Venezuela's example to the world: Privatisation should be reversed!

“The announcement by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that his government will take measures to reverse the policies of privatisation implemented before Chavez was elected in Venezuela sends a message that we do not have to simply accept privatisation and other free market policies that favour the rich over the poor”, said Fred Fuentes, national coordinator of the socialist youth organisation Resistance. “The massive victory in the December 3 presidential elections for Chavez show the strong resolve of the Venezuelan people to construct a socialist alternative, and this has significant implications for the poor and exploited all over the world.” Fuentes was commenting on the widely reported announcement by Chavez on January 8 that his government would move to nationalise the telecommunications company C.A. Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela (CANTV) as well as electrical companies that had been privatised by preceding governments. The announcement came as Chavez, swearing in his new cabinet, set out a series of measures aiming to empower the people and help construct a “new socialism of the 21st century”. Fuentes, who spent a number of months in 2005 in Venezuela as a correspondent for Green Left Weekly witnessing the revolutionary process firsthand, added: “The policies of the Chavez government involve the massive redistribution of Venezuela’s oil wealth to solve the problems of the poor majority. Even the World Bank has acknowledged these policies have led to a significant reduction in poverty. “Venezuela has shown that there is an alternative to free market policies that enrich the corporations at the expense of ordinary people, that socialism is a viable alternative. This is extremely inspiring for young people the world over who desperately want a different sort of world from one where the rich get richer while the rest of us get screwed.” Fuentes said: “Resistance believes that Venezuela is setting an example that should be followed here in Australia. If Venezuela can reverse the privatisation of strategic industries, then why not do the same in Australia with previously state-owned companies that have been flogged off by both Labor and Liberal governments? “Venezuela is proving that democracy and socialism can, and must, go hand in hand. Unlike most politicians, Chavez is actually fulfilling the platform he was elected on. Chavez won 63% in the December 3 vote, with international observers such as the European Union, the Organization of American States and the Carter Center, declaring the result legitimate. Pro-Chavez forces have now won 11 straight national elections. A new constituent assembly will be elected to discuss reforms to the constitution, and the government plans to extend the grassroots communal councils that are directly involving the people in decision making.” Fuentes also said Resistance would offer solidarity to Venezuela in the event of any attack on Venezuelan sovereignty by the US government, which backed the failed military coup against Chavez in 2002. “US corporate interests stand to lose out from the plan to reverse privatisation in Venezuela. The occupation of Iraq shows how far the US government is willing to go on behalf of the interests of US corporations. We call for the US government to respect the will of the Venezuelan people to choose their own government and system. We call on the Australian government to do the same.” Fuentes explained that Resistance was supporting the “Chavez not Bush” sign on invitation letter initiated by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network asking Chavez to travel to Australia this year to explain the gains of the revolution. Fuentes added that Resistance would continue to organise young people from Australia to visit Venezuela in order to study the revolution and what lessons it holds for building a better Australia.