IAC Salutes Electoral Victory of President Hugo Chavez Frías in Venezuela
Election results confirm mass support for Presidentas well as administrations sweeping social reforms
The International Action Center stands alongsidemillions of people in Venezuela and throughout the world in congratulating President Hugo Chavez in the election in Venezuela on August 15.
President Chavez’ election is a victory for the overwhelming majority of people in Venezuela. The election results are a clear signal that the people of Venezuela are not only resoundly behind President Chavez but are saying “yes” to major social change in their country.
The vote is a rejection of U.S.-backed attempts by the wealthy elite of Venezuela to turn back the clock prior to Chavez’s first election. It is another step forward after the failed U.S. coup to kidnap Chavez two years ago.
The IAC stands in support of president Hugo RafaelChavez Frías and the people of Venezuela in their defense and advance of the Bolivarian Revolution. Asan organization based in the United States we join the millions of voices worldwide that stated on Sunday,August 15th 2004, the day of the Presidential Referendum: “If we were Venezuelans, we would vote for Chávez”.
Why did President Chavez win? How was he able to defeat a U.S.-backed oligarchy anxious to defeat him? The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela represents the most disenfranchised and oppressed classes of Latin America. His leadership embodies both dignity and resistance.
The election results confirm that Chavez is a leaderof the people who has won mass support. President Chavez is committed to the social, political, and economic transformation of Venezuela and has promoted an autonomous and legitimate revolution. It is a revolution that belongs, not only to Venezuela, but also to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean nations.
One of the strongest weapons of the Revolution is the new Bolivarian Constitution of 1999. This is a constitution created with the participation and the approval of 80% of the Venezuelan people. There are very few constitutions in the world like the Bolivarian Constitution.
The Bolivarian Constitution guarantees human rights and participation in the nations’ direction to the Indigenous and Afro descendant people. It recognizes a fundamental, however marginalized task; housework, since it produces social well being. This work mainly done by women now generates social security.
Gender equality is decreed, and social, economic, and political privileges are eliminated. With the creation of the Law of Local Councils for Public Planning, the people have the power to ensure that the BolivarianConstitution is implemented.
President Hugo Chavez and his government have been under continuous media attack. The private owned media of Venezuela has directed a racist slanderous campaign of manipulation and misinformation. Instead of banning this media, right that he has under the law, he has given the people a vehicle to express their own voice,by enacting new broadcasting laws. By doing this,communities throughout Venezuela have created innumerable local radio stations, websites, and over 500 community newspapers. Unemployment rate has decreased to 12%. In addition, Venezuela has had an economic growth of 12%, the highest in Latin America.
Chavez is helping the economic liberation of Latin America and the Caribbean. His proposed ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas), is the alternative proposal to ALCA (the Free Trade Area ofthe Americas) that has caused the misery and hunger of the peasantry, particularly the children.
When the Bolivarian Government created the program called “Barrio Adentro”, it made Venezuela a healthier country where infant mortality decreased by 30%, therefore, giving Venezuelan children the opportunityof a healthier life. Barrio Adentro is a massive health care program.
Chavez’s administration has the virtue of educating the people of Venezuela.
Mission Robinson is a reality in the poorest barrios of Caracas, in remote places of the Amazonas, in the valleys and in the mountainous regions, as well as inVenezuelans prisons. At the same time, the Bolivarian schools have reduced illiteracy by more than a million, almost eradicating it completely.
The Bolivarian Revolution represents all the peoples of Latin America in their struggle for self determination and against United States domination of the region. This revolution, with Hugo Chavez in command, promises Latin people’s liberation and the recovery of their resources
Since the election of President Chavez, the U.S.government has worked non-stop to prevent the success of his administration. Many mainstream media sources reported the heinous role of the Bush administration in carrying out the failed coup d’etat against President Chavez in April 2002.
The re-election of President Hugo Chavez on August 15,2004 is another blow against U.S. attempts to destabilize the Bolivarian Revolution. It is a triumph for the Venezuelan people who demand social change not U.S. domination.
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