Venezuela's Poor Marjority Faces Enormous Social Justice Stakes with Presidential Recall Referendum of Hugo Chavez Country's vast oil wealth could be directed away from support for education, housing, health care

Interview with Roy Brown, Puerto Rican new song artist and political activist, conducted by Scott Harris

After a failed coup attempt, strikes and sporadic violence targeting Venezuela's populist president Hugo Chavez , well-funded opposition groups allied with the Bush administration will be put to the test in their drive to oust the twice elected former military man in the upcoming Aug. 15th recall referendum.

After much controversy and internationally brokered negotiations a coalition of business leaders, opposition parties and labor union officials finally collected the 2.4 million signatures required to hold a national referendum on Hugo Chavez's rule. But according to polls, the momentum which once seemed on the side of those wanting to depose Chavez, has now switched to the president's supporters. Over the past year Chavez's government has bolstered its support in Venezuela's impoverished neighborhoods by using the nation's vast oil wealth to increase funding for education, housing and health care benefiting the nation's poor majority.

In advance of the August referendum, both sides have held large rallies and other events to energize the faithful. One such event was an Aug. 1st concert in Caracas organized by the government's ministry of communication that presented Venezuelan, Cuban and Puerto Rican musicians. The concert, dubbed "Voices for Unity" attracted more than 10,000 Chavez supporters and featured performances by famed Cuban artist Silvio Rodriguez, Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club and Puerto Rican Nueva Trova singer song-writer Roy Brown. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Brown about the concert and what he feels is at stake for Venezuela and Latin America in the upcoming recall election.

For more information on the August 15th recall referendum visit the English language website www.venezuelaanalysis.com



Related links: "Election Matters" A Platform for the Timid," by John Nichols, Nation columnist, July 15, 2004

The Nation's Special Coverage on the Democratic National Convention

Truthout.org's coverage on the Democratic National Convention

Alternet.org's Democratic National Convention Coverage

"Gore Assails Bush on Iraq at Convention," Associated Press, July 26, 2004

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