In spite of the bad weather, around 100 people attended our Venezuelan event at Mono café, last Thursday, 12 August. It was a great combination of films, debate, music, dancing, food and fun.

Tommy Sheridan gave a speech in support of the Venezuelan people and asked attendees to sign a letter of solidarity, which has now been sent to
President Hugo Chavez, President George Bush, the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw and the press. (Please see copy of letter below).

The event went on till after midnight thanks to the great music and entertainment provided by Venezuelan band Deja-vuh and Dj Gaby - in fact the staff at Mono really struggled to get people out! Thanks very much to all who contributed to it.

Today the referendum is taking place in Venezuela. A few minutes ago, I heard online – live radio from Venezuela (www.kpfk.org)- that people have been queuing at some poll places since 3:00am in the morning and that the poll places are just struggling to cope with the amount of Venezuelans wishing to have their say today. Some people have been queuing for up to 10 hours!!!

International observers are saying that they have never seen so many people voting.

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IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA



(This letter was signed by a group of people who attended the event organised by Camcorder Guerrillas on the 12 Aug 2004, at Mono café, Kingcourt, Glasgow G1)





We, the undersigned, would like to express our solidarity with the struggle that the majority of the Venezuelan people are enduring in defence of their sovereign power to determine their future.



On August 15th of this year, a popular referendum will determine whether Hugo Chavez will remain President of Venezuela until the end of his 5-year mandate.

The referendum was called by the opposition in their new attempt to overthrown the popular government.



Since 1998, President Hugo Chavez has won landslide victories, in all of the democratic elections that have taken place in Venezuela. He has dedicated himself to promoting the principles of Venezuela's new Constitution adopted by popular referendum in 1999. His programme of nationalisation, democratisation, land reform and redistribution of national wealth has won him popularity amongst the majority of traditionally neglected working class Venezuelans. Chavez has also become the leader of a growing movement in

Latino America fighting against the traditional US government’s free market economic agenda that has plunged the region onto poverty and dependency.



Therefore we would like to denounce that the main enemies of Venezuela and its people are not the ‘tyrant- dictator President Hugo Chavez and his
government’, as continuously miss portrayed by mainstream media. The people of Venezuela are fighting against an extremely powerful minority of Venezuelan and international corporations, financial institutions, and media organizations
which are prepared to defend their interests by any means necessary. They have many times now attempted coup d'etats, economic sabotage and bosses strikes in order to undermine the country's constitutional order.



If they succeed, the world and history would be just left again with the trampled dreams of million of people fighting for a fair, democratic and peaceful world.



We can’t let it happen again!



We express again our solidarity with the people of Venezuela and through this statement let them know that they are not along in their struggle.



We also say ‘NO’.





BUENA SUERTE