CHALLENGES TO THE BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION
AND PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ
Ruth Hunter

Rumors from the Bush Administration have hit the media insinuating that
President Chavez is a dictator in Venezuela. Nothing could be farther from the
truth. He is the democratically elected and much beloved president of the
majority of the people, albeit poor. No doubt, to the Bush Administration; he is
a thorn in their side because he has challenged neo-liberalism which touts
policies that have been impoverishing developing countries. Trade agreements,
embodied in conditions for loans, contain restrictions and privatization of
resources of concern in many countries of South America. Like Venezuela, these
countries are questioning the policies of the World Trade Organization, the
World Bank, the International Monetary Fund which benefit U.S. corporations. In
Venezuela, neo-liberalism has been aided and abetted by the oligarchy.

Chavez is a challenge to the capitalist system of the North. He has
instigated a series of social programs to aid the poor, using profits from the
sale of oil; another is partnering and bartering with Cuba selling oil at a
discount in exchange for 20,000 doctors and health workers; beef for oil with
Argentina and communication technology with Brazil. In addition, he has had a
leftist influence upon Bolivia who recently elected the indigenous Evo Morales,
to be their president. Trends in Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil are also to the left.

I was in Venezuela for two weeks during the time the Social Forum of the
Americas was held. One night our tour joined thousands in the huge stadium
shouting and applauding, as Chavez addressed the large audience. It is
difficult to convey the outburst of devotion and emotions that continued as he
welcomed the Social Forum, the audience, and then, hugged Cindy Sheehan, seated
on the podium, honoring her efforts to bring the troops home from
Iraq.

The enthusiastic response of the Venezuelans for their President was a sharp
contrast to the turmoil since 2002, surrounding Chavez. The attempts of the
opposition to discredit his presidency have been politically battered three
times. As a result, the Bolivarian Revolution, named after the South American
liberator, Simon Bolivar, has been reinventing itself each time the opposition
attempted to unseat Chavez. The first attempt of the opposition began with a
coup, the arrest of President Chavez. The attempt ended with the outrage of
hundreds of his supporters who succeeded in demanding his return to the palace
as their democratically elected leader.

The failure of the dissident military opposition was due to the support of
the generals loyal to Chavez. They were instrumental in restoring Chavez to
his presidency‹a rare phenomenon in the history of social revolutions, i.e.,
Allende in Chili. The opposition railed against the Bolivarian Constitution and
its poverty programs. In an aggressive response, President Chavez turned to the
people and helped organize Bolivarian Circles, building a grassroots movement
to educate and support the
constitution. Neighborhoods were activated by patrols of seven to ten
community leaders who go from door to door to explain the government initiatives
designated to help the poor‹80% lived in poverty. One of the initiatives
included micro loans to cooperatives like fishing cooperatives, small coca and
organic farms and endogenous enterprises. Enthusiasm for the Bolivarian Circles
quickly spread throughout Venezuela. These government edicts challenged the
power of the oligarchy who has been supported by the U.S. and sparked the first
of their three failures to overthrow Chavez.

After the coup, President Chavez initiated aggressive measures against the
opposition by cleansing the military of dissidents against the government. He
also held out the olive branch by restoring the Director of the petroleum
industry and established an opening calling for a dialogue which proved to be in
vain. In December 2002, following the April coup, the opposition, striving to
undermine the economy, called for a general strike and halted production and
distribution of oil. The workers refused to strike. Their support resulted in
the second defeat for the neo-liberal forces in their economic assault against
the government and the nationalized oil industry which had been under the
control of the opposition and U.S.
corporations.

The strike attempt continued through February, 2003. In the interim, the
government took over the production and distribution of the petroleum industry.
Each time, the civil society gained increasing political awareness of the role
of the opposition, especially when the strike had begun to cripple of the
economy. Once again the people rallied in support of the government. Finally,
the opposition called for a constitutional mandated referendum to challenge the
presidency of Venezuela.

To resolve the divisiveness in the country, the government agreed to hold a
referendum, the legal instrument in the Bolivarian Constitution. The people
would have the final voice in deciding the future of their government. This was
the third attempt by the opposition to unseat the President. Chavez immediately
went on an aggressive campaign encouraging voters to organize a grassroots
offensive. They answered his call, activated the neighborhood patrols. Six
million voters attested to the popularity of their President giving him a clear
victory and a third failure to the opposition. The Bolivarian Revolution is
firmly established in Venezuela for now. However, the opposition, though
fractured by their defeats, may turn to their allies, Columbia and the U.S, to
support attempts to turn the country back to the oligarchy.