Venezuela Blames Bush For Bolivia Crisis

Venezuela blames Bush for Bolivia crisis

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?...ectID=10330486

13.06.05 3.20pm

CARACAS - Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has blamed United States President George Bush 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 Bolivia last week were triggered by popular opposition to capitalist free-trade policies advocated by Bush.

Chavez condemned as "poisoned medicine" a speech given by Bush to the Organisation 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 destabilisation, 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 US policies although his country, the world's No 5 oil exporter, sells billions of dollars worth of oil to the US each year.

Chavez rejected charges by some US officials that he and Cuban President Fidel Castro were directing the Bolivian miners, rural peasants and labour groups who are demanding the nationalisation of their country's rich gas resources.

"What's the cause? Is 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 after 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 centres which his government was opening with help from Communist Cuba.

During his programme lasting more than seven hours, Chavez received a phone call from Castro, which was broadcast live.

The two leaders mocked US accusations that they had created an anti-US alliance to destabilise 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 a 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 programme.

The US has criticised Chavez's close alliance with Castro, a long-time foe, and says it fears his rule in Venezuela is becoming increasingly authoritarian.