Rachel Evans, Merida
On November 29, three of Venezuela's leading opposition parties announced they would not participate in the December 4 National Assembly elections. Late on November 30, a fourth party announced that it, too, would pull out. The parties are Democratic Action, COPEI, Project Venezuela and Justice First.
The boycott was called over alleged concerns that the secrecy of the vote may not be guaranteed. The opposition had demanded that voting machines using finger-print recognition technology — to ensure no-one can vote twice — be scrapped, claiming these could be used to match a voter's identity with his or her vote. The National Electoral Council (CNE), while maintaining that this was impossible, nonetheless agreed to scrap the machines. A CNE poll revealed that 69% of registered voters trusted the existing system, however 29% expressed doubts, motivating the CNE to remove the machines to enable full confidence in the elections.
Despite their main demand being met, the opposition parties persisted with their withdrawal from the race, claiming they were still not satisfied with the security of the vote. However the electoral observation mission of the Organization of American States issued a statement published on Vheadline.com on December 2 that rejects the opposition parties' claims and, expressing confidence in the secrecy and fairness of the elections, called on Venezuelans to reject the boycott.
In an address to the nation broadcast on all Venezuelan TV stations on December 1, Venezuela's left-wing President Hugo Chavez accused the US of being behind the boycott, and urged Venezuelans to vote. "Another conspiracy is being acted out against Venezuela, and I am not going to blame the dogs, but the masters, the government of the United States", Chavez declared. He also claimed to have evidence of a CIA conspiracy against his government, including a plan for his assassination.
All the polls were indicating a significant victory is likely for the "Block of Change", which groups the pro-Chavez forces contesting the 165 National Assembly seats.
The aim of the Chavistas is to increase their current narrow majority to the more than two-thirds that is required to make constitutional amendments. The government has indicated that it wants to alter the constitution to provide the basis for more radical measures in the Bolivarian revolution — as the process of change led by Chavez is known — to the benefit of the poor majority. If the opposition parties believed they were able to prevent this from occurring, it is unlikely they would have pulled out of the elections. Pulling out enables them to avoid another embarrassing defeat.
Venezuelanalysis.com reported on November 29 that Venezuelan Vice-President Jose Vicente Rangel said the opposition is withdrawing because "they do not have votes". "It is a design elaborated in Washington because they cannot accept that the Chavez government advances as it has in the international arena and via the social conquests we are achieving in Venezuela", he insisted.
By refusing to participate in elections, the opposition is indicating that it cannot achieve its goal of removing Chavez through democratic means, suggesting it will resort to other means.
Tensions have been increasing across the country in the lead-up to the elections, as the opposition seeks to undermine stability. In Merida on November 29, the city's tranquil streets were disturbed by police shooting into the air around groups of people throwing rocks and debris at both casual observers and police. Police used tear gas towards the end of the chaos and a young Chavista lost an eye during the melee.
City shops shut their doors and workers and tourists ran away from the centrally located building of the University of Los Andes. The unrest was supposedly sparked by the death of a student in nearby Trujillo. Police argue that this death was caused by a rock; students claim it was a bullet.
Green Left Weekly spoke to Jehyson Guzman, the president of Federacion de Centros Universitarios (FCU), about what's behind the unrest in Merida. "On the 29th, leaders of student groups ... were meeting in the University of Los Andes, in the Rectorada. We were searching for an understanding in order to achieve a state of stability in the city [in the aftermath of the killing of the student in Trujillo]. Around 7pm a group of hooded people arrived and began to attack — looting the shopping centre and attacking the police."
"Clashes with the police were quite fierce", Guzman explained, "with the police attacking the building in the Rectorado — where we student leaders were gathering. They didn't know we were in there, and when I attempted to politely tell them to leave us in peace because we are not the hooded people they are looking for, they continued to attack the Rectorada building."
Commenting on those responsible for the unrest, Guzman said: "Some people say it was the Tupamaros or Bolivarian circles [both pro-Chavez revolutionary organisations] that were creating the insecurity. This is a total lie.
"There is a group of people who are looking to involve this problem of the university with the [National Assembly] elections. We have to continue demonstrating our support for Commandante Chavez."
On the timing of the incidents, Guzman said: "The people in the opposition don't have power. They try to use the students to try to create a climate which demonstrates that they are powerful. They know they don't have strength. They will not be able to take the power of the president but they are trying to manipulate the students of Merida, the students of Venezuela, to create a climate of uncertainty.
"However, even if they work magic Chavez is going to win."
[For ongoing updates on the Venezuelan elections, visit <http://www.venezuelanalysis.org>.]
From Green Left Weekly, December 7, 2005.
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