intervention
in Venezuela's sovereign affairs.
The Network coordinates activities in four main areas:
1. INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS to inform trade unions, student and
community
organisations and the Australian public in general of the struggles
of
Venezuela's people.
2. AID PROJECTS that assist local communities in Venezuela.
3. BRIGADES, EXCHANGES & TOURS to promote the interchange of
experiences between Australian and Venezuelan communities in
struggle.
4. ACTIONS & PROTESTS in sup****t of Venezuela's people and against
foreign aggression.
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=AD------------------------------------------------------------
http://venezuelasolidarity.org/?q=3Dnode/119
Australian Community Declaration of Solidarity with the Venezuelan
People
Statement from National Latin America Solidarity Conference Sydney
November 2-3 2004
This declaration was initiated by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity
Network. The founding signatories include: Australian Solidarity with
Latin America, Chilean Popular and Indigenous Network, Colombia
Demand
Justice Campaign, Australia Latin America Cultural and Indigenous
Association, Miguel Enriquez 30 Years Commemoration Collective-
Melbourne Australia, Committees in Solidarity with Latin America and
the Caribbean, and Resistance.
On August 15 this year, the Venezuelan people defeated conservative
forces, sup****ted by the United States, in their attempt to recall
President Chavez. The victory of the NO vote in the recall referendum
was a victory not only for Venezuelan people but for working people
worldwide.
Few governments have the popular sup****t enjoyed by President Chavez.
Since his 1998 election, Chavez and his sup****ters have won eight
electoral contests. This is an indication of the widespread and
fundamental social transformation underway in Venezuela.
While every other South American government has persisted with
neoliberal policies - deepening social inequality, eroding democracy
and stealing national sovereignty - the Chavez government has done
the
opposite. At the heart of this process is the increasing role played
by workers, peasants and the poor in re-establi****ng control over
their communities and for the first time in their national history,
beginning to have a say in the governing of the nation.
The Bolivarian Constitution, adopted in 1999 after a widespread
consultation process, was a major turning point in enabling this
popular empowernment and organization. The final constitution
included
more than 50% of the 624 proposals brought to the table by
individuals
and community organisations. The new constitution provided avenues
for
active political participation by the entire Venezuelan population.
The Constitution not only guaranteed previously trampled rights but
also initiated a process of redefining the Venezuelan state =96 not as
a
protector of the wealthy and their property but as a defender of the
poor and workers.
A process of fundamental social transformation is underway in
Venezuela. The great majority of workers, poor and ranks of the armed
forces have mobilized behind a new vision for Venezuelan society.
This
process has deepened since the April 2002 coup, organized by a group
of high ranking military officers, the employer associations, the
corrupt Confederacion de Trabajadores de Venezuela CTV and sponsored
by the United States. Within 48 hours of the illegal suspension of
the
country's constitution and parliament, a massive uprising by
Venezuela's working-class and poor, led by pro-Chavista military
officers, defeated the coup.
Since this popular insurrection, Chavez's government has ****fted
toward an increasing reliance on the self-organisation of Venezuela's
working people and the ranks of the armed forces. The government
sacked the pro-capitalist officers in the army and moved to boost the
development of popular organisations such as land councils and the
community-based Bolivarian Circles. There are now some 2.2 million
people formally registered as Circle members. The Circles are now
organising themselves into Bolivarian Houses (Casas Bolivarianas).
This new structure aims to unify the efforts of the Circles with
those
of other community associations, and begin to develop real democratic
input into social reforms at the local, regional and national level.
Such reforms are already well underway. Venezuela's health care
program, BarRio Adentro and its literacy program Mission Robinson,
are
both extending health and education to thousands of previously
forgotten communities. According to United Nations standards,
illiteracy has been eradicated. Likewise with the government's land
and housing reforms. In its first two years the Chavez government
constructed more houses than in the previous 20 years, and secured
the
provision of fresh water to 3 million people for the first time ever.
The Venezuelan government has also sought to counterpose the
Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America ALBA to American free trade
agreements =96 putting forward principles of economic assistance
premised on reversing the flow of profits out of the poor economies
of
the South.
In an era where imperialism appears omnipotent, systematically
cru****ng popular rebellions, the Venezuelan people have shown it is
possible to resist and to win. This is an inspiration that deserves
our every sup****t and solidarity.
We the undersigned:
* Demand that the Australian government condemn the U.S governments
funding and political sup****t for the opposition in Venezuela;
* Call upon all those struggling for a just and humane world to show
their sup****t for the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela;
* Sup****t the organization of solidarity activities here in Australia
and will do whatever we can to assist and participate in these.
For more information contact Jorge Jorquera 0425237285 Rafael Pacheco
Lara Pullin 0439601277
Join the Aust-Venezuela Solidairty Network CLICK HERE<end
Peace,
Doc
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