From: glevy@PRATT.EDU
Date: Thu Feb 19 2004 - 08:39:18 EST
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: CHE'S DAUGHTER VISITS VENEZUELA TO PREPARE BOOK AND DOCUMENTARY From: "Ocean Press" <info@oceanbooks.com.au> Date: Wed, February 18, 2004 7:59 pm To: <info@oceanbooks.com.au> CHE'S DAUGHTER VISITS VENEZUELA TO PREPARE BOOK AND DOCUMENTARY The following article appeared in Cuba's daily Granma on February 17. The article follows a trip to Venezuela by Aleida Guevara, one of Ernesto Che Guevara's daughters. The visit to Venezuela in the first 10 days of February was organised by Ocean Press to prepare a book of an extended interview with President Hugo Chavez and a documentary on the Venezuelan Revolution. Both will be available in English and Spanish language versions in coming months. For more information contact info@oceanbooks.com.au Pastor Batista & Franklin Reyes Daily Granma, February 17, 2004 CARACAS. - A mix of admiration, surprise and happiness was seen on faces throughout Venezuela last February 8, when President Hugo Chávez announced on his personal television program that Aleida Guevara March, daughter of Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara, would be speaking during the show. A few days later, just as she was about to return to her beloved homeland of Cuba, Aleida spoke to me with her habitual precision, piercing gaze and personal warmth. She assured me that it was she who was surprised and grateful to visit Venezuela, and encouraged to find so much material for the documentary on the Bolivarian process and to be able to interview the President of the Republic — an interview to be published in book form. She emphasises, "I achieved the initial aim, particularly the documentary, because we were so warmly welcomed wherever we went. We managed to interview people in the street, Cuban doctors, the Minister of Defense, Venezuela's former ambassor to Cuba (and now the presidential coordinator of the social reform programs) and the President himself..." In high spirits after completing the project, which was undertaken jointly with the publishing house Ocean Press, Aleida Guevara traveled through marginal areas during her stay in Venezuela. Although these zones have historically been excluded from urban development programs, today the government in putting in place several different social welfare plans. "It was lovely and comforting at the same time to see the Cuban doctors offering their help to the barrios, paying attention to the conditions in which they live and work and the opinions of those who live there. In the barrio of the homeless, for example, there were people with the photograph of my father on their sweaters, and they greeted me with incredible warmth. Things like that are very exciting, as they show great affection for Cuba and for my father." — But certain sectors of the Venezuelan press, known for their malicious criticism of the government, have published lies about the principles which characterized Che. "In Venezuela there are a huge number of Cuban doctors, brought up in a revolutionary process with very strong principles. Che has always been present in those principles. I haven't the slightest doubt that in every one of them, the technicians and all the Cubans who are offering their help to Venezuela, there is the living presence of my father." —And in this context, how do you see President Chávez? "The people love him. He is a leader, and not only for the moment; he has won the respect of his people over a long period of time. The best example of this was in the events of April 11, 12 and 13, 2002 [the attempted coup], where the people responded en masse to rescue their President. This was an utterly unique situation." —On the other hand, the opposition is in disarray. "And it will continue to be, especially because it can be so easily proven that it has committed fraud. And if the judges of the CNE (National Electoral Council of Venezuela) have any pride, the only response if to rule that fraud was committed. It is for this reason that the opposition appears so desperate, which is a foolish attitude to have. We can only hope that they don't become so stupid as to commit crimes against their own people." — Do you have a final message? "It would be difficult for one individual to pass on a message. It is better that the message comes from our volunteers in Venezuela: every time a Cuban international volunteer wins the respect and affection of the Venezuelan people, that is the best possible message. And I believe that they are achieving that, that they are carrying out their work well, shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, ever onwards.
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