Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Socialist Alliance of Austrialia's non position with respect to Venezuela

I am copying below an exchange of e-mails with Jorge Martin of Marxism.org touching on the recent declaration by Socialist Alliance in Australia

(Públished with Martin’a permission,

nchamah)

I wonder how a socialist organization, known for organizing solidarity with

the struggle in Colombia and with the Venezuelan revolution, can write 1200

words about Pérez Becerra and not take a position about the fact that he was

handed over to Colombia by the Venezuelan authorities.

Every single word in the statement is correct as far as I know. About the

background of Pérez Becerra and the UP, about the criminalization of

political opponents in Colombia, about the suspicious

circumstances surrounding the case and Interpol's red note, about the

constant Colombian provocations re alleged Venezuelan support for the FARC,

etc. Nothing wrong with any of this.

But why not say what is your position about Chavez's decision (for he has

taken personal responsibility for it) to hand over Pérez Becerra to the

Colombian authorities, where, according to Australian DSP member in

Venezuela, Fred Fuentes, "now awaits an uncertain future, placed into the

hands of a government that is internationally renowned for locking up and

torturing political prisoners. Currently, there are more than 7500 political

prisoners being held in Colombia, many of them denied the right to a fair

trial and due process."

If you think that the decision was correct and can be justified (as the

arguments made in the statement seem to suggest) then, why not say so

openly? If you think the decision was not correct, then why not spell it

out?

Dishonest is a word that comes to mind.

Jorge

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