[R-G] In Brazil, Chavez brings Venezuela front and center

[Fred Feldman]

-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Feb. 13, 2003
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------

BRAZIL: CHAVEZ VISIT BRINGS VENEZUELA FRONT AND CENTER

By Berta Joubert-Ceci
Porto Alegre, Brazil

The World Social Forum held here Jan. 23-28 had as its two main and 
urgent topics the U.S. war against Iraq and the process of neo-
liberalism, exemplified in the U.S. plan to set up the Free Trade Area 
of the Americas .

But an unexpected visit by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez showed how 
the 100,000 people attending the WSF felt about another present danger 
looming over the Americas: the threat of a U.S.-sup port ed coup against 
his elected government.

Thousands of voices chanting in unison, "Uh! Ah! Chavez no se va"--
Chavez is not leaving--let the world know both the immediate crisis and 
the determination of the people of Venezuela to defend their Bolivarian 
Revolution.

The people of Latin America and the Caribbean understand passionately 
that a setback in Venezuela would mean a setback for all the Americas. 
It was quite moving to see how Venezuelans and non-Venezuelans alike 
defended this revolution with words and deeds.

The main participants in the revolutionary Bolivarian process have no 
thoughts of losing. Jacobo Torres, general coordinator of the Bolivarian 
Force of the Workers (FBT) in Venezuela, told Workers World, "We are 
more convinced than ever that we are going to further our revolutionary 
process, that the will of the people will prevail and that nobody will 
abolish our constitution."

The FBT is a labor and political organization embracing different union 
sectors. These pro-Chavez forces are attempting to consolidate labor's 
power away from the old union organization, which is really like a 
company union.

The leaders of the old group, the Workers Confederation of Venezuela, 
have been colluding with the right-wing opposition forces responsible 
for the bosses' "strike" that has damaged the country's economy.

Right now, Torres said, the oil workers are waging the most difficult 
struggle. The boss organization Fedecamaras, responsible for the 
abortive coup last April, tried most viciously to sabotage the economy's 
vital oil sector.

When these entrepreneurs started a lockout, which the right-wing media 
called a "strike," the managers left their work places and started 
sabotaging the sophisticated computer system that coordinates the 
different complex operations of oil production and distribution, 
including the automatic filling of oil tanks. This slowed oil production 
tremendously, jeopardizing not only the economy but the whole society by 
attacking energy production.

The functioning of schools and hospitals, even doing a simple task 
around the house, became extremely difficult and could endanger people's 
lives. Fires and explosions were a constant threat, since the sabotaging 
managers broke valves and caused leaks in some pipelines.

The bosses' purpose was to totally choke the country's economy. Oil 
production decreased from almost 3 million barrels a day in November to 
150,000 barrels.

WORKERS DECIDE TO TAKE OVER PRODUCTION

Then, on Dec. 4, Torres said, the workers decided to secure the oil 
production. So they, together with the people, occupied the oil plants 
and evicted the right-wing managers.

"For the first time, the workers took direct control and responsibility 
for the production of our industry," said Torres. "And little by little, 
in 15 days, Venezuela started to produce gasoline again.

"Heroic pages were written in those days by companeros who stayed awake 
for 96, even 120 hours, working to make sure that raw materials would 
get to the centers of production and distribution and preventing the 
coup agents from entering the plants," continued Torres. "Today, we can 
say without doubt that the workers, together with the national armed 
forces and with the new management, have started to increase the oil 
production. When we arrived in Porto Alegre, production had already 
increased to 1.2 million barrels a day."

Venezuelan speakers, the Venezuelan flag and placards calling for 
solidarity with the Bolivarian movement were prevalent in gatherings and 
demonstrations in Porto Alegre. The Venezuelan ambassador to Brazil, 
plus several compatriot cultural workers and intellectuals, were guests 
at the House of Cuba here, where they spoke on the current situation.

But the highlight of the Venezuelan presence in Porto Alegre was Hugo 
Chavez himself. He was invited by the recently elected president of 
Brazil, Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva.

Chavez spoke at the Porto Alegre Legislative Assembly building. Powerful 
loudspeakers were placed on the balcony, allowing the thousands gathered 
outside to listen to his stirring and militant words.

His 90-minute speech exuded confidence based on the backing of the 
Venezuelan people. Chavez assured his listeners that the Bolivarian 
Revolution would not die.

This confidence had been demonstrated several days earlier, on Jan. 23, 
when people took to the streets in Venezuela in support of their 
revolution and their president. With thousands wearing the Bolivarians' 
red beret, the massive demonstration was dubbed the "red tide."

Speaking with a warm and friendly delivery, Chavez declared his 
allegiance to the people, particularly the poorest, and his conviction 
that the people are the ones in power. His job, he said, is to guarantee 
that the will of the people prevails. "Uh! Ah! Chavez no se va!"

- END -

(Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and 
distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not 
allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, 
NY 10011; via e-mail: ww at wwpublish.com. Subscribe wwnews-
on at wwpublish.com. Unsubscribe wwnews-off at wwpublish.com. Support the 
voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)