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Latin America resistance

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POPULAR MOVEMENTS SHAKE LATIN AMERICA

By Rebeca Toledo

As resistance grows against the U.S. occupation of Iraq, so does the resistance in Latin America against continued imperialist domination. No matter what bourgeois pundits may claim, what is happening in the Middle East, together with the tumultuous developments of Latin Amer ica and the Caribbean, bodes ill for U.S. imperialism. Indeed, the adage--a specter is haunting imperialism--is quite true.

In October, Bolivia erupted against a proposed natural gas theft led by British oil companies. The street protesters were a coalition of Indigenous, labor, student and peasant organizations. When the smoke cleared, the military and police had killed some 70 people. But the people had also ousted President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, known as "el gringo," and his sell-out plan.

Emboldened by the collapse of the Soviet Union, U.S. imperialism in the 1990s had embarked on a belligerent strategy throughout the world. In Latin America the policy, known as neo-liberalism, focused on economic strangulation, as well as supporting and orchestrating counter-revolutionary activities that aimed to turn back revolutionary struggles. The Nicaraguan revolution was overthrown. The struggles in El Salvador and Guatemala were dealt dangerous blows, as were others.

In order to continue the centuries-long policy of robbing the riches of the continent, privatization of nationalized industries became the main goal of imperialism. Argentina, Bolivia and others became models for International Monetary Fund and World Bank austerity measures. To do its bidding, imperialism found willing servants throughout the region who sold their countries out for cheap.

As always, imperialism discounted the level of suffering, and thus resistance, it would create. Today, Argentina lies in ruin because of these measures. One of many countries rich in natural resources and agriculture, Argentina now imports food for its people. The Argentine people rose up two years ago to say "no" to any more privatization or belt-tightening.

In Colombia, the resistance has grown strong despite the neo-fascist government there. In the 1990s, general strikes and armed struggle have increased and become stronger. The U.S. is now attempting to kill the movement through repression and military intervention. The president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, is a willing U.S. puppet, carrying out Colombia's version of Homeland Security.

But trade unionists, students and peasants continue to find new room to struggle. The guerrilla groups FARC-EP and ELN have formed an alliance against the military and the paramilitaries and continue to engage them in combat.

'The whole world will rise up!'

In 1998 the people of Venezuela voted in President Hugo Chávez as an answer to neo-liberalism and corruption. Since then, the Chávez government has rewritten the constitution and begun implementing economic and social changes that benefit the working class and peasantry.

In April 2002, Chávez was overthrown by the ruling elite--backed by the U.S. But within 48 hours, the workers and peasants in the streets and the progressive sectors of the military had undone the counter-revolution, proving once again that the role of the workers is central and decisive in the revolutionary process. Chávez was re-installed and the base of the Bolivarian Revolution flexed its muscle.

Today the U.S. and the ruling elite continue their sabotage of the Venezuelan government, particularly in the economic sphere--which they still control. There is also speculation that the CIA has plans to assassinate President Chávez. However, with every battle, the revolutionary process has grown stronger and the Bolivarian Circles, based in neighborhoods throughout Venezuela, have played a key role in its success.

In 1994, the Zapatistas captured the imagination of the world movement with their bold armed resistance to NAFTA, the imperialist trade policy to further strangle Mexico. Since then, the Indigenous movement in the region has been awakened.

In Puerto Rico, the U.S. Navy was successfully thrown out of Vieques in 2003 by a four-year civil disobedience campaign that reinvigorated and united the movement. The struggle continues in Puerto Rico for reparations and independence.

Haiti saw the re-election of President Aristide in 2000, after the ruling elite and the U.S. had overthrown him in 1986.

Socialist Cuba survived the "special period," a time of great economic hardship brought on by the collapse of its trading partners in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The mobilization and the victory of the Cuban people to return Elián González to his father showed the world the strength of the revolution, as well as the weakness of the counter-revolution. Today's U.S. threats against Cuba are again being challenged by the mobilization of the people. And in Cuba and throughout the world, millions are fighting to free the Cuban Five, Cubans held unjustly in U.S. prisons.

In Ecuador, in 2000, an Indigenous and mid-level military alliance in the streets overthrew the president and his neo-liberal policies. The organized Indigenous population was key in the election of Lucio Gutierrez, a mid-level officer, as president in 2002.

Lula da Silva in Brazil was also brought into office by working-class and peasant organizations in 2002.

The noteworthy and significant elections that have occurred in many countries in Latin America recently are not just passive acts in the voting polls. They clearly represent a response to neo-liberal policies. They are a great source of hope for the people.

But it remains to be seen when the people of Latin America will take things further and not only take office but take state power. In any case, the people have voted against continued imperialist plunder and domination.

U.S. imperialism touted that, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, history as we knew it had ended and capitalism had won. And then after 9/11, the U.S. believed it had carte blanche to dominate the world.

The collapse of the Soviet Union certainly was a big blow to the communist and progressive movement worldwide. And it continues to resonate. National liberation struggles and the remaining socialist countries continue to feel the loss.

But as the heroic people of Iraq are proving, dialectical materialism is still the tool for analyzing the class struggle. Oppression and repression breed resistance.

That is exactly what is happening in Latin America today in more countries than can be mentioned in one brief overview. The mass movement throughout the region varies in tactics, orientation and success. But the common thread is resistance.

Latin Americans are also fierce internationalists and have stood strong against the U.S. war in Iraq. A popular chant there sums it all up: "Iraq, hold on, the whole world will rise up!"

Reprinted from the Oct. 30, 2003, issue of Workers World newspaper
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Deanwolf's avatar
If Latin America was to rollback American influence, ti would roll back capitalism until the USA turned Communist.

Yeah, they have the reason, the problem is not the USA and even Chavez said so, the problem is the system they work out, as neoliberalism needs to expand its markets to survive, as it needs more profit and so it needs to expand itself. Latin America's present situation is just a misfortune.

After all, why do they say that for neoliberalism to work its good effects, nations need huge infrastructure? Because nations need to built the infrastructure for their new nation in order for it to work. Neoliberalism would work if the USA would be willing to build roads, dams, highways, bridges, metros, water systems, airports, harbors, ports, railroads, parks and housing squares.

After all, that's how neoliberalism works, the smaller nation sells itself, yeah of course, however, the larger nation then uses its "superior" economy to develop that of your nation by building your nation for you. But corruption, bad social investigations, and lack of a firsthand redistribution, makes neoliberalism useless. It is good only if the larger nation follows it as well and develops new infrastructure for your nation.

But forget about it, neoliberalism doesn't work with corruption and high commodity prices. Today, there are only three things that work:

Welfare capitalism: Which discourages expansion of the market to dominate smaller nations.
Socialism: With guided wealth redistribution.
and
Communism: With a major overhaul of the economy and a complete social restart.