Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías. Born 28 July, 1954, Died 5 March, 2015, age 58.
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías. Born 28 July, 1954, Died 5 March, 2015, age 58.

Venezuelans mourned the loss of a great revolutionary leader and icon for the global democratic progressive movement, as Hugo Chavez lost his battle to cancer at the age of 58 after battling the illness for two years, but Venezuelans have vowed to continue the revolution and honour Chavez’s legacy.

Hugo Chavez came to power in Venezuela following an uprising against the corrupt government of Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1989, who followed orders from Washington and sold his country’s resources to the IMF/America.

Chavez organised a coup with members of the military, however due to betrayals and other factors the coup failed and Chavez was forced to give himself up. He was imprisoned but later released in 1994 as part of President Rafael Caldera’s election promise.

Chavez was a hero among the poor and working class and toured the country promoting social revolution.

In 1998 Chavez founded his own political party, the Fifth Republic Movement and ran in the national elections. His popularity among the poor and working class proved decisive as his support rose to 30% in May, and 39% by August. The opposition who were funded by the United States began to worry and started a dirty smear campaign against Chavez, even claiming that he was a cannibal who ate children.

Despite the opposition’s smear campaign Chavez won the election, winning 56.20% of the vote, and continued to win every single election comfortably before his untimely death on March 5, 2013.

On becoming President of Venezuela, Chavez scrapped the privileges which accompanied it, including the limousine, as well as donating his wages to a scholarship fund. He sold off government owned planes to increase the national budget.

It was his social plan which won him many friends as well as enemies at home and abroad. Chavez employed members of the military to repair roads, hospitals, they offered free medical care  and vaccinations and food at cheap prices.

Chavez brought constitutional reform which meant that ordinary people could recall presidents by referendum. For the first time Venezuelans could take advantage of public education, housing, healthcare and food.

Chavez’s social reform meant that US corporations were denied access to privatise Venezuela’s economy, and this is the real reason why the US opposed Chavez to the point of plotting to assassinate him.

Venezuela is the world’s fifth largest exporter of crude oil, under Chavez this precious national resource was nationalised forcing out US corporations which had previously dominated this industry.

US Terrorism tries to undermine Chavez

Kurt Nimmo, a photographer, multimedia artist and writer, in his article CIA and FBI Had Planned to Assassinate Hugo Chávez (Global Research: March 6, 2013), explains how the US CIA, worked with Chavez opponents to overthrow him and kill him.

He said:

According to the Attorney General, Vasquez De Armas said that during a meeting in Darien, Panama, on September 4 and 6, 2003, an FBI Officer called ‘Pesquera’ and a CIA agent called ‘Morrinson,’ attended a meeting along with two of the plot’s alleged organizers, Patricia Poleo and Salvador Romani, as well as two of those who actually did the killing, Rolando and Otoniel Guevera,” writes Alessandro Parma. “An official from the Attorney General’s office, speaking on behalf of Vasquez De Armas, said that in Panama the FBI and the plotting Venezuelans agreed, ‘to take out Chavez and the Government.’ He said, ‘the meeting’s final objective was to kill President Chavez and the Attorney General.’”

Here is the government of the United States of America plotting to not only interfere in a democratically elected government, but to even dispose of it altogether using violence. If this is not the legal definition of state terrorism the meaning is useless.

Yet America’s terrorism along with other Western governments goes back decades during the independent movements in India, Africa, and the Caribbean after World War II.

In my article Dizzee Rascal would be bonkers to play Bond, I mention a brief history of Western terrorism in the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world, which includes assassinating elected leaders that opposed imperialism. The methods used were also diabolical, poisoned chocolates, a poisoned dart and an SAS hit squad. In the article I wrote about how black and ethnic populations should not promote, enjoy or view spy thrillers like James Bond in a positive light, as these fictional agents represent real terrorism responsible for the assassinations of revolutionary leaders in Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world who dared stand up to Western imperialism.

Ironically the leader of the Russian Communist Party, Gennady Zyuganov accused the US of causing Chavez’s cancer. Zyuganov said, “How did it happen that six leaders of Latin American countries which had criticized US policies and tried to create an influential alliance in order to be independent and sovereign states, fell ill simultaneously with the same disease?” (“Chavez Death Could Be A US Plot”: By Ria Novosti: March 6, 2013) He added, “In my view, this was far from a coincidence,

Already, the Venezuelan government has called for an investigation into how Chavez contracted cancer, specifically if he was poisoned or targeted by cancer causing elements. (The Death of Hugo Chávez: Was it a Political Assassination?: Global Research: March 6, 2013)

Chavez’s legacy lives on through the people, and no amount of assassinations, or targeted kilings can eradicate the social movement he has come to stand for in Venezuela and the wider Latin American world.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, a long-term ally of Chavez said “Chavez is more alive than ever.” (Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dies: “We are all Chavez”. National Army deployed to ensure Venezuelan People’s Sovereignty: Global Research: By Russia Today: 6 March, 2013)

Rosario Murillo, the wife and spokeswoman of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, said defiantly, “We are all Chavez,” In Cuba,the government declared  two days of national mourning whilst the flag is flown at half-mast. Argentina has declared three days of national mourning with President Cristina Fernandez and the President of neighboring Uruguay Jose Mujica preparing travel arrangements for the funeral.

American actor Sean Penn, a long-term friend of Chavez, said “Poor people around the world lost a champion. I lost a friend I was blessed to have. My thoughts are with the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela.”

Chavez is dead, whether his death occurred naturally or by sinister methods will obviously remain a factor of huge debate in the next few months and beyond. What is undeniable, is the legacy he has left, and the work still to be completed by not just Venezuelans, but all of us who believe that the world can be organised independent of greed, profit and selfishness.

‘We are all Chavez’, is the lasting testimony that can be given in his honour.

For further research:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/cia-and-fbi-plan-to-assassinate-hugo-ch-vez/1296

http://www.globalresearch.ca/chavez-death-could-be-a-us-plot/5325446

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-death-of-hugo-chavez-was-is-a-political-assassination/5325475

http://www.globalresearch.ca/venezuelan-president-hugo-chavez-dies-we-are-all-chavez-national-army-deployed-to-ensure-venezuelan-peoples-sovereignty/5325443

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