The petition drive to recall Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was stopped short March 2 when the Electoral Commission (CNE) invalidated more than 876,000 signatures. The commission accepted more than 1.8 million signatures collected in late November (see “Recall Fever Spreads South,” January 19), but the petition ended up 603,590 short of the 20 percent of registered voters required for recall.… return to article
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Reader Comments (10)Page 1 of 1 pagesHow dare a publication that prides itself in defending freedom, justice and uncovering government wrongdoing portray Hugo Chavez as a popular leader victimized by an irrational, violent and decidedly minority opposition?? How dare you insinuate that only Venezuela’s wealthy and affluent are against this murderous tyrant who celebrates his failed 1992 coup attemp as the beginning of his “Bolivarian Revolution’’? Hypocritical writers at In These Times, specifically Steve Ellner, let me inform you that the dozens of protesters killed by Chavez during last years massive rallies in Caracas were anything but rich - they were simple, hardworking middle to lower middle-class people who were fed up with a despotic, oppresive ruler who was suffocating their basic civil liberties, ruining the nation’s lifeline Petroleum Industry, and devastating the economy - which he continues to do to this day. So how did Chavez react to this increasingly vocal uprising? Ordering his goons to shoot into a sea of men, women and children.
Apparently, Chavez’s public George W. Bush bashings (who is evil in my book; I just don’t judge leaders based on their political affiliations, as opposed to certain magazines) is enough to spare him, dare we utter the word, criticism. Reporting about Venezuela’s Electoral Commission (CNE) invalidation of almost 900,000 anti Chavez signatures without raising even the slightest doubt or misgiving, and further implying that less than 20% of the total population opposes the despot (despite hundreds of thousands of protesters who have flooded the streets of Venezuela over the past weeks) is laughable. Being a Chilean citizen, I can testify to what life is like living in an oppresive Socialist Regime. Chile is South America’s strongest and stablest economy in large part thanks to the ouster of Salvador Allende. And to set the record straight, Allende killed himself, he was not murdered, as so many conspiracy theorists love to claim. In addition, although very few supported Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship, the overwhelming majority of Chilean citizens prayed night and day for a military coup against Allende. That is an undeniable fact. The same occurs today in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez is ten times worse than Allende ever was, so he actually deserves to be murdered.
Posted by Jaime Uribarri on Mar 17, 2004 at 10:11 PM In response to Jaime , Hugo Chavez does suffer the same type of bullying tactics that Salvador Allende suffered in Chile. I to am Chilean and I remember millions of Chileans praying every night that Allende’s revolution lived on(you might remember his popularity had grown to 44% the week before the coup) Chavez has by all means done what and responsible representative of the people should do. He has helped the impoverished by creating new social programs like the reconstruction of roads in poor commmunities, clean water for the poor, new literacy programs for everyone and a re-distribution of wealth which has angered the wealthy right wing. Yes Salvador Allende did commit suicide because as he had always said he would never be removed by anyone other than the people, and never by the fascists. Pinochet tore Chileans lives apart and left the country scared for life he also destroyed one of the longest lasting democracy in the south Calling Allende oppressive is ridiculous to say the least, you might also remember that Allende never stopped the right wing press from opposing him everyday, he also attempted dialogue with the Christian Democrats who did the same thing that is happening today in Venezuela, they sent their goons into the streets to burn and destroy property. Who does this hurt, not the wealthy. It hurts the everyday people Yes these days are similar for Chavez as the days for Allende where. They both have the U.S.A commiting and supporting acts of aggression against them in attempts to monopolize industries in which the respective leaders reclaimed for their own people instead of allowing only the wealthy and american populations to benefit from them. Chavez has learned from Allende as all good leaders will. The revolution must be fought with the people’s power(non-violently) as you may remember Allende in his final address to the public demanding that no one come to his aid for it would be a bloodbath, and he did not want to see the lose of innocence. Good for Chavez for defending Venezuela from not only the wealthy but from the most violent nation in the world the U.S.A. For once the U.S did not suceed in a full on Coup attempt, and why was that, because of the people’s power. I didn’t no that Pinochistas still wore that wrong prescription fascists glasses
Posted by nelson on Mar 19, 2004 at 5:45 PM sorry about the grammar mistakes my spanish is better than my english
Posted by nelson on Mar 19, 2004 at 5:48 PM In response to Nelson, I’m not a Pinochetista by any means. I just think it’s funny that anybody who opposes a communist/socialist leader and exposes their hypocrisy is immediately branded a fascist. While I respect your beliefs, many of your facts are dead wrong. While your statements regarding Allende minutes before the bombing of La Moneda are 100% correct, you apparently forgot that he shut down El Mercurio, the nation’s top opposition newspaper shortly before the coup (I don’t remember the exact date). Also, it is common knowledge that Allende’s grip on the presidency was so tenuous by September, 1973, that he was about to call a referendum, and he would’ve been voted out. By the end of his term, Allende even started to hate the Socialists. He had no control over his constituents, he was a horrible president who would’ve made Chile a second Cuba. After all their big talk about a violent revolution, when the time came to defend their president and their ideology, the overwhelming majority of the “Revolutionaries’’ (Mapu, the Socialists, Communists, etc) hid and went into exile. However, I am most amused by your blind naivite. By claiming that “the peoples power’’ prevented last year’s military coup in Venezuela is just plain hilarious. Do you really believe the United States played an active role in the coup???? When the United States truly wants a government to fall (i.e., Iraq, Haiti) it makes it happen. I’ve spoken to Venezuelan people who believe that Chavez himself started the coup in order to find out who in the military was truly against him. Chavez is a murder, a tyrant, a demagougue with delusions of grandeur.
Posted by Jaime on Mar 20, 2004 at 6:07 PM Chavez did not scape the recall vote. He is 99% into it.
Posted by Plinio Cabrera on Mar 21, 2004 at 10:47 PM In response Colin Powell himself has admitted that the U.S.A has helped play a role in eliminating communism in Latin America including the Hugo Chavez government stated as being not friendly to the U.S which luckly it is not. I do not agree with your information about Chile during the Allende years and would suggest you re read some proper history books for a new lesson in our country’s dark past. Most of your claims fall even short of the American viewpoint. and as a side note my sister has just informed me from santiago that divorce is finally legal. now we Chileans will no longer be called the people behind the times. Jaime I recommend your read “En la sombra del libertador”
Posted by nelson on Mar 23, 2004 at 12:08 AM mr. ellner.....well, i’d only would like to say that, not anyone that is not living the reality of what is happening here.. should be able to say if either one side or another is rigth. Just 4 years ago, the only problems we had were insecurity in the street and the unemployment, but now, we have a bigger one… a revolution; i really would like to think that we are headed to a better future, with all the Missions you may think we have and a great social care and security, but the truth is, the people in the goverment couldn’t care less about us… is just like i readed on the book “dude where is my country” (by michael moore)… they have all the political power, they have the armed forces and they have many followers, and still, they are all full hate and anger...taking the national guard on the street to literaly kill some of us.. when all we really want is to express ourselves.. we want to vote!… and you may think that someone like you would want to help us, after all, we are just regular people who wants to be heared… but no… the world isn’t move by liberal ideas, is just moved by money.
Posted by juan on Mar 23, 2004 at 9:09 PM The posts are nonsensical as is the piece which gives the idea that a fascist right wing movement can be thought of as a legitimate opposition. These are Venezuelan McVeighs. Chavez must be supported, not portrayed, subtley as “totalitarian.” Even if Chavez is flawed, the left should be offering unconditional solidarity. Otherwise you may as well be another Gershmanite State Department socialist who really believes that the NED stands for democracy.
Posted by Chavista on Mar 25, 2004 at 11:11 AM The Chilean who has uttered threats has been reported to his country’s police agencies
Posted by Chavista on Mar 25, 2004 at 11:21 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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Also by Steve Ellner
- The Trial (And Errors) of Hugo Chavez
Venezuelans are debating whether Chávez is putting the windfall of revenue from oil revenues to good use or squandering it through disorganization, corruption and misplaced priorities - Chvez Consolidates Power
With the opposition routed, Venezuela's "revolutionary process" seems set to accelerate - Chvezs Opposition Opts Out
- Chvez Hits a Home Run
Venezuela’s embattled president calls his own shot by winning the recall election - Chávez Escapes Recall
But the Venezuela opposition escalates its tactics - Recall Fever Spreads South
Chávez faces third ouster attempt
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