[Marxism] vzla-colombia

[michael a. lebowitz]

I gather that people in Caracas in the barrios are taking the threat of 
war seriously. These developments should also be seen in the light of a 
newsletter a week ago by Dario Azzellini, which reads in part:

Dear friends:

I'm still in Venezuela. The overall political situation isn't easy. The
lost referendum about the constitutional reform in december 2007 left
traces. A growth of colombian paramilitarism in Venezuela is also
evident. Not just in the broder areas but also in some Caracas'
neighbourhoods. After not having paid much atention to the combat and
investigation of paramilitarism in Venezuela during years, it's now two
weeks that the theme is at the center of attention. Chávez called for a
major offensive (political, social, by military and police) and the
government formed some special commissions about paramilitarism. There
is investigation and there have been already some arrests.

Two weeks ago I was invited to the interview program of Vanessa Davis
(THE leftist journalist of Venezuela) and we talked nearly one hour
about Colombia, Uribe, paramilitarism, consequences for Venezuela etc.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePRJ84r0On8). Chávez saw the interview
and invited me to his program Aló Presidente two weeks ago:

PARTE 1 (4:28 min) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmAkRyZ-Y2s 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmAkRyZ-Y2s>
PARTE 2 (7:26 min) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPNmWxxUi4I 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPNmWxxUi4I>

-- 
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

Director, Programme in 'Transformative Practice and Human Development'
Centro Internacional Miranda, P.H.
Residencias Anauco Suites, Parque Central, final Av. Bolivar
Caracas, Venezuela
fax: 0212 5768274/0212 5777231
http//:centrointernacionalmiranda.gob.ve
mlebowit at sfu.ca