The artillery of ideas

Friday, March 8, 2013

| Solidarity

How Chavez inspired the world

T/ Ryan Mallettouttrim P/ AFP

ts not just Latin America that has lost an icon. The passing of President Hugo Chavez marks an end to a life that touched politicians, grassroots activists, trade unionists and journalists the world over. From UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to independence ghters in Palestine and Western Sahara, condolences and expressions of admiration are in no short supply. President [Hugo] Chavez spoke to the challenges and aspirations of the most vulnerable Venezuelans, read a statement from the ofce of the UN Secretary-General. In Western Sahara, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) called a day of mourning on Wednesday. SADR currently administers approximately 20% of the Western Saharan territory, a region often referred to as Africas last colony. Morocco occupies the rest of Western Sahara, despite persistent African Union demands for decolonization. Chavez spoke out in support of SADR on numerous occasions during his 14 years as President, and increased aid to the 100,000 Sahrawi refugees living on the Algerian border. President of the Sahrawi Journalists and Writers Union told Correo del Orinoco the news of his death came as a real shock. We [the Sahrawi] have a deep appreciation for Hugo Chavez because he was a man with very high integrity, a man that has the courage to stand to oppression, to the arrogance

of the West... [a] man who had the courage to stand by the oppressed everywhere. As a Saharawi, I am of course very proud that he clearly supported the struggle of my people, and I think that the fact that he passed away while still ghting is a great message to everyone to stand by the right struggles no matter what. On Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also described Chavez as a great leader who fought for a better world, according to Israeli daily Haaretz. With the passing of our brother and comrade Chavez, all the patriots ghting for their freedom have lost a great leader, who fought for a better world, clean of oppression and colonialism. Meanwhile in Iran, state media declared a day of mourning and in Sydney, Australia, supporters gathered to grieve a few hours after the news broke. Jim McIloy of the AustraliaVenezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN) attended the gathering.

He told Correo del Orinoco, Many speakers addressed the crowd and hailed the signicance of Chavez and his.. role in uniting Latin American according to the dream of Simon Bolivar 200 years ago. Other rallies are being held in cities across the country in coming days. Chavez was a great leader of Venezuela, of Latin America and of the world. He [was] an outstanding gure for the international progressive movement, because he put the idea of socialism back on the agenda of world politics, in a period of the ascendancy of capitalist neoliberalism. I...personally met Chavez on one occasion, and can testify to the great love he felt for the Venezuelan people, and their great love for him in return. His legacy is one of commitment to the social improvement and empowerment of the common people of Venezuela, of Latin America and of the world. I [also] lived in Venezuela for a several periods, and helped

organize solidarity brigades on behalf of the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN), which introduced scores of Australians and others to the reality of the Venezuelan revolution: the social missions, the communal councils and communes, the unions, the co-operatives and other peoples organizations of the revolution. One brigadista that traveled with McIlroy last year was Dennis Rogatyuk, who told Correo del Orinoco, I rst saw Chavez when he arrived to cast a vote in the presidential elections of last year...[t]he love that the people had for him could only be matched by the love that he himself had for them. Stuart Munckton, international editor of the independent newspaper, Green Left Weekly, also attended the gathering. The signicance of Hugo Chavez can not be overstated, he afrmed. He gave real leadership and voice to the people - not just in Venezuela but everywhere. UK based newspaper, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! correspondent on Venezuela Sam McGill echoed similar statements. From London, McGill told Correo del Orinoco that, I had the privilege of seeing Chavez speak several times... [G]reat revolutionaries like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro has given me all the inspiration, determination and resolve I need to dedicate my life to socialist revolution here in Britain. Within hours of Chavezs passing, the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) also issued a statement, in which the partys National President Vinnie Mo-

lina describing him as an inspirational gure. CPA State Secretary of South Australia Bob Briton said that Chavezs passing was a sad day for all progressive people. I had the privilege of visiting Caracas in 2006...[and] was amazed to see the effect the Bolivarian revolution had on my Venezuelan comrades. I hadnt seen optimism or energy like this for a very long time on the left. Elsewhere in the Asia/ Pacic region, the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) also expressed its deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela, Latin America and all who supported the Bolivarian Revolution. According to a press release on March 7, Comrade Chavez [was] a visionary... [and the] Bolivarian Revolution has captured the imagination of many people, including us in PSM, that another world is possible. Although these individuals and organizations come from all corners of the world, they are united by the common goal of socialism in the 21st Century. Chavez embodied the hopes of millions, and represented a better future, free from exploitation and imperialist aggression. Even as Venezuela commemorates the life of a great leader, for his admirers all over the world Chavez is far from dead. That sort of dedication doesnt die with a person, said Briton. Chavez lives in each and all of us... this rings just as true outside Venezuelas borders as within them, Mcgill said. Long Live Hugo Chavez! Long Live the Bolivarian Revolution!