Venezuela
President Hugo Chavez, left, and Cuba President Raul
Castro
raise hands at the first working session of the Community
of
Latin American and Caribbean States, in Caracas, Nov. 2.
Aporrea, Venezuela
Finally - Latin America Achieves 'True Unity, Free of Imperlialism'
"President Chávez, with great energy, conviction,
humility and emotion, has brought it into being, and today we have to thank him
and those who decided to accompany him in his fight for liberty. … At present,
the north looks south with suspicion, afraid of what we might be able to do,
since this process not only reaffirms our union of nation states, but of people
in - as Martí would have called it - Our America."
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez appears pleased at the opening session of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in Caracas, Venezuela, Nov. 2.
Despite efforts to create
tension between Colombia and Venezuela over recent weeks, the alliance of
international right-wing forces with ex-Colombia President Álvaro Uribe and the
constant international corporate media campaign to minimize the importance of
achieving true Latin American and Caribbean union, the reality is striking: 33
Latin American and Caribbean nations affirmed their unity at the first summit
of CELAC [the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States]. With this they declared their sovereignty
and regional independence, which has been overshadowed and strongly marked by
the United States and Canada, reaching, in other words, true unity, free of
imperialism.
Without doubt, the quest for
liberation and independence begun by our national heroes to free us from
European colonialism two centuries ago has been baptized with the birth of this
regional organization that brings to life the dream of Simon Bolívar.
President Chávez, with great energy, conviction, humility and emotion, has brought
it into being, and today we have to thank him and those who decided to
accompany him in his fight for liberty. Not only have our progressive leaders
been able to arrest the logic of neoliberalism and oppression;
they have also consolidated a political block that will be difficult to break.
At present, the north looks south
with suspicion, afraid of what we might be able to do, since this process not
only reaffirms our union of nation states, but of people in - as Martí would have
called it - Our America. As a consequence, the people should be the main
guarantor of the continuity of this process of liberation.
Another major aspect of the birth
of CELAC is the protest against the continuing blockade of Cuba - something
impossible to express within the context of the Organization
of American States, an agency that serves the hegemonic interests of the
great powers to the north. This fledgling organization rehabilitates the
anti-imperialist struggle of the Cuban people.
With the arrival of the left in
power and the consolidation of the region’s democratic processes in the
struggle against capitalism; and with the region taking the new, revolutionary
road, North American intelligence organizations undertook a series of
interventions that were thwarted by the actions of the Latin American people.
Such cases included events in Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela; they also left us
a legacy of what they are able to do, as demonstrated by the case of Honduras.
With pride we can say that toward
the end of the 20th century, our Venezuelan nation initiated that process,
adding the only other regional voice to the lone protest of Cuba. Later, in
accord with the motto of our national hymn “Follow the example of Caracas,”
others, like Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru,
Nicaragua, etc., joined us in the process of Latin American integration.
Moreover, Venezuela has always looked after those that most need help, such as
Haiti, the Dominican Republic, San Vicente and the Grenadines, Surinam or
Guyana. Meanwhile, right-wing governments in our region, like those of
Colombia, Chile or Mexico, are submerged in social and armed conflicts that are
slowly eroding their popularity.
We are winning, and we will
keep fighting until victory.
“A giant has been born, whose
name is CELAC; we are making real the dream of Bolívar.” -- Hugo Chávez