[mobglob-discuss] Venezuela update... and ALERT

[michael a. lebowitz]

Dear Friends,
         Yesterday ended the 4-day period for collection of signatures to 
recall 38 anti-Chavist legislators (a number of them elected as 
supporters), and it seems to have gone quite well. The process was quite 
smooth and peaceful (praised by international observers), and initial 
reports suggest that the petition drive was successful in 37 of the cases. 
Among the Chavists, there was an air of celebration, with several rallies 
around Caracas and fireworks last night.
         In fact, there is an eery calm here. Chavez was interviewed on 
private TV for the first time in a very long period, and the state TV 
channel for the last week has had opposition figures on live interviews and 
discussions. (Among the highlights here were a leader of the 
Marxist-Leninist Bandera Rojo explaining why he was allied with the parties 
of the oligarchy against Chavez--- it was because Chavez was insufficiently 
supportive of endogenous development--- and an interview yesterday with the 
leading editor (a former guerrilla) of an opposition newspaper, who ended 
up fielding questions in a telephone call from Chavez.) Next Friday, 
though, the opposition recall petition drive against Chavez and 30 of his 
legislators begins. Chavez has been very clear that, although it is quite 
possible that the opposition will get the necessary signatures to produce a 
recall referendum, he is confident that he will win any recall 
referendum--- that, in short, the internal struggles can be resolved 
peacefully.
         Will that peaceful atmosphere continue? It is important to 
remember that there have been many indications of a plan for a coup in this 
upcoming period by portions of the opposition--- including calls for this 
from a group which has broken away from the coordinating group of the 
opposition. (See the most recent article by Gregory Wilpert on 
venezuelanalysis.com as well as early reports there with evidence on this.) 
It is impossible, too, to forget the intensity of class hatred and racism 
prevalent here--- something that Greg Palast writes about in today's 
venezuelanalysis. Despite the outward signs of reconciliation, there is no 
question that the government and Chavez supporters are on the alert against 
another coup.
         Supporters outside the country should be prepared as well, 
prepared right now to do everything possible to support the elected 
government of Venezuela. As Wilpert writes today:

>It is thus of utmost importance that the world pay careful attention to 
>what happens in Venezuela between November 28 and December 1, when the 
>opposition is collecting signatures in favor of a recall referendum 
>against President Chavez. They will have to collect over 2.4 million 
>signatures in just four days, a task which, if successful, will probably 
>represent a milestone in the history of petition drives. If the radical 
>opposition has its way and manages to create disturbances and to convince 
>a large part of Venezuela's opposition to go along with its plans, it will 
>probably disguise its real coup-oriented activity very well with the help 
>of a supportive private mass media.

         I'd add to that only that you remain alert right now--- even 
before the start of the signature campaign.

                 in solidarity,
                 michael



---------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Office Fax:   (604) 291-5944
Home:   Phone (604) 689-9510