PSUV activists meet to plan referendum campaign

The atmosphere was electric. A sea of red was on its feet singing, dancing, clapping, swaying and shouting to the rhythm of the music. The audience was being enthused awaiting the arrival of Chavez. Eleven to twelve thousand people were crammed into two thirds of the Poliedro in Caracas with the other third taken up by the staging and backdrop which held massive TV screens. The music played and we waited. It was now 6.30pm on Tuesday, November 6^th.  

The day had started at 2.30pm in Caraballeda in the state of Vargas. Our party boarded two old, rickety buses where the air conditioning consisted of open windows and doors. As the buses made their way to Caracas we were joined by others until we had a veritable caravan of the most militant members of the PSUV. 

On the journey the level of organisation was excellent as was the mood of the comrades. There were frequent stops for food and drinks, and to be given red shirts, caps and kneckerchiefs with the slogan SI, vote YES in the referendum on December 2^nd in favour of the proposals to change the constitution. Inside the buss we sweated and sang revolutionary songs and shouted slogans. The caravan made its way very slowly along roads that were filled with cars and buses belching out choking exhaust fumes. 

On arrival at the stadium we were given more food and drinks. Entry into the stadium itself was strictly controlled for two reasons. Firstly the threat to Chavez is very real. The oligarchy in Venezuela and US Imperialism have realised that one of the most effective ways from their point of view to try and halt the Bolivarian revolution would be to try and assassinate Chavez. Anything that cold be used as a weapon was confiscated, even biros.  

Secondly, only those who had been chosen to represent the base organizations, the battalions or Batasos (Batallones Socialistas) of the PSUV, the voceros or voceras principales (main spokespersons), the vocero or vocera substituyente (the replacement spokespeople) and the 5 comisionados (the people in charge of different areas of work inside the battalion of the PSUV) were to be allowed in. And of course there was me as an international observer of the Hands off Venezuela campaign.

And so we waited for the man himself to arrive. At about 6.45pm he entered the stadium and the place erupted. The red army clapped, cheered, whistled and shouted for their man, the man who embodies the hopes and aspirations of millions of ordinary Venezuelans who are not part of the oligarchy, the man who has delivered education, health, cheap food and raised the expectations of millions. 

Chavez talks of revolutionary socialism, of the importance of women in the struggle. The voceros, the spokespersons for the different geographical areas of the PSUV, represent hundreds of thousands who in turn represent millions in society. He tells the assembled throng that all attempts to stop the revolutionary process will fail due to the will of the people. The devil must be fought, the devil of capitalism, the devil of the traitors who have abandoned the struggle and gone over to the opposition, a clear reference to Baduel and the PODEMOS party. 

"Let the traitors be off," he cries, "because as each traitor leaves they will be replaced by tens of thousands." He then answers those who accuse him of preparing a coup with the constitutional changes. Those who accuse are the very same people who have been preparing a coup, working hand in hand with the oligarchy, since 1998, but they have been thwarted by the avalanche of the people. The people and the army, working hand in hand, will stop the golpistas (coup plotters) on the streets. 

Chavez knows very well that his success is due to the support that he receives from millions of ordinary people. The fact that he has won in eleven successive democratic contests is testimony to this. Yet it also has to be said that the people cannot be mobilized to turn out onto the streets like a tap being turned on and off. They need a programme, a strategy and a perspective that will complete the process of the revolution. In addition, the army at this moment in time is overwhelmingly on the side of Chavez, yet the recent calls of retired general Baduel for there to be an "echo" in the ranks of the Armed Forces to the proposed constitutional changes, basically a call on the AF (FAN - National Armed Forces) to intervene and prevent the referendum, should serve as a warning. Now should be the time to create Batasos in the ranks of the AF. Now should be the time to raise the issue of democratization of the AF with the election of officers and the right of recall. Now should be the time to raise the issue of removing the distinction between the AF and the armed people so that the AF is not seen as something separate and distinct from the people, and therefore beyond their control. The development of the 1-million strong force in workplaces all over Venezuela that is receiving military training is a first step along this road. In the last analysis, it must be remembered that although Venezuela is moving in the direction of socialism, it is still a capitalist country and the AF in any capitalist society exist to protect the interests of capitalism. As Chavez was talking, these were the thoughts going through my mind. 

And now Chavez comes to the details. What is extraordinary about this man is his ability to combine general ideas of socialism with minute facts, as well as involving ordinary people in the process so that everyone involved feels as if they have an important role to play. There are 5,750,000 people who have signed up to the PSUV. (This in itself is remarkable. Given that the population is 27 million and the age structure is mainly geared to the young, almost half of the adult population must be in the PSUV). Of this figure some 1,5 million are militants. IT IS NOW THE TASK OF THE MILITANTS TO GO TO THE OTHER 4.25 MILLIONS WHO ARE MEMBERS, BUT WHO DO NOT ATTEND MEETINGS, TO GET THEM OUT INTO ACTIVITY. On the mobilization of these will depend the result of the referendum on December 2^nd. As Chavez says the constitutional changes are necessary to deepen the revolution, "to establish a socialist democracy, to establish revolutionary socialism." When a head of state speaks like this, you can understand why the oligarchy and US Imperialism are worried for their interests.

Chavez reminds the audience that there are enemies out there that not only comprise the oligarchy, imperialism and political opponents but also abstentionism, people not turning out to vote. He declares that "the only way to end poverty is by ensuring that the poor have power in society." The proposed changes will transfer power to the people. Democratically controlled representative organizations in the different communities will have resources transferred to them as a way to end corruption and to bypass the state bureaucracy therefore creating separate organs of power, in effect dual power in society. 

Now comes the attack on the capitalists. Chavez states that many capitalists in the past did not invest their money in productive enterprises. They simply left their money in the bank to gain interest. Under socialism resources will be used to produce. People will control their own destiny as a way to end poverty. 

He finishes yet another mammoth session at 10pm with a final call to the assembled militants. A massive turnout on December 2^nd is in their hands. We must combat the enemy of Abstentionism. We must explain the meaning and importance of the reforms. Despite the time, the meeting ends with he same level of enthusiasm as it started. We slowly make our way back to the rickety old buses to make our way home, arriving at 12pm. What a day! 

The whole day was an experience not to be missed despite the fact that several visits to the "banos" were made during his talk because of Moctezuma´s revenge. This is one of the prices to be paid for being here! 

The proposed changes to the constitution have provoked a massive outcry in the ranks of the opposition. Right wing even proto-fascist students have been demonstrating on the streets as the oligarchy seeks to test the mood and the level of support for the changes. On Tuesday November 13^th the Chavista forces from the universities will take to the streets.  

Supporters of HoV should study the reforms in detail. They contain excellent proposals for changes in structures that will be closer to the needs of ordinary people and will be more democratic. They also emphasise the importance of social property over private property. While they lay down basic principles, they do not state how economic and social power will be taken out of the hands of the oligarchy, how the rich and powerful will be disempowered. As Chavez was speaking he mentioned a few times that it was not a question of taking power out of the hands of the oligarchy but rather of giving ordinary people more power. Statements like this create the illusion that power can be expanded ad infinitum. If one section in society is given more power, then it can only be at the expense of those who have power already. 

The same applies to the army. For a whole number of different reasons the Armed Forces are overwhelmingly with Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution. However it is still an organization that remains above the control of the people in society and therefore at some time in the not too distant future demands will have to be raised that democratize the armed forces so that it cannot be used against the revolution. Faith in the masses is important but so too is a programme that will not only defend the revolution but also take it forward to its conclusion. 

What a joy it is to be out here after having represented HoV in the UK over the past years. 

Darrall Cozens

Caracas

November 12^th 2007