Is there an alternative to the leftist wave in South America?

A conversation with Venezuelan anti-Chavez activists Angela Sposito,
Joaquin Ortega, Yessenia Rincon

Hugo Chavez, usually described as a left populist, does not refrain from
using the classic tool of dictatorships: repression. What is the price?
of the anti-populist resistance? Could we envision the alternative on the base of anti-Chavez protests, will be the main questions for the discussions with the students representatives of ant-Chavez movements which started constantly protesting against his policy in spite of the victims. Could we envision the leftist wing of South America trough the profile of Hugo Chavez staring with his revolutionary promises and going to his repression practice nowadays?
Is Chavez indicative for what kind of dictatorship could be created under the leftist revolutionary imagination? Is this the only type of leftism for South America? What are the forms and price for resistance and for fighting for true liberty in the “red” America?

The current President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez started his political career with the Bolivarian Revolution and with founding of the left-wing Fifth Republic Movement. During the elections for his first presidency in 1998, Chavez promoted a democratic socialism political doctrine to help poor majority, Latin American integration, and anti-imperialism. He is also a critic of neoliberalism and globalization and United States foreign policy. Soon after he started to promote so called alternative models of economic development including huge nationalization, problems for export of petroleum for US, punishments for farmers and rising deficits in the economy.

Nowadays Chavez has a long record of nationalization acts, constitution changes, announcements that Venezuela would be formally pulling out of the IMF and the World Bank.

The most shocking for the society was his act against the media inside Venezuela.
In May 2007 the Chavez government refused to renew license of the nation's most popular television station, alleging the company participated in the 2002 coup d'etat against him. This led to many, prolonged protests in Caracas.
This was a clear demonstration of how one state leader could divide the society as far as tens of other thousands have marched through Caracas to support President Chavez’s decision.
On August 15, 2007, Chavez called for an end to presidential term limits. He also proposed limiting central bank autonomy, strengthening state expropriation powers and providing for public control over international reserves as part of an overhaul of Venezuela's constitution.
The final test was a December 2, 2007 referendum. On November 1, 2007, a massive protest was staged in Caracas, led by many Venezuelan students, calling on the National Electoral Council in Caracas to postpone the referendum on the proposed constitutional reforms. Chavistas holding a demonstration in support of the reforms clashed with the protesters and the scene turned violent, prompting police action. Since that time, President Chavez has undergone criticism from the global community for what is considered to be an excess usage of police action. The President denounced the opposition protest as resorting to "fascist violence" on November 9, 2007.

On December 2, 2007, the referendum was defeated, with 51% of the voters rejecting the amendments proposed by Chavez.
After the referendum, Chavez stated that he would step down at the end of his second term in 2013.

Chavez has been accused of concentrating power of judicial and legislative branches. The leading business daily of Argentina, Ambito Financiero, described Venezuela under Chavez in 2007 as having a "nationalized economy, out-of-control spending, government by decree, and perpetual re-election.” The daily also compared Chavez to King Louis XIV of France, stating his 2007 inauguration would mark "a concentration of power without precedent in Venezuela".

More informtaion for the participants
Angela Sposito (Caracas, 1987)
Psychology student, youth activist for human rights and democracy. She has been developed as a teacher in high school and in the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) with the elective subjects: Human Rights in Venezuela, Promoters in sexual and reproductive health, facilitators of learning. General Director of the Foundation Kambare, Venezuela Spokesperson for Youth for Human Rights International, member of the National Observatory of Human Rights and the National Observatory of Prisons, President of the Student Center of UCV. Participates in the organization and structure of youth nationwide in center democratics political parties, as AD, COPEI and platform of social encounter and since may 2007 in the Venezuelan parliament of youth and students. She lives in Caracas.

Joaquin Ortega (Caracas, 1969)
Graduate in political science, PHD student in political siente at Central University of Venezuela (UCV), writer and producer of radio and TV. He has served as a university professor, writer, storyteller, scriptwriter and broadcaster. His writings cover different genres: academic, literary and humorous in radio and tv (RCTV, Discovery). He has worked in the public and in private area. He is Professor of Political Theory at the School of Political and Administrative Studies at the Central University of Venezuela since 1997. He is Director of the commission of human capital of the municipal council of Chacao and develops the political topic of the platform of social encounter (one of the center democratic political parties in Venezuela). He lives in Caracas.

Yesenia Rincon (Maracaibo, 1983)
Psychology student and activist for human rights and democracy. He studied at the university Rafael Belloso Chacin (URBE) in the state of Zulia, she was president of the centre students of URBE 2005-2006, currently extended studies at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), is member of the student center of the UCV, national coordinator of the School for Democracy and the School for Parents of Kambare Foundation and Dycvensa C.A., since May 2007 participates in the national coordination of youth protests (Have been more than 1.200 protest since may 2007 to december 2007). She lives in San Antonio.

February 26 (Tuesday) 2008, 6.00 p.m.
Pesha Nikolova Hall
Tickets: 2/1 BGN

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