The US and Hugo Chavez

[Intifada]

I would appreciate it if some users could provide evidence of the involvement of the US in attempts to overthrow Chavez.

[rahul]

I spoke to marxist student leader who returned from Venezula on last friday from a student festival.

he says that they were given max protection on an account of threat from CIA.

[patria grande]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2005, 09:17 PM
I would appreciate it if some users could provide evidence of the involvement of the US in attempts to overthrow Chavez.
the proof is in the CIA documents:

http://www.venezuelafoia.info/english.html

[谢梓唯]

>>the proof is in the CIA documents:<<
Probably&#33; And American people have no way to find what&#39;s happening out there till some brave fearless journalist or"deep throat" let out the secret. For instance, the "Water Gate".

I hope they somehow perceive that their democratic system which they are so proud of is not universal or perfect , that it&#39;s not wise to criticize others when he himself has problems back at their home.

I hope their government stops imposing the American-style Democracy and get a real life.

[Holocaustpulp]

Much information can be found at www.venezuelanalysis.com ; www.marxist.com ; and www.handsoffvenezuela.org . I can tell you though that the US backed the 2002 coup attempt that tried to oust Chavez, has supported rich dissidents in Venezuela by funding them to call for referendum elections, and lastly supported the bosses&#39; walkout in 2002, after the coup attempt. The details are these sites.

- HP

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

And they&#39;re supporting the opposition now, sending million dollars through some organization called "movement for democracy" or something along those lines.

[Intifada]

Thanks for the replies.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

The group is Sumate, and they are funded by the U.S. Gov funded N.E.D. - "National Endowment for Democracy"

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan activists facing trial for receiving money from a U.S.-financed organization to promote a vote last year against President Hugo Chavez have gotten the group&#39;s approval for additional funding, representatives said on Wednesday.

A Venezuelan judge last month ordered four members of the Sumate civil association -- which backed the 2004 referendum against Chavez -- tried for conspiracy after they received a grant last year from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The endowment is a nongovernmental organization funded by the U.S. Congress to promote democracy internationally.

New Sumate financing could fuel already tense relations between Washington and Chavez, an ally of Cuba&#39;s
Fidel Castro who often clashes with U.S. officials over his self-proclaimed socialist revolution in oil exporter Venezuela.

Chavez brands Sumate traitors, while opposition leaders and some U.S. officials say the group has been targeted in a political witch hunt against critics of the former army soldier turned president.

Sumate has been cleared for a &#036;107,200 grant from the NED, financing which will go toward a civil-rights and election education campaign, Sumate and the NED said.

"What we are doing is within the framework of the law, and does not violate any regulation. But of course we know that the case against us is political in character," Sumate representative Roberto Abdul told Reuters.

The grant, which will help to "strengthen the democratic process in Venezuela" is approved but in the final stages of being signed, NED spokeswoman Jane Riley Jacobsen said.

Earlier this year, a Sumate leader, Maria Corina Machada, held talks with U.S.
President George W. Bush in the White House. The Venezuelan government slammed the meeting as a provocation.

The Sumate members face up to 16 years in prison if they are convicted. No date has been set for their trial.

Sumate had previously received a &#036;31,000 grant from NED. Chavez has lambasted the endowment for backing opponents trying to unseat him.

Last month, U.S. Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), an Arizona Republican, wrote to Chavez asking him to stop the prosecution of the four Sumate activists in a letter describing the prosecution as a "grave threat to democracy" in Venezuela.

Chavez, an ex-army paratrooper elected in 1998 vowing to combat poverty, often accuses Washington of trying to topple him and backing a 2002 coup which he survived. He won the August 2004 referendum, although opponents complained about fraud, a charge international observers did not support.

U.S. officials reject Chavez&#39;s plot charges, but they portray him as an authoritarian who undermines democracy at home and destabilizes the region by promoting "new socialist" ideas.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/n...ela_funds1_dc_1 (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050914/wl_nm/venezuela_funds1_dc_1)