13 April 2010
This year 13 April 2010, marks the 8th anniversary of people’s victory over the US-backed coup d’état against President Hugo Chavez in 2002. The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) would like to pay tribute to the revolutionary masses of Venezuela who defended the revolution 8 years ago with tremendous courage and now are still fighting to shape Socialism of the 21st Century.
8 years ago, on 11 April 2002, the right-wing oligarchy of Venezuela backed by the US imperialists, with the help of the corporate media, staged a coup against popularly-elected President Hugo Chavez, in an attempt to derail the revolutionary process in Venezuela which has been seen as a threat to the vested interests of the filthy rich oligarchy in Venezuela and US imperialist powers. The coup failed after over a million people took the streets and called for the return of Hugo Chavez. The defeat of the coup demonstrated how the power of the people from below can make substantial changes, and defend the revolutionary process that in turn empowers the people further.
The revolution in Venezuela has been an inspiration and beacon of light for the people around the world who are fighting against capitalism. We have witnessed the rise of new popular power in Venezuela through the setting up of communal councils, workers’ takeover of factories and the establishment of the mass-based revolutionary party – United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). It has provided us a new alternative to capitalism, the alternative of another world, the alternative of a socialist world.
The revolutionary movement in Venezuela has posed a tremendous challenge to the domestic old ruling elite as well as the imperialist powers in the world. We recognize the revolution in Venezuela is under threat from within and without, but we are confident that the revolutionary masses in Venezuela can overcome all these obstacles and move forward, as they did when they defeated the US-backed coup in 2002.
PSM also welcomes the call from President Hugo Chavez, for the setting up of a new revolutionary International, the Fifth International. The call for the new revolutionary International is a timely and crucial one as the world has been thrown into multiple crises by capitalism and we urgently need to build a credible worldwide movement to replace capitalism with socialism from below. For the last decade, there has been a re-emergence of popular struggles against capitalism and imperialism around the world, and the Venezuelan people have been at the forefront of these struggles.
Today, the epicenter of revolution has shifted to Latin America, especially to Venezuela. The crisis of capitalism is also getting worse by the day and there is a need to put an end to the savage rule of capitalism. The revolution in Venezuela has opened up a new phase of struggle against capitalism in the 21st century, and has brought new hope for a world without class oppression and exploitation.
PSM expresses it continuous support to the revolutionary process in Venezuela and our solidarity is always with the revolutionary masses of Venezuela.
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido ! Marcha en la revolución!
Released by,
Choo Chon Kai
International Bureau
Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)
