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Venezuela's Chavez blames Bush for Bolivia crisis
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-13 09:11
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blamed US President Bush on Sunday for
Bolivia's crisis and said Bush's "poisoned medicine" of free-market democracy
was being rejected by Latin America.
The left-wing Venezuelan leader said the protests that shook the Andean
nation this week were triggered by popular opposition to capitalist free-trade
policies advocated by Bush.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gestures
during his broadcast 'Alo Presidente' in Monagas state, 500km (300 miles)
from Caracas, June 12, 2005. President Chavez blamed U.S. President George
W. Bush on Sunday for Bolivia's crisis and said Bush's 'poisoned medicine'
of free-market democracy was being rejected by Latin America.
[Reuters] | Chavez condemned as "poisoned
medicine" a speech given by Bush to the Organization of American States last
week in which he recommended a mix of representative democracy, integration of
world markets and individual freedoms.
"That is what is killing the peoples of Latin America. ... This is the path
of destabilization, of violence, of war between brothers," Chavez said, speaking
on his "Hello President" weekly television and radio show.
The Venezuelan leader is a fierce critic of U.S. policies although his
country, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, sells billions of dollars worth of oil
to the United States each year.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez looks through
a microscope during his broadcast 'Alo Presidente' in Monagas state, 500km
(300 miles) from Caracas, June 12, 2005.
[Reuters] | Chavez rejected charges by some U.S. officials that he and Cuban President
Fidel Castro were directing the Bolivian miners, rural peasants and labor groups
who are demanding the nationalization of their country's rich gas resources.
"What's the cause? Is Fidel? Is it Chavez? No, Bush is the cause ... and what
he represents," he said.
Addressing Bush in broken English and calling him "Mr. Danger," he added,
"We, the people of Latin America are saying 'No Sir, Mr. Danger,' your poisoned
medicine has failed."
Chavez welcomed signs the Bolivia protests were easing following the
inauguration as president on Thursday of Eduardo Rodriguez. He replaced Carlos
Mesa who resigned.
Chavez, a firebrand nationalist first elected in 1998, says free-market
economic policies have increased not reduced poverty in Latin America. He
proposes as an alternative his self-styled "revolution" in Venezuela, which
channels oil income into health, education and job training for the poor.
He spoke while inaugurating one of 600 new medical treatment centers which
his government was opening with help from Cuba.
During his program lasting more than seven hours, Chavez received a phone
call from Castro, which was broadcast live.
The two leaders mocked U.S. accusations that they had created an anti-U.S.
alliance to destabilize Latin America and that it was being financed by
Venezuela's oil income.
"You're the malevolent genius and I'm the rich financier of revolutions, what
do you think?" Chavez told Castro.
"Well, it's marvelous," the Cuban leader replied.
Venezuela ships up to 90,000 barrels per day of oil to Cuba and more than
20,000 Cuban doctors, dentists, teachers and technicians, including sugar
experts, are working in the South American oil exporter under a broad
cooperation program.
The United States has criticized Chavez's close alliance with Castro, a
longtime foe of Washington, and says it fears his rule in Venezuela is becoming
increasingly authoritarian.
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