The Venezuelan government has welcomed the liberation of Colombian presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt, 11 Colombia hostages and three US citizens. In a communique issued by the Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE), President Chavez' role in pushing for a humanitarian agreement in Colombia has been highlighted. The MRE recalls that the President's mediation led to the first freeing of Colombian citizens being held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and for that reason the government "appreciates and shares in all its magnitude the liberation and encounter." Colombian President Alfaro Uribe is claiming victory for the rescue of hostages in the power of the FARC, the fact that the rescue mission was undertaken without a shot being fired is being presented as a sign that the guerrilla organisation has been emasculated. Uribe calls on the FARC to make peace and to free the rest of the hostages still in its power. It would appear that the hostages were being handed over to a maximum FARC leader, Alfonso Cano as part of a plan for eventual release. French diplomats had been allowed into Colombia to speak to rebel leaders about the freeing French-Colombian citizen, Ingrid Betancourt. It would appear that Venezuela was not mentioned during the President's discourse when he referred to other countries such as the United States, France, and Europe,.
On her release from captivity, Ingrid Betancourt says the mediation of President Chavez was very important in seeking a humanitarian agreement. However, she commented that even though they are important allies in the process there is a condition they must observe, respect for Colombia's democracy. Betancourt insists that Colombians elected Alfaro Uribe and not the FARC as President. On hearing the news of the liberation, President Chavez phoned Uribe congratulating him on the successful operation.
The Bolivarian News Agency (ABN) has criticized what it calls a campaign by the private media aimed at blaming the government for a rake of kidnappings. The denunciation highlights the cases of businessman, Eugenio Mendoza and the leader of an NGO, Control Ciudadano, Rocio San Miguel. The disappearance of Mendoza was rapidly covered by opposition media such as Globovision, and webpage Noticierodigital.com. Mendoza was declared missing after he visited his farm in Aragua State but was later found tied to a tree on his farm without any physical damage. The discovery was immediate front page material for both media outlets. In the case of San Miguel the same media sources claimed that she had been kidnapped and tortured without providing any proof. The ABN calls the treatment of such news items a strategy which ultra-right opposition sectors have been developing to create a current of opinion against the government's security plan and to divert the interest of public opinion from the fact that opposition parties are divided and fighting among themselves, just four months from regional elections. The article suggests harassment could be a motive since Mendoza and San Miguel have been in agreement with some recent government measures and policies. The article concludes that the complaint lodged by Chacao Mayor, Leopoldo Lopez that he had been manhandled by security agents at Simon Bolivar international airport at Maiquetia is another example of the campaign. The government has denied any attempt to coerce the Mayor.
The leader of the International Marxist Tendency, Alan Woods, currently on a month's tour of Venezuela to promote his book, "Reformism or Revolution," says the political situation in Colombia is difficult and that the only group capable of fighting the Colombian oligarchy is the Colombian people. Speaking during an interview on State VTV channel, Woods sees Venezuela as an example of a country where a serious and efficient movement consisting of the masses of the working class, peasants and youth has come into being against the Venezuelan oligarchy. Commenting on the release of hostages yesterday in Colombia, Alan states that it shows a growing weakness in the guerrilla group, which has achieved little in 40 years. In the struggle against the oligarchy and solving the main problems, Woods asserts, results will not be achieved in Parliament but on the streets, in the factories and in garrisons.
During a meeting in Merida, Alan Woods has been defending the government and its political party, the PSUV. While defending the party, Woods is of the opinion that the revolution must continue with the nationalization process of the banking system, land and the big companies but under worker control. The problem on December 2, he argues, when the government lost the referendum on constitutional reform was basically that people did not see any decisive changes in their lives. Continuing his analysis, Woods proclaims that while there have been advances, the people have not seen a definite solution to problems such as unemployment, poverty housing etc ... " if there is not an urgent solution to the problems, the revolution will be severely threatened ... in the end, one class must win and one must lose." Alan also chided members of the National Workers Union (UNT) for not following through President Chavez' call to take over the big companies. "The leaders did nothing and yet complain about state bureaucracy ... leaders of the UNT prefer to fight among themselves to see who would control the central instead of pushing forward." Woods has also rejected charges that the PSUV is a bourgeois party and calls to start a new revolutionary party. Arguing that if people want to form a party outside the PSUV, it will be without the masses and a party of three persons and a dog that will do everything except a revolution. "Outside the PSUV and the Bolivarian movement, there is nothing." Alan resolutely urges that militants must be motivated with ideology and the only ideology possible is scientific socialism and Marxism. Finally, the Welshman says he would like to see to a Marxist ideological current within the PSUV.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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