UK Indymedia | Welcoming President Hugo Chavez To London

Welcoming President Hugo Chavez To London

President Chavez WILL Speak at Solidarity Gathering
Welcoming President Hugo Chavez To London!
Sunday 14 May 2006, 3pm to 7pm

See here for more info.:

http://www.venezuelasolidarity.org.uk/

President Chavez WILL Speak at Solidarity Gathering
Welcoming President Hugo Chavez To London!
Sunday 14 May 2006, 3pm to 7pm
Camden Centre, 38-50 Bidborough St, London WC1
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, will host a welcome meeting on Sunday 14 May for His Excellency President Hugo Chavez Frias on the occasion of his visit to London.

President Chavez Frias will address the meeting on current social and economic policies issues in Venezuela that are relevant to London.

The meeting will take place on Sunday 14 May 2006 between 3pm to 7pm, at the Camden Centre, 38-50 Bidborough St, London WC1 (off Judd St, opposite St Pancras Station).

Attendance will be limited by the capacity of the venue.

Only individuals with confirmed registration sent from the GLA will be admitted.
Please allow time to pass through security when you arrive.

Additions

Livingstone's disgrace

12.05.2006 17:07

I'd love to come along - I've sent four emails to the GLC asking for a ticket without getting one - but as I'm not a member of the Labour Party or a personal friend of Ken Livingstone it seems I can't.

I think it's scandalous that the revolutionary leader of a major south American country is being denied a chance to address a rally of the thousands of Latin Americans and others in this country who support his stand against imperialism. Livingstone cancelled what was to have been a massive, open rally at Queen Elizabeth Hall so he could have a smaller rally with no banners - that's right, no banners at a Venezuelan rally - where he and his Labour Party mates would control admission and the proceedings.

What a waste.

Colin

In chavez we trust

12.05.2006 21:37

First of all sab Chavez is NOT a dictator in anyway shape or form. He and his party has won 9 elections since 1998 all of them free and fair according to outside observers. The latest was a victory in a recall referendum which he won by 59% of the vote in 2004 so stick that in your pipe and smoke it sab you prat. There is also a free press in Venezuela which ranges from anarchism to the right wing vitriolic press. There is freeedom of speech unprecidented in the western world with no censorship of expression excepting racism of course. He is using record oil revenues to eliminate poverty through the creation of co-operatives and the extension of housing, education, health care, and land reform to the masses. He has increased the role of the state in the economy by using exchange controls, price controls and controls on banking to regulate the economy and not leave it to the mercies of the market place. He has stopped privatisation of state assets such as oil, social security, water, steel, aluminium, electricity, etc and has created state enterprises such as cement, national airline, food distribution companies, cotton, textiles, diamond mining, supermarkets, construction, shipyards, and paper and pulp. He has also nationalised bankrupt enterprises such as a paper factory, a oil valve factory, a sugar mill, a steel plant, and a tomato plant, with many more expropriations in the pipeline. He has redistributed thousands of hectares of state and private land to poor families who are now creating agricultural co-ops. He has spend billions on roads, railways, building hydroelectric plants, power plants, houses, brickworks, and bridges. He has raised the banner of socialism in venezuela and has condemmed not only imperialism but also capitalism which he has called the kiss of death. Internationally he has sent subsidised heating oil to poor communties in the united states such as the indian tribes, and poor communities in the bronx, and boston, as well as the carribbean countries like jamaica, and central america, and forged close alliances with Cuba, and Bolivia. There remains many problems such as crime and homelessness corruption and bureacracy but stuffs getting better although not for the rich i don't die but for the poor certainly. So seb stop peddling your bullshit on Chavez and face facts mate he is succeding despite your fantasies.

P.s Livingstone is a shit though

Steven

Steven

Good point Colin

12.05.2006 22:23

I'd been expecting to go along to see Chavez at Friends Meeting House on Monday night until I found Livingstone was cooking dinner for him so he wouldn't be there...

Then I see he's at Camden Centre on Sunday so, as a journo I ring the GLA Press Office to be told they can't deal with it, it's the Mayor's gig and I have to ring his Press Office instead.

All 10 of them are on voicemail, and when finally get through to the PO responsible he tells me there 's no room for press or photographers. (Except of course the Ken friendly specials...)

Frankly, Chavez is more important than Livingstone (duh), and I'm also incensed by the hijacking of this visit. I really think he should have been offered a platform to speak to his friends and supporters in this country.

mini mouse

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Chavez the dictator

12.05.2006 16:16

Don't celebrate the arival of another dictator to London

(A) Sab

Chavez the dictator

12.05.2006 16:19

Don't celebrate the arival of another dictator to London. Chavez is starting a process that if sucessful would make him leader of Venezuela for the next 25 years without elections. More proof (as if we need it) that power corrupts, and wielding it can turn the best of us into power hungry dictators. Please don't let this turn into a re-run of the cold war, with thousands of 'socialists' hailing Stalin as a hero. Regocnise Chavez for what he is, just another power hungry politician.

No Gods, No Masters!

xx

(A) Sab

Give Him My Regards

12.05.2006 23:03

It's interesting to note the success in the highly-compromised corporate media's ability to demonize this leader, one of only a few who have dared to speak truth to power.

Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (www.fair.org) have documented this phenomenon in some great reports and studies, which can be found on their website.

It's also interesting to note that the people slinging ignorant Ad Hominems at this man are most often the first to defend the real dictatorial War Criminals like Bush and Bliar.

Media Demonization Noted

Not seeking 25 year rule

13.05.2006 12:24

Chavez is not seeking unelected rule for the next 25 years:

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1723

"A referendum would be about whether Chavez would be permitted to run every six years and --in the event that he were to continue winning elections-- serve multiple presidential terms."

It is not a referendum about giving him a blanket 25 year term.

Mr M

Welcome Chavez ... could you have a word with Livinstone for us?

13.05.2006 13:45

Welcome to the serially-elected Socialist president of Venezuela.

Your trip appears to have been hijacked by Livingstone & Co. I suspect that it is that strange effect in that immediate area of central London - that area where it is a serious organised crime to challenge the gross delusions of Planet Blair. The closer you get to Downing Street, the stronger the effect is. You may notice that it is particularly affecting John Reid at the moment.

It should be recognised that Ken Livingstone is fully a part of that delusional bullshit - he's there supporting his deranged and deluded glorious Fascist New Labour leader all the way. It is a strange contradictory position for him - claiming to be a socialist and supporting a fascist bigot. It leads him to all sorts of contradictory comprises e.g. supporting right-wing death squads on the streets of London. Yes, Livingstone fully supports both lying Bliars although he at first thought that it could have been some terrible maintenence tragedy.

Welcome to UK President Chavez. Whe're hoping to kick these bastards out rather sharpish.

dizzy.

dizzy
Homepage: http://blogs.cjb.net

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Welcoming President Hugo Chavez To London

Additions

Livingstone's disgrace

In chavez we trust

Good point Colin

Comments

Chavez the dictator

Chavez the dictator

Give Him My Regards

Not seeking 25 year rule

Welcome Chavez ... could you have a word with Livinstone for us?

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