From: michael a. lebowitz (mlebowit@sfu.ca)
Date: Fri Mar 14 2003 - 10:27:59 EST
At 08:00 14/03/2003 -0500, jerry wrote:
>Re Rakesh's [8608]:
>
> > More Mommer on Venezuela:
> > http://www.members.partisan.net/sds/sds00703.html
>
>Mommer's claim that the PDVSA has become a "state within
>a state" is very consistent with the suggestion that there is dual
>power in Venezuela.
Rakesh, that chapter by mommer is very valuable! Thanks. He's invited to
the April solidarity conference, and I hope I'll get a chance to meet him
while I'm here now. (Staying at least another week--- lots to do plus there
are serious electricity blackouts in Havana that would make it difficult to
work there.)
I don't know if this is what is meant by dual power--- what you
had was effectively private capital in the oil industry (despite nominal
state ownership) and a state subject to that. Sounds pretty familiar. Since
then PDVSA has been retaken by Chavez--- the old executives are out.
>Re Mike L's [8606]:
>
>Thanks for the sources from Marta.
>
>The creation and arming of workers' and peasants' councils
>seems a logical next step, but that in itself would create an
>alternative, independent power structure within the country.
>So far the majority of the military has supported Chavez --
>but this can not be depended upon. But, would Chavez himself
>feel threatened by the existence of independent, armed councils
>of communities of the poor?
There's a bit of unrealism re this next logical step-- a hint of a formula.
Suffice it to say that at the moment the Bolivarian circles are armed (and
the rich areas are also--- and doing para-military training in anticipation
of attacks by the poor) and that a number of enterprises recently have been
turned into cooperatives by their workers. (One I heard about was the
Sheridan Hotel at the airport.) A very fluid situation. As for Chavez,
every Sunday he broadcasts to the nation on his 'hello President' programme
and calls upon the people to take initiatives. Armed councils ready to
defend the Constitution would not be a threat to Chavez.
>One difference, perhaps, to the situation in Chile in 1973 is that
>the size of the social layers who are opposed to the government
>is greater in Venezuela.
Can't say. I think the barrel of a gun is pretty important here.
in solidarity,
mike
>In solidarity, Jerry
---------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Currently based in Cuba. Can be reached via:
Michael Lebowitz
c/o MEPLA
Calle 13 No. 504 ent. D y E, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
Codigo Postal 10 4000
(537) 33 30 75 or 832 21 54
telefax: (537) 33 30 75
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