Chavez calls for defeat of recall referendum

Javier Rodrigue

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that in the forthcoming 
presidential referendum — which he described as "reaffirmative" 
— the Bolivarians would defeat the plan to hand over the 
country; a plan that is being directed by the opposition and 
their foreign masters.

The head of state was speaking to a huge contingent of hundreds 
of thousands of people who filled the spacious Avenida Bolmvar — 
an eight-lane highway linking the centre of the capital with the 
east — to demonstrate their support for the leader.

Chavez specified that the Venezuelan oligarchy — a traitor to 
Simsn Bolmvar's dream — is attempting to take over control of 
Venezuela's oil in league with its masters in the US, but will 
never be able to do so because now, and in the future, that 
resource will continue to be the heritage of the nation.

He announced that he intends to lead the campaign for victory in 
the August referendum, at the head of a group known as Maisanta, 
in memory of General Pedro Pirez Delgado, a hero of the 
independence struggle.

He called for major organisational efforts at base level and, at 
the same time, the formation of commands within neighbourhoods 
and blocks so as to ensure that no one is left out of this battle 
in which the people will once again demonstrate how history is 
written.

"The democracy of the elite is over in Venezuela, as is 
appeasement and anti-patriotism, and I call on everyone to strive 
with all their will and effort to attain a victory, as we will 
not permit them to rob us of the future and the dream of our new 
homeland", the President stated.

He praised the increase in popular organisation that is driving 
the movement underway — a movement aimed at achieving victory at 
the next people's referendum — arousing the enthusiasm of those 
present, a veritable human river of red berets and flags that 
marched several kilometres from three different points in the 
capital.

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Granma