Chavez blasts Tibet

Caracas, Venezuela, 24 March 2008. Last night and during a televised message from a Cabinet meeting, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez commented on the recent Tibet unrest in China. Chavez equated the long struggle of Tibetan people with the recent declaration of independence in Kosovo. He then blamed both situations on American Imperialism. But Tibet wants autonomy and not indepedence.

This Venezuelan stand -which was not covered in extent by the local news- has been perceived as most unusual as it went against the very core of the Bolivarian revolutionary doctrine and the promotion of the rights of people. Until that moment and apart from an official disdain of Taiwan as representative of China, Venezuela had remained silent on the Tibetan issue. Such diplomatic posture was perceived as wise considering the  strategic and political relation between Beijing and Caracas. Both countries have common oil joint ventures and keep a fluent commercial exchange. 

Now, this Tibetan diplomatic faux pax contradicts the Venezuelan policy towards the Palestinians or Polisario issues. It could also create some wonder among progressive organizations - like the social summits - that have backed Chavez administration in the past for its revisionist diplomacy. Furthermore, It could taint with international criticism the current policy of promotion of indigenous revival after the Spanish conquest five centuries ago or the promotion of afro descendant participation in the local political arena.

How much could this blasting shift of policy could have on the promotion of local and foreign revisionist movements internationally is for the future to tell. For now, spiritual and diplomatic consequences might slowly come through.  

More news to come

Sources: Unionradio, VTV, CSM,  

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