HOV Belgium takes an initiative for united action to defend revolutions in Bolivia and Venezuela

Thirty people attended an emergency meeting called by the Hands Off Venezuela campaign in Brussels to defend the revolutions in Bolivia and Venezuela. Not only did many individuals respond to our call but also representatives of different organizations like Iniciativa Cuba Socialista, Dialogue des Peuples, CIDAL, Centro Cultural Chile, the Mapuche Committee, MAS from Bolivia and activists from the Communist Party. Present were people from Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and of course… from Belgium. We got apologies from a Green MP, different unions, Vive TV Belgium, left groups, and the Venezuelan Embassy. Many people, even amongst the left, realized they were not well informed about what is happening in those countries.

Erik Demeester from the HAV campaign and Marcelo Estrada from MAS Bolivia gave a short lead-off explaining what was at stake. Both of them gave their vision on how to defend the revolution. Although the comrade from MAS put emphasis on the support from foreign governments etc, many felt that only mass action could defeat the plans of the reaction.

After a good discussion –informative as well as political - we decided to establish a committee for solidarity with Bolivia. The first task will be to inform our organizations and movements about what is really happening. Then we will organize a picket in front of the US Embassy in Brussels on Friday 26th of September and a political meeting later that month. It was also decided that a joint political declaration of supports should be sent to Bolivia. Contacts will also be established with left members of the European Parliament to ask them to support the revolution.