Chavez
takes center stage at anti-globalization forum
AFP/Andrew
Alvarez
World Social Forum : A man passes by a graffiti related
to the World Social Forum that will take place 24-29 January,
in downtown Caracas.
By
Patrick Moser
AFP
LA
PAZ
Petroleumworld.com 01 24 06
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez this week hosts a massive anti-globalization
gathering that will throw the spotlight on the leftist revolution
in his oil-rich but poverty-stricken country.
A flamboyant former paratrooper who cherishes controversy, Chavez
will take center-stage during the January 24 to 29 World Social
Forum in Caracas, which organizers say should draw more than 100,000
participants.
The Venezuelan leader is expected to use the attention to expound
his vision of the "Bolivarian" revolution, named after
19th century South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.
Hosting the gathering, "fits in very well with his political
protagonism, he sees himself as a global leader," says Michael
Shifter of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think-tank.
"He puts on a terrific show. The bigger the stage, the happier
he is."
The annual WSF is designed as a counterpoint to the World Economic
Forum of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.
The African chapter of the social forum was held in Mali last
week, and a similar gathering is planned in Pakistan.
"Caracas will clearly be a more political forum than the
others, because of the personality of President Chavez, and because
the entire region is shifting to the left," said Candido
Grzybowski, one of the organizers.
Chavez has said that the choice of Caracas as a venue reflected
his government's contribution to "the international impact"
of his revolution.
The emergence of leftist leaders in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil
and Uruguay has boosted Chavez's clout in Latin America, and elections
in Peru and Mexico later this year could further distance the
region politically from Washington.
And, much to Washington's chagrin, Chavez looks well placed to
win yet another term in December elections.
Chavez led a failed coup attempt in 1992, won an election in 1998
and has been a thorn in the side of the United States ever since.
Washington accuses the former colonel of destabilizing the region,
and this month prevented Spain from selling 12 warplanes to Venezuela.
But despite the political differences, the United States is the
main importer of Venezuelan oil, buying 1.5 million barrels a
day.
It is largely thanks to high oil prices that Chavez, has been
able to finance his revolution and provide cheap housing, free
health care and better education.
In a major public relations coup, he has also offered cheap heating
oil to needy Americans in the New York Bronx and other areas of
the eastern United States.
"With oil at 60 dollars a barrel, he has a unique oportunity
to spread his influence," says Peter Schechter, a Washington-based
political consultant who specializes in Latin America.
When Chavez addresses the WSF on Wednesday he is likely to outline
some of his strategies to eradicate poverty, which affects millions
of people in Venezuela despite the South American country's vast
oil wealth.
A number of analysts say the programs have achieved a measure
of success, but warn that Chavez has failed to implement the kind
of structural changes that would allow them to survive a drop
in global oil prices.
"Many Venezuelans think they are better off today than they
were yesterday, but the question is whether they think they'll
be better off tomorrow," said Schechter.
Chavez is also certain to discuss some of the main topics of the
forum, such as resistance to "imperial strategies" and
social emancipation, which coincide with the tenets of his leftist
revolution.
One of the organizers, Ernesto "Che" Mercado, insisted
the forum would not be a pro-Chavez event, but that participants
would discuss "the process of change that has been taking
place in Venezuela, or in other countries like Brazil or Bolivia."
Speculation is rife that Bolivia's newly elected Evo Morales and
Cuba's communist President Fidel Castro, might show up for the
event.
"The forum will be a meeting point for far-left leaders,"
said Alfonzo Marquina, a leader of the staunchly anti-Chavez Democratic
Action party.
As such, he said, "it would not be surprising if Fidel Castro
joined this meeting of the archaic left."
AFP
01 23 06
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