3-20-06, 8:30 am
100 MPs have now added their name to Colin Burgon MP’s Early Day Motion (EDM) in the British Parliament supporting the democratic process in Venezuela and urging the UK government to pursue a policy of constructive engagement with the country. The Venezuela Information Centre (VIC) has been strongly lobbying MPs to support this initiative and is now asking all our supporters to check the list of signatures to the EDM and get their MP to sign if they’ve not yet done so. In addition to the success of this EDM, a recent adjournment debate showed the support in the UK Parliament for a different policy to that of the US with regards to Venezuela, and illustrated the excellent work many MPs are doing to keep up the pressure on this issue following Tony Blair’s recent outburst on the issue. The debate was secured by Colin Burgon, and although it was only a short debate, 12 MPs were able to speak in the positive debate. In the debate, a number of MPs drew attention to the need to recognise the significant social progress made in Venezuela in recent years. Tony Lloyd MP argued that “The Venezuelan Government are committed to pro-poor policies that look to advance educational opportunities for the poorest people” and the “kind of policies that can begin to transform the lives of some of those who, historically, have been among the most destitute.” As the debate took place on International Women’s Day, John McDonnell MP (Chair of the Campaign Group of Labour MPs) used the opportunity to outline the achievements being made with regards to women, including President Chavez's recent announcement that “the poorest housewives, mainly single mothers, will receive a payment of about $180 a month.. not as charity, but as recognition of the fact that raising children is a social and economic contribution to the whole of society.” The issue is how the UK can build stronger links with Venezuela and take a lead internationally against those elements in the US who are arguing for intervention against the government of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. A number of MPs condemned the comments last year of US preacher Pat Robertson, who called for the assassination of President Chavez and other attempts to de-stabilise Venezuela. Jeremy Corbyn MP put these developments in a regional context, adding that the “people of Latin America feel that they have had enough of the Monroe doctrine and the lectures from above.” The debate also showed that there are voices from across the political spectrum and different parties in favour of respecting the democratically expressed wishes of the Venezuelan people, something which solidarity campaigners need to fully utilise. Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch argued for the US to “understand how some of its comments and perceptions are seen overseas.” Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski argued “Hugo Chavez, because he has been democratically elected as the Head of State of Venezuela, deserves a certain respect that some other leaders around the world do not.” Whilst one Conservative MP, Mark Pritchard, made a hawkish anti-Venezuelan and anti-Cuban intervention, it was also noticeable that the official Conservative spokesman in the debate, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, was said to have not been in full agreement with this view. More importantly, minister Kim Howell’s response to the debate
was notably different in content and tone to Tony Blair’s regrettable comments last month and included reference to the need for Britain to remain positively engaged with the region.
It is now crucial that these important advances that have been made in Parliament are continued, and the pressure stepped up to urge the government to support a different policy to that of the US hawks on Venezuela.
To view the text of Colin Burgon’s EDM and see the latest list of signatures, visit http://edmi.parliament.uk/edmi/
From Venezuela Information Center
[PA Editor's Note: Since posting this story, PoliticalAffairs.net has learned through sources that MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown does indeed support the the extremist anti-Venezuelan views of Tory MP Mark Pritchard.]
