April 13, 2002 was a day of victory for the people
of Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution. On
that day, then President Hugo Chavez returned
as the rightfully elected President of Venezuela
after an April 11, 2002 attempted coup d'état
lead by right-wing forces supported by the U.S.
government.
Over the months and years following the
failed coup, the ties between the coup-plotters
and the U.S. government, the CIA and U.S.
government sponsored agencies like the
National Endowment of Democracy (NED),
were revealed. Venezuela’s top media moguls
and leading right-wing opposition politicians
were also exposed as being implicated in the
coup.
However, despite all of the resources and foreign
support for the coup, in less than 48 hours
the people of Venezuela and the Bolivarian
Revolution had triumphed in defending
President Hugo Chavez and the great gains
that the Bolivarian Revolution had made for
poor and working people across Venezuela.
Today, over 14 years after their failed coup,
the U.S. continues their non-stop campaign
against the Bolivarian Revolution. Through
their ongoing support for Venezuela’s counterrevolutionary
opposition, the U.S. government
and their imperialist allies are attempting to
destabilize Venezuela and force the removal
of President Nicolas Maduro. This continued
attack is what makes marking the April 13
victory against the 2002 coup so important.
Vancouver Commemorates the Victory of
April 13 in Venezuela!
In Vancouver, Canada, this important victory
for oppressed people in Venezuela was
commemorated in an event organized by the
General Consulate of the Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela. This cultural evening was held at
the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch
in Downtown, Vancouver.
On this evening, supporters of the Bolivarian
Revolution in Vancouver participated in a
dynamic program that included a film, speakers,
delicious refreshments and live music, as well
as the presentation of an art and information
display explaining the significance of April 13
and the timeline of the failed coup.
The program was MC’d by Aitzanid Molero,
Second General Consul at the Venezuelan
Consulate, who began the program by
welcoming the First Venezuelan Consul General
Wilfredo Perez Bianco. The Consul General
gave a short summary of the importance of the
April 11 failed coup in Venezuela to the people
of Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution.
His remarks were translated by Tamara Hansen,
the Coordinator of Vancouver Communities in
Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC).
Following the Consul General, there was a short
film shown that interviewed many of the people
that were at Miraflores Palace, where the coup
occurred. In this informative video, Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro as a variety of people
to relive their experiences that day and what
it was like to witness the coup as well as the
triumphant return of President Chavez.
Following the film and short program, there
was live Latin American music and Venezuelan
refreshments as participants were given time to
view the art display and discuss the coup and Venezuela today.
Follow Alison Bodine on Twitter:
@alisoncolette
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