Venezuelan Coup Documentary, Commentary on Anti-War Marches

["D OC" <donaloc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A chairde,

For those able to get RTE1 - the documentary on the failed US-coup in
Venezuala is being shown on RTE1, Tuesday 18 February at 22.10-23.20 hrs -
True Lives: Chavez - Inside the Coup. (Kim Bartley, Donncha Ó Briain)

This appears to be the same documentary I posted about at the time of the
coup so will contain all that 'inside' footage e.g. proof that firing was
directed at Chavistas rather than from them. I will try to get people to
record it all around maybe then we can mail out to those with PAL capacity.
> From the volume of emails at the time, I realise that there was serious
interest in getting this video - please can people forward notice that it's
now available as before.

Perhaps those with influence or the ability could push their own local TV
stations to buy the license to show elsewhere. I wouldn't imagine that it
would be very costly - an indie production for RTE.

The Feb 15th Demo in Dublin was very refreshing. Great to see everyone
together on this. Good to see some Labour banners too - Michael D. Higgins
no doubt embarrassed Pat Rabbitte and the new leadership. The Ogra SF
(Youth) banners hanging down the buildings was a nice touch. Reminded me of
the student protests in Ya Cuba/Soi Cuba. The scale of Republican turnout
could not be challenged this time! I had to laugh at complaints on Irish
Indymedia about SF 'hypocrites' taking over an antiwar march! Clearly, there
will always be a few whiners.

Overall, we had a great mix of people attending - we could have filled two
buses from County Leitrim alone - half way there we had to organise cars and
minibuses to carry the excess. We had a mix of republican farmers, neo-agers
(a samba band) and leftie intellectuals. Garda presence was laid back but
they were filming heavily from overhead helicopters (which didn't fail but
to get the crowd stirred up). Very enthused by the large number of
Irish-speaking protestors, almost the best bit of the march for me.

I only heard the muffles of the original speeches - poor amplification, I
was only a couple of hundred feet away from them. The end speeches were
inaudible although we heard the roars of the crowd - it took us another 10
minutes to reach the end of the march. By the time we had finished, there
were still others in O'Connell street behind us. So a massive turnout - even
the Garda admitted to 100,000. It might have been slightly bigger.

Glad to have met (all too briefly) Paul Moloney (fellow of marxmail) but
missed John O'Neill both with the Irish Socialist network group. I saw their
banner and just went over.

The story in Belfast was 25,000 marching - which is large enough, I guess.
Unfortunately the Union leadership (who took on its organisation) did not
want any political representatives at the march - apparently and from good
sources, they are concerned with ensuring the retention of their 'loyalist'
membership. Otherwise, the march should have been addressed by Sinn Fein and
possibly the SDLP. I think it was a mistake by the TU leadership to pander
to sectarianism in this way although I think most Republicans would be happy
to give them a little lea-way in recognition of the huge social and
political crisis which is occuring within working-class Protestant areas.

The question for me was, where to from here? No doubt with a war starting
soon, we will see more protests. They will undoubtedly become more
'contentious' as the US/UK and Irish Govts (and all others signed up to this
war) become more susceptible to criticism. I think what we saw in NYC and
that which was threatened in London is a sign of things to come. The fact
that the Brit Govt backed down in London is a sign of their weakness and the
very serious splits in Labour. There are already rumours of a leadership
challenge within that party from their weekend conference - something which
would have serious importance for the future of the labour party and British
politics generally. Many I know are following these events closely as they
might have big implications for the progression of the peace process in
Ireland also.

Those within the 'belly of the beast' in the US and those facing nuclear
oblivion in Iraq should no doubt take succour from the mass demonstrations
of worldwide solidarity. However, the restrictions such as those imposed in
NYC will only get tighter with time and as the war progresses. This will
produce its own contradictions - such as broader radicalisation, as Louis
noted. The key issue then is how to attempt to charter a course towards
undermining the power of the permanent US Govt (i.e. ruling class) and
simulaneously advance something of a popular opposition. Are there any ideas
about this from the US comrades?

At the same time, I note that the scale of the US demonstrations were
smaller than those in Europe and elsewhere. I also note that most
non-radicalised US voices I have heard are quite unremittingly aggressive
and self-righteous. It appears that it will be a difficult piece of work to
slowly carve away at the support-base for war in the US. I think perhaps the
enormity of the task could be seen by noting the unity of both establishment
parties for war. The task of building opposition to this war is congruent,
although clearly not sufficient, with overthrowing the US bourgeoisie
itself. Once people go on those marches their blind faith and adherence to
US democracy will be shattered - hence, their importance to us now. I am
sorry that the US SWP does not recognise this. All the same, undermining
faith in the US ruling class and its discourse needs to be complemented
(eventually) with a strategy to demand meaningful democracy and to advance
to state power.

DOC








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