VENEZUELA: Call for socialism at world youth festival

Some 20,000 delegates from more than 140 countries attended the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students on August 8-15 with the theme "For peace, solidarity and against imperialism". Australia-Venezuela solidarity brigade participant Paul Benedek reports on the festival's opening ceremony.

When we arrived at the military area of the opening ceremony, contingents from other regions of the world were marching, chanting and carrying amazing banners. It was chaotic, but eventually we came across a sort of pre-ceremony of the Cubans, an incredible sight of 3000 people chanting and singing revolutionary songs, waving thousands of Cuban flags, in warm-up for the festival, confirming the special bond between Cuba and Venezuela.

Our contingent learned new chants in Spanish, our favourite meaning "Alert, alert, the sword of Bolivar is moving across Latin America!"

Finally we started to assemble down a huge procession. We moved into our country groups, and being in the "A" section, we were one of the first groups to enter the stadium, greeted by an inspiring cheer, chanting our lungs out in both English and Spanish. At the area where the dignitaries sat I was almost floored to see, probably only 50 metres away, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waving to our contingent. I'm sure our eyes met as I gave him the fist and he gave the fist of solidarity and struggle back.

The ceremony continued for hours: the huge Cuban contingent, 3000 Colombians ("C" alone probably took two hours!) Finally, at around 11.30pm all the marchers were in and Chavez strode to the microphone to be received by thunderous, rapturous applause.

He had the crowd on the edge of every word. His speech was an introduction to socialism, a manifesto, a call to arms. Imperialism was denounced in the most aggressive terms, while the people of the US, as opposed to the government, were called upon as necessary allies and equal victims. He presented a history of US imperialism, and of liberation struggles in Latin America. He gave a warning that any attempt to intervene in Venezuela like Iraq or Afghanistan would fail.

But it was the conclusion, a clear, unambiguous call for socialism, that received the most vigorous applause, finishing the night with a crescendo of approval, fireworks cracking, people chanting, and smiles everywhere you looked. An amazing night no-one there will forget.

From Green Left Weekly, August 17, 2005.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 638