[Marxism] From ANSWER: Tell Congress no interference in Venezuela!

["Eli Stephens" <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Forwarded from an ANSWER email; the complete text and links can also be
found here:
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=7543

U.S. continues to violate Venezuela's revolutionary democratic process 
Tell Congress "No" to belligerent anti-Venezuela legislation

Send an urgent message to Congress:

Stop interfering in Venezuela's democratic process!
No to H. Con Resolution 328!

We are urging all supporters and activists who have marched with the
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition to take action today and tomorrow to show grassroots
opposition to a pending resolution in Congress that, if passed, will
escalate the efforts by U.S. imperialism to thwart the revolutionary
democratic process underway in Venezuela.

We have made available our easy-to-use mechanism that allows you to
instantly send an email communication to members of the House and Senate
demanding that they vote NO on H. Con Resolution 328. This is an act of
solidarity with the 80% of Venezuela?s people who live in poverty and are
struggling to carry out a profound social and economic transformation for
the benefit of the people.

To send a letter today, go here:
http://answer.pephost.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=163

Join us in demanding that Congress reject the misleading and belligerent
H.Con. Resolution 328, which condemns the Venezuelan democratic process. The
resolution, which will be put before the House Subcommittee on the Western
Hemisphere on Thursday, March 16 recommends funding Venezuela?s so-called
opposition, who are the politically defeated forces representing the
ultra-rich elite. This resolution is in clear violation of Venezuela?s right
to self-determination.

H. Con Resolution 328 is an act of disinformation. It is propaganda designed
to serve as a pretext for U.S. intervention in Venezuela. Among its many
inaccuracies and myths:

* The resolution suggests that the changes in the Venezuelan constitution
were made by executive decree. In fact, the constitution was remade in a
thoroughly democratic process involving all sectors of Venezuelan society.

* The resolution suggests that the August 2004 referendum was an effort by
Chavez to stifle democracy. In fact, the referendum was triggered by a tiny
elite made up of the old financial oligarchy and ruling class and it was
thoroughly defeated by the majority of the Venezuelan people.

* The resolution suggests that the Venezuelan government has committed some
crime by purchasing weapons. In fact, the Venezuelan people have the right
to defend themselves and their democracy. The Venezuelan democratic process
has already been violently subverted once  in a U.S.-backed coup. The U.S.
has the largest stockpile of weapons  including nuclear weapons  ever known
to humanity, and has consistently threatened Venezuela.

* The resolution suggests that the recent Constitutional elections forced
out pro-U.S. political parties. In fact, those so-called opposition forces,
representing the old elites boycotted the election because they expected to
be handily defeated. Every popular election has become an embarrassment to
the U.S.-backed political forces.

Hugo Chávez was elected in 1998, and reelected in 2000. Basing his
government on the aspirations of the 80 percent of Venezuelans who live in
poverty, Chávez led the effort to rewrite the country?s constitution and
reshape its political structures in a more democratic way. For the first
time, ordinary Venezuelans had access to the political system under which
they lived.

As the poor and working people try to bring about a new democratic Venezuela
they are confronting more than just Venezuela's corporations and a
reactionary middle class. U.S. imperialism itself is the most formidable
"opposition." Washington has never respected an election or government it
didn't control. Chávez's support from the people has been recorded in eight
different referendums since first being elected president in 1998. In each
of these challenges, he has received around 60 percent of the vote.

It is essential that we intensify the effort to stay the hand of the Bush
Administration and Congress as they prepare to carry out ?regime change? in
Venezuela. The unfolding revolution in Venezuela, the recent election in
Bolivia, the steadfastness of the Cuban people has helped spark a growing
progressive shift throughout Latin America. This is a movement that
represents the hope of the future. 

Show your solidarity. Send a letter to Congress today. We have prepared a
letter which you can use in full or in part and you can customize your own
letter if you desire. 



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