Hugo Chavez - a Long-Lasting Leader of Venezuela - Essay Example

Hugo Chavez: An introduction Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela is among the list of 100 most influential people d by the TIMES magazine in the year 2005 and 2006 [1] [2] Being the current President of Venezuela, he is also the leader of the “Bolivarian Revoluton” , a secret movement which he started with fellow military officers and named it after South American Independence leader Simon Bolivar. Schavez has a vision of democrtaic socialism, Latin American Integration and antiimperialism. He is also a strong opposition towards the US foreign policies. The failed Coup 1992 The Venezuelaean leader first came to limelight with a failed coup in February 1992 when he headed an effort to oust the government of President Carlos Andres Perez in the midst of increasing fury at stumbling economic conditions. The coup was later given up by Hugo Chavez which had taken 16 lives and resulted in injuring of 60 individuals. Chavez spent his life in jail for 2 years before being pardoned. He later reorganized his movement turning from a military officer into a Politician. [3] The supporters of Chavez applaud him as the the first leader to defend the rights of the poor of venezuela . The opposition has been striving to oust the president through legal legislation methodology since 2002 accusing him of imitating the communist Cuban State but in 2004 it managed to secure a referendum on his leadership which only helped in Mr. Chavez getting more strength, winning the referendum won by a large majority and went on to win the 2006 presidential elections. Hugo Chavez has also been the first world leader who has attacked the US president on the floor of the United States; Nikita Khrushchev of the former Soviet Union, threatened the West in 1960, but he did not personally attack President Eisenhower. He said, "The devil came here yesterday," Chavez said, referring to Mr. Bushs address on Tuesday and making the sign of the cross. "He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world."[4] Coup against Chavez On 9th of April 2002, a two day strike was called by Carlos Ortega by CTV (Confederation of Workers of Venezuela) in which scored of hundred of thousands of strike suporters took to the street of the capital [5] and marched towards the headquarters of Vanezuela’s State owned oil Company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) on the 11th of April 2002. The mob was supporting the recently fired management of the oil company. A demonstration in support of the President Chavez was also being staged at the presidential palace and the organizers of the strike supporters decided to re-direct the mob to the presidential palace which resulted in severe violence eruption between the supporters of the two demonstrations. While the action was on, the head of the venezuelan army Lucas Rincon Romero announced the resignation of the Chavez from the president seat in a broadcast made to the nation. Chavez was later brought to the military based and kept under detention. Fedecamaras Pedro Carmona was appointed as the president of Venezuela by the military leaders. The national assembly and the state judiciary were dissolved and all the economic and social policies introduced by Chavez under the vision of “Bolivarian Revolution” were removed. The steps taken by the new president infuriated the pro Chavez sentiments within the nation that resulted in an uprising in favor of the detained president; mass lootings became the order of the day. In response to the turbulant situation, a counter coup was later organized by the pro chavez military leaders who stromed and retook the presidential palace from the new president and retrieved chavez from detention. The new government was thus over thrown and Chavez resumed his office as president on the night of April 13th 2002. Surprisingly the military leader who announced Chavez’s resignation was re-instated as the Military leader and This questions the genuine nature of the whole incident of a military coup and counter coup discussd above. US involvement in the short lived Military Coup Chaves after coming to power accused the United States to be behind the turbulant situation that had engulfed the Venezuelian Republic during the miitary coups and its after effects which can also be suspected while going through various news reports covering the events . Few references are given below A report from the “Guardian” alleges the failed coup to have links with the senior officials of the US government naming Elliot Abrams as the persongiving the nod for the attempted coup plan . Elliot Abrams is also accused of mileading congress over the infamous Iran-Contra affairs. The Guardian further quotes some of the officals of the Organization of American States that administration was not only aware of the coup but also sanctioned it considering it to be a would be suuccessful attempt. The daily alleges several Venezuelian leaders to have visisted the White House several months before the coup till the time as latest as a weekend before the incident took place. The leaders included Fedecamaras Pedro Carmona himself. The guardian reports that these leaders were receive by key policy maker Otto Reich, a right wing cuban american who under the administration of Reagan, ran the office for Public Diplomacy. Reich as per the report, discussed the time and chances of success of the coup with the leaders which looked excellent at the time! [6] The Guardian issued a claim by former US intelligence officer Wayne Madsen alleging U.S. Navy’s involvement.[7] An investigation request by Senator Christopher Dodd was made to find out Washington’s involvemnt in the effort to oust Chavez.[8][9] William Brownfield, ambassador to Venezuela, the U.S. embassy in Venezuela warned Chávez about a coup plot in April 2002 [10] Venezuela Cutting down Oil production Venezuela is considered to be the 5th Largest Oil producer globally and it has made several attempts to prompt members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Referred below are few reports from various English dailies available online that support this view: The People’s daily in their online edition reports that soon after the September 11 attack on the world trade center and monitoring world energy crises, Chavez called upon the OPEC for cutting oil production in order to bring stability to the oil prices Chavez and other OPEC leaders feared that a sharp decline in air travel and overall economic activity could cause the price for a barrel of oil to tumble below $10. Prices are then were already well below OPECs target price of $25 a barrel of that period [11] On June 1, 2006 at the assembly of the Organization OPEC members in Caracas, Venezuela Chavez again called for a slash in the groups oil produce. But, ministers from other oil-producing nations have rejected his call [12] Recently in September 2006 it has decided to cut down oil production in view of the recent decline in Oil prices per barrel. The moneytimes.com reports the oily prices dropping down by 20% by mid of July 2006 which prompted Chavez to take this step suggesting appropriate price per barrel to be $50-$60 The decision of Venezuela was informed by the country’s Oil Minister to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The ministry decided that Venezuela will stop producing 50,000 barrels a day with the intention of justifying the fall that oil prices have shown in the past weeks. However analysts are convinced that the OPEC member countries will not refrain from cutting down on production if the prices drop below $55-$60 per barrel. [13] Venezuela and Iran had recently agreed to call for a production cut by OPEC, revealed by Chavez in a report issued by Taipei Times. This agreement was due to stem a recent fall in crude prices Chavez was reported as saying "We know today there is too much crude in the market," Chavez said. "We have agreed to join our forces within OPEC ... to support a production cut and save the price of oil," he added. According to the report OPEC in recent months committed to a total cut in output of 1.7 million barrels per day, including a 500,000 barrel-a-day reduction set to begin next month [14] Conclusion In conclusion, Hugo Chavez due to his repeated opposition of the policies of the United States, his outraged comments regarding the US president in the United Nation’s Security Council meetings has brought him under significant light on the world political map. With Oil playing an important role in global energy requirement, and Venezuela being the 5th largest producer of oil, Chavez holds a key position and importance being the head of the state and an active member of OPEC member leaders. Due to his Fidel Castro like policies he has been opposed by many elites of the country but has gained strength and popularity within the poorer masses of the country which still sees him holding supreme power in the country. If things continue the way they are, Hugo Chavez looks like a long lasting leader for Venezuela. References [1]Hugo  Chavez, the radical with deep pockets by Tim Padgett available online at http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/2005/time100/leaders/100chavez.html [2] Hugo Chavez by Tim Padgett available online at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187165,00.html [3] Profile: Hugo Chavez available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3517106.stm [4] Chavez Calls Bush The Devil available online at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/20/world/main2025874.shtml [5] Guardian Unlimited “Chavez rises from very peculiar coup”-available online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,684563,00.html [6] Guardian Unlimited “Venezuela coup linked to Bush team”-available online at http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,688071,00.html [7] Guardian Unlimited “ American navy helped Venezuelan coup” –available online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,706802,00.html [8] BBC “ US investigates Venezuela coup role” available online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1988213.stm [9] News Center-common dreams “Venezuelas Chavez Says United States Must Explain Reaction To Coup” available online at http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0510-05.htm [10] Statements Indicate Chávez May Indeed Be in Somebodys Crosshairs available online at http://www.ipsnews.net/login.asp?redir=news.asp?idnews=27799 [11] Chavez Wants to Cut OPEC Output available online at http://english.people.com.cn/english/200110/25/eng20011025_83142.html [12] Venezuelas Chavez Calls for OPEC Production Cuts available online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5444727 [13] Venezuela to Cut Oil Production available online at http://www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20060930/venezuela_to_cut_oil_production-id-101759.html [14] Chavez makes offer to private oil sector available online at http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2007/01/15/2003344918 Read More