Skip to content or view mobile version

Home | Mobile | Editorial | Mission | Privacy | About | Contact | Help | Security | Support

A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

Report of Venezuela Solidarity day in Edinburgh with 6 photos

Paul O'Hanlon | 15.08.2004 20:45 | Venezuela | Globalisation | Health | Social Struggles | London

Here is a short report with 6 photos of today's Venezuela solidarity march in Edinburgh. Six photos of the day are attached as well as an AP (Associated Press) article on the election turnout.

Banner at start of march.
Banner at start of march.

Activist Mark Thomas and Sam of Circus2Iraq.
Activist Mark Thomas and Sam of Circus2Iraq.

Marching down Middle Meadow Walk.
Marching down Middle Meadow Walk.

March down Middle Meadow Walk. Mark Thomas on the right.
March down Middle Meadow Walk. Mark Thomas on the right.

In the Meadows, Mark Thomas on the left.
In the Meadows, Mark Thomas on the left.

In the meadows. Unidentified Argentinian gentleman (ace drummer!) in foreground.
In the meadows. Unidentified Argentinian gentleman (ace drummer!) in foreground.


Intercontinental Day of Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution of Venezuela
Sunday August 15th 2004

There was a march and rally in Edinburgh today in solidarity with the democratic President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez. The overwhelming majority of Venezuelans first elected Chávez in 1998. Since then there has been a series of democratic reforms approved by the people through seven electoral processes. The reforms include a new progressive Constitution based on participatory democracy, real access to education eliminating illiteracy, laws benefiting small farmers and fisher people and massive health care, housing and food distribution programs. These changes initiated by the people and supported by the Chavez administration have alleviated poverty, empowered the population and addressed the inequalities created by neo-liberal IMF/World Bank policies.
However these popular initiatives are being intensely attacked by the wealthy Venezuelan ruling class, corporate media and US/European corporate interests. These attacks led to a media-staged fascist coup d’état in April 2002, which overthrew Chávez, imposing an unelected businessman in his place. A massive popular uprising with the support of the people and loyal military troops led to the Presidential palace being retaken. In spite of this popular victory counter revolutionary attacks continued including an oil strike and street shootings.
On August 15th in Venezuela there is a referendum vote to reconfirm Chavez as democratically elected President.
In sympathy with this there was a day of solidarity in Edinburgh. At around 4.20pm on a warm, humid afternoon a group of around 50 marched from Bristo Square near the University along the meadows under a huge banner saying “SOLIDARITY BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION OF VENEZUELA.” To the beat of a samba drum chants of “Fuck Bush!” and “Venezuela!” the protestors went along Middle Meadow Walk where they met up with an Edinburgh samba band. At about 5pm the march reached the junction of Middle Meadow and North Meadow walk where there was a loud chanting of “Viva Chávez!” Taking part was activist and comedian Mark Thomas who is appearing in the Festival at the Bongo club until Wednesday August 18th.

6 labelled photographs are attached.



Here is an AP (Associated Press) report of the Election Day turnout:
Sunday 15 August 2004
Venezuela Voters Turn Out in Huge Numbers for Referendum on Embattled President Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela Aug. 15, 2004 — Voters turned out in huge numbers Sunday to decide whether to keep populist President Hugo Chavez in power or oust him and his social revolution that critics say has sidelined the middle class and fuelled tensions between rich and poor.
Activists on both sides set off huge firecrackers and played recorded bugle songs to wake voters hours before dawn. Voters turned out in droves, waiting in line for five hours or more to cast ballots in the historic vote.
It was the first time in Venezuela's history that a referendum on cutting short a president's term in office has been held. The vote will determine whether the country continues with Chavez's social revolution, his centralizing of power in the presidency and close ties with Cuba policies that have deeply divided the nation.
"This is the largest turnout I have ever seen," exclaimed former President Jimmy Carter, who was helping to monitor the vote. "There are thousands of people in line, waiting patiently and without any disturbance."
Lines snaked for many blocks outside polling stations in upscale anti-Chavez neighbourhoods and in slums where the president maintains a loyal following because of his social programs on behalf of the poor, including scholarships, medical care and literacy campaigns.
Many Venezuelans adore the 50-year-old former army paratrooper for his efforts to improve the lives of the impoverished majority in the nation of 25 million. But critics say his "revolutionary" rhetoric has vilified the middle class and widened the gap between rich and poor. Many fear he is gradually imposing a Cuba-style dictatorship.
"Venezuela is making history," declared Information Minister Jesse Chacon. "This is a triumph for the Venezuelan people."
Chavez, a vocal critic of Washington's economic and foreign policies, and his opponents accuse each other of trampling over democratic boundaries in a political crisis that climaxed in a failed April 2002 two-day coup that left dozens dead in street protests.
"Today we're going to have a wonderful day," beamed Jose Eduardo Lopez, a 58-year-old taxi driver, as he stood in line in a hillside slum overlooking downtown Caracas. "Chavez will not only get enough votes to win, but will have enough to share. It will be a knockout."
Across town, thousands lined up to vote in the upscale La Castellana neighbourhood, where the sentiment was clearly anti-Chavez.
"I think everyone here is voting against Chavez," said Silvia Gomez, 49. "This country is a disaster."
Memories of past bloodshed raised fears that violence in the world's fifth-largest oil exporter could erupt again if the results are disputed as many were expecting a close outcome. Some pro-Chavez militants threatened attacks if any fraud was attempted, but the early polling was peaceful.
Nineteen people were killed in an anti-Chavez protest before he was ousted in a two-day April 2002 coup. Dozens more people were killed and hundreds wounded before Chavez was returned to power amid a popular uprising. Political riots last March claimed a dozen more lives.
Officials planned to release preliminary results hours after the polls close Sunday afternoon if one side has a clear lead. The election commission has ruled that only it can release polling figures. Exit polls were banned.
The referendum, with 14 million eligible voters, follows months of painstaking negotiations mediated by the Organization of American States and the non-profit Carter Center, the gathering of millions of signatures and rulings by the National Elections Council and the Supreme Court.
Chavez pledged to respect the results "no matter what they are."
Chavez, who led a failed military coup in 1992, was elected president on an anti-corruption, anti-poverty platform in 1998. After changes to the constitution, he was re-elected to a six-year term in 2000.
For the recall to succeed, more Venezuelans must vote against Chavez than the nearly 3.8 million who voted for him four years ago. Then new presidential elections must be held within 30 days, during which time Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel would head a transitional government.
The constitution is unclear on whether Chavez could run as a candidate if a new election is held, as he has said he would do. The opposition coalition has yet to name a potential candidate.
Edginess over possible disruptions in Venezuela's oil industry, which normally provides almost 15 percent of U.S. imports, contributed this week to record high oil prices, which have reached more than $46 a barrel.













Paul O'Hanlon
- e-mail: o_hanlon@hotmail.com

Comments

Display the following 4 comments

  1. fill in the dots — dot-filler
  2. Taiwan — Jon
  3. De Gaulle — frenchy
  4. still seems a "world history first" in anti-authoritarianism by an Authority ;) — The Leader
Upcoming Coverage
View and post events
Upcoming Events UK
24th October, London: 2015 London Anarchist Bookfair
2nd - 8th November: Wrexham, Wales, UK & Everywhere: Week of Action Against the North Wales Prison & the Prison Industrial Complex. Cymraeg: Wythnos o Weithredu yn Erbyn Carchar Gogledd Cymru

Ongoing UK
Every Tuesday 6pm-8pm, Yorkshire: Demo/vigil at NSA/NRO Menwith Hill US Spy Base More info: CAAB.

Every Tuesday, UK & worldwide: Counter Terror Tuesdays. Call the US Embassy nearest to you to protest Obama's Terror Tuesdays. More info here

Every day, London: Vigil for Julian Assange outside Ecuadorian Embassy

Parliament Sq Protest: see topic page
Ongoing Global
Rossport, Ireland: see topic page
Israel-Palestine: Israel Indymedia | Palestine Indymedia
Oaxaca: Chiapas Indymedia
Regions
All Regions
Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World
Other Local IMCs
Bristol/South West
Nottingham
Scotland
Social Media
You can follow @ukindymedia on indy.im and Twitter. We are working on a Twitter policy. We do not use Facebook, and advise you not to either.
Support Us
We need help paying the bills for hosting this site, please consider supporting us financially.
Other Media Projects
Schnews
Dissident Island Radio
Corporate Watch
Media Lens
VisionOnTV
Earth First! Action Update
Earth First! Action Reports
Topics
All Topics
Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista
Major Reports
NATO 2014
G8 2013
Workfare
2011 Census Resistance
Occupy Everywhere
August Riots
Dale Farm
J30 Strike
Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands
G20 London Summit
University Occupations for Gaza
Guantanamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
COP15 Climate Summit 2009
Carmel Agrexco
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Stop Sequani
Stop RWB
Climate Camp 2008
Oaxaca Uprising
Rossport Solidarity
Smash EDO
SOCPA
Past Major Reports
Encrypted Page
You are viewing this page using an encrypted connection. If you bookmark this page or send its address in an email you might want to use the un-encrypted address of this page.
If you recieved a warning about an untrusted root certificate please install the CAcert root certificate, for more information see the security page.

Global IMC Network


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech