The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) continues to keep a keen eye on developments on our continent recognizing their implications for our people and indeed all peoples of the world. Latin America and the Caribbean, we have recognised, has been a central arena in the ongoing global pursuits for dominance and hegemony. While the entire region was once subjugated by imperial forces and their allies, in recent times, we have seen sustained efforts to break free from the chains of domination and exploitation and to create a world based on justice and equality, respect and fairness. These victories, while laudable, have not been without hitch and we have borne witness to various intrigues and machinations to undermine the several people-centered advancements that have been scored.
One such bastion of progress has been Bolivia. Following the election of Evo Morales in 2006 as President, several noteworthy advancements were recorded. Under Morales, the country has made great strides in economic development, safe guarding national sovereignty, women’s and indigenous rights, respect for the environment, improvement in the people’s standard of living, the improvement in education, and health care. The country’s economy has grown on average by 5 per cent per annum since 2006 as compared to 2.6 per cent between 1951 and 2005 and has seen some two million Bolivians escaping poverty. Even the World Bank has recognized the country as world champion in income growth for the poorest 40 per cent of its population.
The FITUG was, therefore, deeply disappointed to learn that President Morales, like other like-minded leaders of the Region, has been removed from office by what are clearly undemocratic means. The removal of a democratically elected leader other than by the free will and expression of the people cannot withstand any litmus test. The use of local reactionary forces, aided and abetted by external actors, to unleash violence and intimidation to remove a progressive, pro-working people government cannot be condoned. The Federation strongly condemns the coup in Bolivia and expresses its solidarity with Evo Morales and his party the Movement for Socialism (MAS).
While disheartened by the obviously backward turn of events in Bolivia, the FITUG, on the other hand is heartened by the release from incarceration of former Brazilian President Lula Da Silva. His release after a year-and-a-half in confinement represents a significant victory for the Brazilian downtrodden and dispossessed who scored several gains during the rule of Lula’s Workers Party. Like Morales, Lula distanced Brazil from the failed neo-liberal policies and championed policies which promoted equality, poverty reduction and social improvement.Brazil’s success under Lula was widely celebrated but earned for himself the chagrin of the ruling classes and their external backers who have become accustomed to their exploitative practices and ways.
It was incredulous, and for us unbelievable, that Lula, who commands such great respect and much admiration by not only millions of his countrymen and women but the downtrodden and democratic forces across the world, has been brazenly hounded by the economic interests, both local and foreign, several sections of the media and the backward section of the military establishment to achieve their economic and political aims which they cannot secure from the ballot box. The FITUG saw those attempts as an ignoble attempt to tarnish and besmirch the proud legacy of President Lula who’s Government and Party implemented policies which lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty, provided land to the landless and improved his country’s image on the world stage.
We need to recall that the historic developments in South America whereby an anti-imperialist and pro-socialist movement emerged in the early years of the 21st century, and that by the year 2012 several outstanding progressive nationalist leaders had been elected to Government by the South American masses throughout the Region: Hugo Chavez in Venezuela; Evo Morales in Bolivia; Rafael Correa in Ecuador; Nestor and Cristina Kirchner in Argentina; Fernando Lugo Mendez in Paraguay; Lula in Brazil; Jose “Pepe” Mujica in Uruguay; Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua; and, of course, our own Cheddi Jagan in Guyana. These victories, in several ways, supplemented Fidel Castro’s revolutionary Cuba, which had been carrying the banner of internationalism and socialist principles in the Americas and the Caribbean since 1959!
For our region, this was a truly historic development which was an impetus for the steady transformation of the oppressive, exploitative societies foisted on us by the early colonial powers.
This indeed, was a tremendous breakthrough in the progressive, working-class movement for a new social order. The impressive results were there for all to see the millions of people who were lifted out of poverty and the hundreds of new socially uplifting programs and institutions that were birthed in virtually all of the countries in question, but especially in Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua.
Current development, especially in Bolivia, indicates that local reaction in partnership with international forces, are carrying out a counter offensive. But, their victory can only be a tentative one. The people’s will and the democratic forces will prevail. They have history on their side.
FITUG expresses solidarity with President Evo Morales and the democratic forces of Bolivia even as we condemn forthwith the coup.
FITUG also expresses its satisfaction its joy and welcomes the release of iconic Latin American/Brazilian leader, Cde Lula da Silva.
