Hands Off Venezuela!

Hands Off Venezuela is an international campaign in solidarity with Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution. Now active in dozens of countries around the world, the campaign seeks to build solidarity with Venezuela, particularly within the labour and trade union movements.

The basic principles of the Campaign are:

• solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution
• opposition to imperialist intervention in Venezuela
• building direct links with the revolutionary and trade union movement in Venezuela

The Hands Off Venezuela Campaign was established in December 2002, in the wake of a failed coup d'état that April. Following the coup attempt, the Venezuelan opposition, with the support of the US government, was yet again trying to overthrow the government of Hugo Chávez and put an end to the revolution. A group of reactionary military officers had gathered in the Altamira Square, in the rich and middle class areas of the East of Caracas and made an appeal for "disobedience". At the same time, on December 3rd, the opposition had called for an "indefinite national strike" -- a bosses’ lock out. The highly paid managers and directors of the state owned company PDVSA simultaneously organised the sabotage of the industry with the aim of paralysing the country.

All this was accompanied by a campaign in the Venezuelan and international media of lies and misinformation. The idea was being broadcast that in Venezuela there was an authoritarian "regime" which had become increasingly unpopular and was being opposed by a general strike and a mass movement on the part of a “democratic” opposition.

We believe in the right of the Venezuelan people to democratically decide how their country is to be run, without foreign, military, or minority interference. We denounce the role of the national and international media in spreading misinformation in an attempt to delegitimise and discredit a democratically elected government, and the role of foreign governments and local elites in attempting to destabilise the country and economy. We applaud the achievements of the Bolivarian revolution in the areas of health, education, community participation, and empowerment of the poor, and see the social process in Venezuela as an inspiring example.

We have tirelessly organised solidarity activities with Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution through public meetings, video screenings, raising the issue within the trade union movement in different countries, organising speaking tours, moving motions in Parliaments, and sending solidarity delegations to Venezuela.

The work of the Campaign has been recognised by President Chávez, and Hands Off Venezuela representatives featured prominently in the 2nd World Gathering in Solidarity with the Revolution in April 2004.

If you agree with these basic ideas get involved!