Michael Fox, Caracas
On August 6, from the state of Bolivar, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the recuperation of the largest latifundio (plantation) in the country, and the creation of what he termed the new "socialist production unit", Manuel Carlos Piar.
The announcements were made on Chavez's weekly television program Alo Presidente, broadcast from the recently recuperated La Vergarena latifundio, which, at 187,238 hectares, was considered to be Venezuela's largest.
According to the Venezuelan ministry of communication, La Vergarena is twice the size of the Margarita Island and within its borders are a forest reserve that "has been indiscriminately disrespected for a long time", six campesino (peasant) land occupations and various indigenous communities.
According to the press release, Chavez said Manuel Carlos Piar was created after the recuperation of the estate with the objective of "diversifying the region's production ... and proposing to improve the living conditions of the families located in the area, through the organisation and participation of the community".
Chavez announced the "ambitious project" to build the former estate into "a pole of economic, social and human development". "This is land that is precisely being recuperated for the indigenous, agricultural production, and everything that is necessary to live a better life."
During the program, Chavez announced that no latifundio is "untouchable" by the government's extensive land reform program. "The revolution will continue and will continue to recuperate territory. The day will arrive, sooner than later, that there won't be one latifundio in Venezuela. Zero latifundio!"
According to Prensa Latina, the 1950 Venezuelan agricultural census reported that almost 200,000 families owned 900,000 productive hectares and 5286 families had 18.6 million hectares (much of which were unproductive).
The 1998 census reported that 376,868 campesino families had 1.6 million hectares, while 10,000 families owned 18 million, demonstrating that the agrarian structure had remained.
The Venezuelan president, who came to power in 1998, also condemned the continued violence against campesino leaders, including the recent assassination attempt against National Assembly representative Braulio Alvarez. "The violence from assassins continues to hurt the campesinos", he said. "The impunity is terrible and this is a reflection that should push us to efficient action."
"If someone who I have put in charge doesn't feel up to this struggle ... resign, but we cannot let them massacre campesino leaders without anyone being held responsible", Chavez said, calling on the ministry of justice and the Venezuelan Intelligence Agency (DISIP) for increased action and investigation.
The assassination of campesino leaders in Venezuela is a growing problem. More than 150 Venezuelan campesino leaders have been assassinated since the passage of the land reform law in 2001.
[Adapted from <http://www.venezuelanalysis.com>.]