The Nepal Venezuela Solidarity Network organised a condolence ceremony at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, on March 6 to mark the death of the Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. Fifty-eight candles were lit and 58 seconds of silent mourning was observed. Nepalese PM Dr Baburam Bhattarai, chief of the international department of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Ram Karki, chair of Socialist Movement Nepal Devendra Paudel, senior left analyst and writer Hari Govinda Luitel, former ambassadors, leaders of various left political parties and other supporters of the Bolivarian Revolution and sympathisers of Chavez participated the program.
Expressing his deepest sorrow on the part of Nepal government and the people of Nepal, PM Bhattarai stressed the need to follow the model of 21st century socialism led by Chavez in Latin America. He further suggested that youths should learn from Chavez' example.
Chief of Unified CPN (Maoist) international department Ram Karki expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela during this difficult time. Chavez, he said, was a commander of the anti-imperialist movement and his demise has left a great loss in the socialist movement of the 21st century.
Chair of Socialist Movement Nepal Devendra Paudel said that the world's communist movement has been heavily influenced by the Latin American revolutions. Lauding the economic prosperity made by Chavez in Venezuela, Hari Govinda Luitel asked the Nepalese left parties to follow the path of Chavez.
Convenor of Nepal Venezuela Solidarity Network Manarishi Dhital, expressed his grief on the loss of Comrade Chavez, adding that it had saddened socialists all over the world. The Nepal Venezuela Solidarity Network has been organising series of programs related to the Bolivarian Revolution and the Venezulean socialist movement.
[Manarishi Dhital is convenor of the Nepal Venezuela Solidarity Network and editor of Janadesh Weekly. He is on the board of directors of the Press Council Nepal.]