Venezuelan envoy tells of social gains
By
Arturo J. Pérez Saad
New York
Published Aug 6, 2005 8:48 PM
William
Izarra, Venezuelan Chancellor to Asia and a former military commander, gave an
informal talk July 11 to a room full of leaders and activists in the New York
area. Describing the revolutionary process going on in his country as
anti-imperialist, he gave insights into some recent developments.
Last
Aug. 15, after the rich with the backing of the U.S. had campaigned to
destabilize Venezuela, President Hugo Chávez won broad support for his
policies in yet another referendum. Since then, quite a few of the wealthy have
left for Miami and there has been relative calm.
To overcome the poverty
of the vast majority, the Venezuelan government is using 30 percent of the
country’s oil profits, which used to be siphoned off by eight rich
families, to fund community programs.
“Misión
Robinson” has reduced illiteracy to less than 4 percent of the population.
“Misión Sucre” is a public health project where doctors
deliver quality health care in the remotest and poorest sectors of the country.
Over 18,000 Cuban medical personnel participate in this
program.
“Barrio Adentro” and many other programs bring
subsidized education, schooling, food, housing and work to the most affected
communities.
Izarra told how in May 1967, when he was a military officer
who flew helicopters, the army found a Cuban lieutenant on Venezuelan land whose
goal was to train Venezuelan guerrillas. “I met him as he was held captive
under a tent. I asked him why he was here. He said that he believed in
international solidarity, the participation of the masses and that he
volunteered to fight for justice. The next day, when I returned, the lieutenant
was dead, shot through one side of his head, his hands tied behind his
back.” This made a huge impression on Izarra. He left the military shortly
thereafter.
Today, he says, Venezuela is trying to achieve “the
common good for all.” He talked about Venezuela’s good relations
with the Vietnamese people, “who demonstrated that even the most advanced
military with the most modern equipment can’t win if it does not have
conviction. They first threw out the French, then the U.S.”
He
explained how, since the failed coup attempt against President Chavez, Vene
zuela has had nine elections and every time the revolutionary process has moved
forward. Some mayors of towns, however, still do not follow the constitution and
select their own cabinets. The U.S. is funding groups like Súmate to
participate in political subversion. “It is illegal in any country to
accept funds from another country to overthrow the government. The
representatives of the rich are being held accountable on charges of
treason.
“Our goal is to have popularly elected and participatory
mayors who function as the voice of the masses and are rooted in
socialism.
“We have a lot of idle land that we are giving back to
the peasants and the indigenous people. We have had many military exercises to
defend our sovereignty. Chá vez has the people behind him and is
increasing the national military reserve to over a million and building popular
militias.”
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
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