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MEXIDATA . INFO
Column 030606 Brewer
Monday, March 6, 2006
Venezuelan Pushing Latin America to Move Left By Jerry Brewer
President Alejandro Toledo of Peru recently said that hewants President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela to “respectPeru’s domestic affairs.” This amidst media speculationthat Chavez is granting illegal Peruvian immigrantsVenezuelan nationality if they commit to vote fornationalist candidateOllanta Humalain Peru’spresidential election in April. So is Chavez actually meddling in the affairs of his LatinAmerican neighbors? There is every reason to believeyes – even with his popular subterfuge of accusing theU.S. and the media for this and other deceptions. Bolivian PresidentEvo Moraleswasted no time on hisfirst stopover in Cuba just after his election lastDecember and prior to his inauguration. His secondstop was Venezuela, where he told people that Boliviawould join the anti-neoliberal and anti-imperialist block– noting that Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez championthe movement. Chavez commented that he would be discussingproposals with Morales made by Bolivia’s Movement forSocialism (MAS), including a “constituent assembly andstate law on productive lands.” Morales had beenactive with Chavez in previous international anti-imperialist, indigenous, and social events. Although Chavez has yet to save Venezuela from
poverty, corruption, crime, militarism, monopolisticcapitalism, and oil dependence, he has agreed to supplyBolivia with 150,000 barrels of diesel fuel per month,stating: “I will not accept payment from you of a cent.” Chavez said that Bolivia could pay in agriculturalproducts. Morales in turn has vowed to nationalize the country’soil and gas reserves, while Chavez has used cheap oildeals to increase his influence in the region, strikingagreements with several countries. The anti-imperialistcard is a good subterfuge to camouflage Chavez’sfailures at home and few social democraticaccomplishments. Mexico has not been immune from Chavez’smanipulation and wrath. His calling President VicenteFox a puppy dog of U.S. imperialism, for backing U.S.trade policies at the recent Summit of the Americas inArgentina, ultimately led to both countries recallingtheir ambassadors. In what is becoming frequent aggressive bullyingdialogue by Chavez, he told Fox, “Don’t mess with mesir, or you will get stung.” He also directed similarcomments to Secretary of State Condoleezza Ricerecently, whereas Rice described Chavez as a negativeforce attempting to influence neighboring countriesaway from democratic processes. The United States has accused Chavez of being linkedto the ongoing political crisis in Nicaragua involving aU.S. ally, President Enrique Bolaños. The accusationshave included Chavez meddling by “riling up people” tovote against U.S. backed democratic candidates inUruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia, among others. Former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda urgedFox to “completely break” relations with Venezuela,stating “Chavez is orchestrating a campaign throughoutLatin America to interfere in the elections in Mexico,Nicaragua, Colombia, and Bolivia.” Presidential candidates in Mexico were also quick topoint a finger. Roberto Madrazo accused AndresManuel Lopez Obrador of being in contact with Chavezaides, claiming Chavez was trying to “influence theupcoming elections.” Mexico also accused Cuba of meddling in its internal affairs last year, sending theCuban ambassador home. Peru recalled its ambassador from Venezuela recentlydue to open support by Chavez for Presidential
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