https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2507/S00375/we-still-remember-hugo-chavez-on-his-71st-birthday.htm
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We Still Remember Hugo Chavez On His 71st Birthday |
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In a show of respect to the late President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity (HCIF-PFS) remembers Hugo Chavez (Blessed memory) today. We join the people of Venezuela and all friends of Venezuela and the international solidarity movement to commemorate his 71st Anniversary of the birth of this genius man.
Since Spain’s colonialism in Latin America in the 16th century, the people of Venezuela have always rejected foreign domination and remote control. Between 1908 and 1935, the Latin American nation was rated top on the list of petroleum exporting countries in the world. Foreign powers then wanted to make the country a backyard for exploitation of natural resources, mainly oil, gas and gold.
The election of Carlos Andres Perez in 1989 for instance, allowed the United States to have control over the resources of Venezuela. But this and other policies were meted with mass protests in the streets, which led to mass killings and destruction across that friendly country. While this carnage was carried, unfortunately no one in the so-called civilized western world was interested to comment or even condemn the heinous crime and crime against humanity; and no media made any noise either in the electronic or print media. There was just a climate of total blackouts deliberately unleashed to conceal the crimes committed against the Venezuelan people.
These unfortunate events led also to the arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of Hugo Chavez in 1992. Like any other leader who stood against neo-colonialism and imperialist onslaughts, and fight for change of the system or status quo, Hugo Chavez was equally misconstrued, misrepresented and demonized a terrorist, who must be destroyed.
After the impeachment of President Carlos Andres Perez on charges of misrule in 1995, US backed forces attempted to restore their client back to the presidency, but failed. Thus futile tactics was earlier employed in Cuba to salvage the fascist dictatorship of General Batista in 1959, against the Cuban revolution, led by Fidel Castro.
However, Chavez stood firmed, steadfast and resolute in his conviction. He revived his group and renamed it the Movement of the Fifth Republic, which later merged with other progressive groups to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
The called to serve the Venezuelan nation and restore that country’s lost dignity led Hugo Chavez to contest the election of 1998, which he won convincingly with fifty-six percent (56%) of all valid votes, given him the nod to lead his people as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed forces of the Republic of Venezuela.
Hugo Chavez assumed the presidency of Venezuela in January 1999, after his oath of office, and thereafter he set-out his Action Program to transform Venezuela to a great and prosperous amongst the comity of nations. He introduced democratic reforms and constitutional arrangements, by devolving power from the center to the local communities, bringing the poor and marginalised rural population of Venezuela to the mainstream of power and economic activities.
One can understand from the above, why despite the fact that Hugo Chavez is physically absent on the scene, the imperialists continue to subject Venezuela into collective punishment with no end in sight. At present, the supposed problem they have against the constitutional President Nicolas Maduro is that the Venezuelan leader has refused to bow down to imperialism. President Maduro has preserved the legacy of Commandant Chavez; he runs his country in the model of a traditional socialist system where the interests of the people are considered first before any other parochial interests.
In April 2002, attempt to topple the government of President Chavez failed after a brief coup that lasted for forty-eight (48) hours. Recently in January 2019, the US attempted to undermine the democratic process in Venezuela, in a desperate attempt to effect regime change in Caracas, and imposed no one else but a US stooge and cloned fascist dictator. There were many other similar actions that were invented also to destroy the leadership of President Hugo Chavez, but all ended to naught.
Common sense dictates that no current US coercive action in Venezuela is new, and the international propaganda media has failed to ignite civil unrests in the Latin American nation, as they succeeded today in plunging Libya into a killing theatre. Hugo Chavez deserves to be remembered as the first Venezuelan president in decades to have used his country's oil wealth and other natural resources address the demands and aspirations of the Venezuelan people.
Hugo Chavez initiated and implemented the Misiones, a social programme guarantees food security, land redistribution, transformation and modernization of the health, education, housing, roads and communication sectors of the economy. It was on this confident-building policies and actions that the people of Venezuela saw in Chavez as a Daniel in the Holy Bible who came to do them justice. Chavez was elected four times President, with the votes of the masses, especially the poor majority who were isolated, excluded and oppressed by the old and decadent governance system.
Chavez will be remembered today as a major regional player who fought so hard to advance the dream of his hero Simon Bolivar, for a more integrated Latin America. He created important strategic alliances with Brazil and Argentina and strengthened MERCOSUR. He would also be remembered for the solidarity he extended to poorer countries.
Remembering this genius man today means more for a former army officer who was so loved by his people to an extent that, he was dubbed the Jesus Christ of the 21st century. Some called him the people’s president. Hugo Chavez ranks alongside other progressive world leaders like Castro, Nehru, Nkrumah, Lumumba and Mandela, whose importance transcended the politics of their own countries and who became powerful voices on behalf of the poor masses. The applause he received when he famously challenged George Bush Jr. in the most personal terms at the UN General Assembly in 2005, showed the support he attracted well beyond international borders.
“Some men are born great, some achieved greatness, while others have greatness accrued on to them,” so says wise people. These words are the exact attributes one can remember Hugo Rafael Chavez.
He was born on the 28th July, 1954 in the rural town of Sabaneta in the Western plains (Barinas State) of Venezuela. The second of 7 sons of two school teachers (Hugo de Los Reyes Chavez and Elena Friars de Chavez), Hugo Chavez was known for various deserving causes.
Hugo Chavez was twice divorced and a Father of four wonderful children. He was a Roman Catholic Christian, who had a long and cherished history of personal sacrifice for the vulnerable. He loved and played baseball; he joined the Venezuelan military at the age of 17. He graduated in 1975; he was a Paratrooper Commander.
Hugo Chavez was indeed a rare patriot because his life epitomized enduring love for the Venezuelan people and his love for humanity was particularly defined by self-sacrifice. Death has only taken the flesh of a revolutionary icon, but not his noble ideas.
Venezuela’s history would not be complete without mentioning the role of Hugo Chavez. Rather than mourning his exit, together with the Venezuelan people, we should preserve the legacy of this great leader. We should continue from where he stopped before his demise, to fight for justice, peace and love for humanity.
Hugo Chavez was greater than words, and he is more eternal than words. Words alone cannot praise him better than his achievements as a great leader. No words suffice to console us for the absence of this genius man on the stage. And on this auspicious occasion, we say: “Chavez Never Dies”! Chavez Lives!!
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