President Hugo Chavez is of the opinion that the Empire [the United States] controls and pays the Venezuelan opposition. In this article from Bolivia's State-run Bol Press, a Chavez supporter explains how the Venezuelan leader is preparing his people for both a media war and a shooting war, against the Imperialists [the Americans] and their Venezuelan lackeys.
"The second Battle of Santa Ines requires of us a deep clarity of thought and action, that must be made clear," President Chavez said. "Here we are, carrying forward a democratic process that is revolutionary and peaceful.
But let no one misunderstand the people of Venezuela
I want to emphasize this: we want to continue the peaceful revolution, but we are armed. Nobody should get it wrong. It (the revolution) is peaceful, but it is also armed."
[Editor's Note: The Battle of Santa Ines was one of the bloodiest confrontations of the Venezuelan Federal War, Taking Place Dec. 10, 1859]
It is important that Venezuelans and the world understand that we are facing a war that is essentially being waged through the media, on the screens of private televisions, which creates a parallel reality, and in the pages of newspapers that belong to large, private investors in the country [Venezuela].
One must not underestimate the Empire, but one must not fear it, either. For this reason, the Bolivarian [Venezuelan] government confronts the media war with the communication resources that we have on hand. One must not forget the unequal fight that we face every day. The Venezuelan State has two television channels, one news agency, and National Radio. The other side [the opposition] has five television channels that reach a national audience, and more than 300 radio stations. And this is without counting their newspapers.
PREPARING THE PEOPLE
In 2006, we will reach seven years of revolutionary government, and there will be elections in December. One of the things that we must work hard at is to organize and transfer the ring of power to the people. For this reason, President Chavez has taken the lead and called for the consolidation of the Community Councils, as a new entity with legislative standing, that will transfer resources and government management to organized communities. (We will speak of this in a different article.)
We must finish the first task. We cannot allow that even one Venezuelan woman or man not be registered in the Permanent Electoral Registry, because the battle is coming. Chavez summed it up with two simple phrases: "Dont leave for tomorrow what you can do today," and "A war forewarned does not kill soldiers."
HOW THE MEDIA OPERATES
To explain how the media is working against the revolution, we consider some of the words of Chavez from February 5, 2006.
Quoting from the newspaper "El Nacional," one of those which promote the Imperialist strategy, Chavez referred to the front page headline: He reads: "Chavez gives away 25 billion." Just imagine, this equals 54 billion Bolivars, almost the entire National Budget. The article then continued, "Just great. We note that here there are problems, yet Chavez is giving this amount (of money) away rather than solving them."
Chavez continued: "We are engaged in the battle that I referred to. Every day, they are going to be inventing things like that which was just mentioned. Their plan includes using hundreds of radio stations, many of which are paid for by the Imperialists [the Americans and their lackeys], and using those newspapers that are paid by the Imperialists. And (using) television paid for by the Imperialists."
It is the battle of Ideas, as Fidel Castro says.
CHAVEZ REAFFIRMS:
-- A profound faith in the People, in the Community
-- Just as one learns to govern, I know the People are advancing in learning and studying.
-- Democracy requires an informed People, a People who know, and if something has happened here, it is because our people are awakening, filling themselves with knowledge. Not only are they filling themselves with hope, but also with the knowledge and strength of power.
-- We, who are part of the power of a united people, cannot assume the positions or attitudes of those who held power before, and who ruled for such a long time, and who were here until only recently. Of that old mind set, there still remain traces.
This is to say, the President who believes he is the owner of everything, or the governor who thinks that he is the owner of everything, or the mayor who thinks he is the owner of everything
(We say) No! The Owner is the People.
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