[Marxism] Venezuelans participate in a ``festival of Democracy''

[Roberto Jorquera <robertojorquera@xxxxxxxxx>]

Venezuelans participate in a ``festival
of Democracy''

By Roberto Jorquera





From 3am on December 2 Venezuelans
where awoken with the traditional bugal wake up call. By  5am in the
morning hundreds had already gathered at Plaza Sucre in Catia and
Plaza Venezuela in Sabana Grande preparing themselves to attend the
opening of the polling booths at 6am. The CNE ( National Electoral
Council) made it clear that the booths would remain open if a cue
still existed at polling booths at the scheduled closing time of 4pm.
The CNE also stated that it would open 54% of the ballot boxes after
the elections to confirm if they coincide with the electronic vote.
The CNE said that there where 33,000 voting stations throughout the
country.





The opposition campaigned hard against
the reforms particularly led by sections of university students and
numerous mobilisations against the proposed changes where organised
in the lead up to the referendum. However on the day student leaders
in the opposition camp held a press conference at 2pm in the
afternoon calling on all Venezuelans to use the last two hours of
voting to exercise their democratic right and head to the polling
stations.

 


Freddy Guevara at the student press
conference called on all Venezuelans to vote. ``We have the
opportunity to change the future so we need to participate in this
vote''.``A new future is coming and we can be part of that if we
vote'', said Guevara.





Another student leader representing the
opposition camp Stalin Gonzalez said, `` We should be alert and make
sure that our vote has been recorded.``The main task is to make sure
that we use the remaining time to vote'', said Gonzalez.





Globovision the main anti government
television station that has run a relentless campaign against the
proposed constitutional changes reported throughout their coverage
that the process had been very calm and very quick in the
overwhelming majority of cases. Globovision and other TV networks
reported minor incidents such as the ability of voters to erase the
ink from their finger after they had voted and that the ink on the
ballot paper in one booth was able to be erased very easily.
Globovision however reported that the incidents where minor in the
whole scheme of things. Though a series of minor incidents where
reported by Globovision they called on all Venezuelans to exercise
their right to vote.  






Due to many rumors of potential
instability during the referendum process and a discovered CIA
sponsored plan to destabalise the political situation in Venezuela in
the lead up to the vote the Venezuelan government implemented ``Plan
Republic''. The Plan's main aim was to guarantee security during the
electoral process particularly securing all oil installations and
voting stations under military control. After casting his vote
Gustavo Rangel Briceno Minister of Popular Power for Defence said,
``The armed forces are part of the people. Plan Republic began 3
months ago. Today we will be on the streets to guarantee peace. I
cant see that we are going to have any problems''. The Minister of
Popular Power for Energy and Petrol Rafael Ranirez said,`` All
sectors of the petrol and energy industry have continued to function
normally''.





Venezuelans where asked to vote yes or
no on proposed changes to the constitution divided up into two
sections. One set of proposed changes was presented by Hugo Chavez
and the other by the National Assembly both of which went through a
large consultation process. Tens of thousands of community meetings
where organised amongst the population to discuss the proposed
changes before their final ratification by the National Assembly.





Throughout the day Venezuela was turned
into a ``democratic festival of the people''. TV stations began
encouraging people to go out and vote, beginning their broadcasts
from 3am. Vive TV stated. ``We need to defend our democracy by making
sure that you vote yes or no''





President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez
Frias voted at the Robinsoniana Technical School Manuel Palacio
Fajardo in the 23 de Enero Barrio. While there he said,``All
Venezuelans of voting age have become experts in this process,
because never before has there been so many votes then in the past
few years of this democratic revolution''. ``I am very satisfied with
what has happened today. It has been filled with happiness and
popular participation, filled with this democratic spirit which every
day becomes more prominent in Venezuela, said Chavez''.





Chavez said, ``The process of voting is
very quick and easy. I am confident that everything will proceed
without problems. We will accept the results no matter what they are.
This process has been a gain for democracy in Venezuela. Everyone has
the right to express themselves even if it is done crudely
sometimes''. ``For most of Venezuela's history the people have been
isolated from the political process. Here popular power will have its
say. All sides need to respect the decision so that we can continue
to live in peace'', said Chavez.

 
Chavez also thanked all the
international observers that had witnessed the referendum which
represented over 50 countries. ``You can tell the truth, this is a
democratic country where people express themselves peacefully and
with happiness.




Mayor of Caracas Freddy Bernal stated
after he voted , ``I traveled throughout the region of Caracas and
saw that the voting has been normal even though some are still
calling for demonstrations and confrontations''. Jose Vincente Rangel
ex Vice President of Venezuela said, ``We can say that the elections
have been held under total normality.





During a press conference held in the
afternoon before the booths had been closed CNE representative Sandra
 Oblitas said`` The elections have been held under total normality.
Technical problems have been attended to. If anyone is still in the
cue to vote at 4pm the voting stations will remain open to allow
every person to vote''.





      ______________________________________________ 
ÂEn Madrid por primera vez?
Aprovecha el conocimiento de mÃs de 2 millones de personas
http://es.answers.yahoo.com/info/welcome
________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism