On July 27, the first ever solidarity brigade to Venezuela began, organised by the Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network. The brigade aims to give Australians a taste of the unfolding Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela, a process led by President Hugo Chavez. Paul Benedek, a Socialist Alliance member who has joined the brigade, wrote the following account of spending July 26, the anniversary of the Cubans' storming of the Moncada Barracks, in Caracas.
We started the day with a pleasant breakfast in the local cafe, to which we invited two locals to join us, who had wanted to shine our shoes. Instead we shared food, and they talked of how life had improved since Chavez came to power, and complained of their problems with police, many of whom are corrupt and anti-revolution.
After photographing some of the squillions of pro-Chavez graffiti around the city, my brother and I travelled to Plaza Bolivar, where we ducked into a library for a quick peek, and came across a woman wearing a T-shirt for the World Festival of Youth and Students, which most brigadistas will be attending in mid-August. It turned out Susan was helping to organise the festival, and she insisted on acting as a guide for us, taking us to a nearby church and introducing us to a pro-revolution nun.
We came across huge Bolivar statues and masses of pro-Chavez posters — one said "Mr Bush, if you are against Chavez you are against the people" — before Susan left us to do some festival organising.
We then stumbled upon a protest at the National Assembly. Chavez supporters were urging an end to killings and corruption by police.
The protest was led by women, many of whom have had loved ones killed by the cops. They carried photos and names and details of those the police killed, plus a long list of those killed in recent years, which had more than 100 names on it. Placards read "Bolivar against corruption". The protesters made it clear that the military are on the side of the revolution, but the police force needs drastic changes.
Here I met an amazing guy called Donatello, about 50 years old, who commented on my Che shirt. He wore a shirt with the Cuban and Venezuelan flags and Chavez and Fidel, which read "Our America changing for ever". He gave us two Cuban cigars, one of which was smoked to honour this anniversary.
Leaving the protest and walking up Plaza Bolivar, we came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to our Lonely Planet guide, this is closed to the public, but it appeared the Bolivarian revolution has changed things. We were invited inside and met the director of foreign affairs. "This place used to be for the elite only", he told us, "now we want the people here". He noted that before Chavez came to power, there was no way someone black (as he was) would have been appointed to his position.
Only a few minutes away we came across an exhibition that was half Japanese art, and half a tribute to assassinated socialist leader Jorge Rodriguez, who founded the Socialist League, and was killed in 1976. The photo of Rodriguez s son, aged about six, leading a protest rally after his death with a face full of determination, was particularly striking.
After grabbing lunch, it was getting late so we decided to head for Miraflores Palace. However, on our way there, we stumbled across a guy painting a mural that turned out to be for a newish organisation called something like "the national foundation of those without roofs". Chavez had given the organisation unused buildings, to make better use of. Inside, it was a hive of activity and the leaders eagerly talked about their project. Outside was a a street stall with fantastic Che bandanas and headbands, and the side of their building had beautiful revolutionary murals.
Pushing on, we reached the bridge just before Miraflores, which is decorated with murals and messages commemorating those who died defeating the 2002 right-wing coup against Chavez. At Miraflores, we met the second protest of the day.
Activists from Mission Sucre, which coordinates the new Bolivarian University aimed at the poor, were arguing for greater importance and priority to be given to education. The activists had a letter to Chavez, agreeing with his push "towards socialism" and a greater "battle of ideas" and noting education's important role in this. In particular it identified a need for more and better teachers, and to reduce bureaucracy. The colour at the protest was amazing: Venezuelan flags, Chavez and Che shirts, berets and plenty of passion. People were very friendly when they heard we were "con [for] Chavez" and going to the festival. I got my second gift of the day, as if the experience was not enough!
Finally we got back to our hotel area around 6.30, and grabbed an amazing and desperately needed ice cream before joining comrades for a celebratory dinner and drinks for the Cuban Revolution. We ended up with perhaps 60-80 people, mostly brigadistas, but also comrades from the youth insitute, and some of those we had met during the day, including two from the roof organisation.
All I can say is that I'm truly honoured to get the chance to experience this process, and as I keep telling people "queremos la revolucion en Australia y por todos en el mundo" — we want the revolution in Australia and for everyone in the world!
From Green Left Weekly, August 3, 2005.
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