[NYTr] Chavez Swears in Team for Constitutional Reform Campaign

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Venezuelanalysis - October 10, 2007
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/2712

Chavez Swears in Team for Constitutional Reform Campaign

By Kiraz Janicke

Caracas - The principal enemy to the project of constitutional reform
is abstention, assured Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, as he swore in
the Central Command of the constitutional reform campaign, dubbed
"Campaign Zamora," in the Municipal Theatre in Caracas yesterday.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly initiated its third and final
discussion of the reform proposal.

The object of Campaign Zamora, so named after a 19th century Venezuelan
revolutionary fighter, said Chavez, "is to win the referendum to
approve the 'roja, rojita' ['red, really red' constitution] in a
magnificent, resounding and historical manner."

"It is necessary to go out and vote on December 2 and defeat
abstention. It is necessary to lower the abstention that happened in
1999 when we approved the Bolivarian Constitution," he said.

The Central Command of Campaign Zamora sworn in during the ceremony
includes; Vice-President Jorge Rodriguez, National Assembly Deputy
Carlos Escarrá, Telesur president Andrés Izarra, Governor of Miranda
state Diosdado Cabello, Deputy Gabriela Ramírez, Minister of Foreign
Relations Nicolás Maduro, Minister for Communication and Information
William Lara, vice-Minister for Communication and Information, Helena
Salcedo and Deputy Dario Vivas.

"We go towards another battle," Chavez said as he exhorted those
present to campaign for "YES" in the referendum. "We are warriors
against imperialism."

"I will dedicate, until the last second of my life, the most intense
battle for the Venezuelan people," he added.

The "ferocious attack" on the project of constitutional reform by some
sectors of the right in Venezuela, Chavez explained, "corresponds to
the interests of the oligarchy."

"They argue that the [constitutional reform] is an attack on private
property. But in reality it is an attack on their monopolies," he said.

He emphasized that these economic groups were the owners of Venezuela,
because they were the dominant political class, "They never spoke of
the people, only the interests of their civil society, their private
organizations. They are exclusive and racist."

The private sector that only wants to exploit the workers will not have
the capacity in a socialist Venezuela Chavez said, however he invited
"honest businesses" that, "have the will," to work together with the
government for the interests of the country.

Chavez also announced that the swearing in of the Expanded Command for
the Zamora Campaign would take place on the 17th of October.

National Assembly in Final Debate on Constitutional Reform

As the National Assembly initiated its third and final discussion of
the constitutional reform, article by article, yesterday, President of
the National Assembly, Cilia Flores, presented a balance sheet of the
work of the parliament since Chavez first presented the project of
constitutional reforms on August 15.

The National Assembly has held 9,020 public consultations over the
constitutional reform, through "parliaments of the streets," workshops,
and forums "in all states and municipalities," Flores announced.

Of these, 44% involved people in an individual capacity and 56%
involved collective representations by workers organizations, campesino
groups, political parties, businesses, the military, and various social
organizations, she said.

According to Flores the articles that generated the most public
interest were workers rights, including the proposal for a 6-hour day,
as well as social rights in the proposed changes to articles 87 and 90,
with 27% of those participating elaborating on this theme.

A further 19% referred to the new geometry of power and popular
participation, 16% to economic rights, 11% prioritized the issue of
presidential reelection and presidential powers, 8% contributed on the
proposed changes to the structure of the Armed Forces and 7% on the
issue of food sovereignty.

In addition, the National Assembly Joint Commission on the
constitutional reform has also received 210 individual speakers,
including members of Venezuelan opposition parties, Democratic Action,
Justice First, and A New Time.

The Joint Commission set up to coordinate the National Assembly debate
on the constitutional reforms has as its basis the proposed changes to
33 articles that Chavez presented on August 15. However, Flores said
that proposals for changes to all articles would be taken into
consideration.

Últimas Noticias reported that Flores moved an amendment to article 21
yesterday, to remove any aspect of discrimination on the basis of
gender and sexual orientation and to allow for same sex marriage.
However, discussion on that proposal was deferred.

The final presentation by the Joint Commission to the National Assembly
will take place on October 15. Flores affirmed the National Assembly
would continue receiving proposals from "any sector", until the last
moment.

The constitutional reform proposal is scheduled to be put to a
nation-wide referendum on December 2nd.

                              ***

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles

Venezuelans Support Constitutional Reforms

Havana, Oct 11 (ACN) A recent national poll conducted by the Venezuela 
parliament showed popular support for proposed changes to the 
Venezuelan constitution.

National Assembly President, Cilia Flores, said that 70 percent of the 
population who responded to the telephone survey supports the 
amendments, reported Granma newspaper.

Legislative First Vice President Desiree Santos said the country is 
highly motivated by such an important theme and added that there are 
many interesting proposals, including several from opposition sectors.

He said all proposals will be heard during the third and final series 
of discussions, where constitutional amendments presented by Hugo 
Chavez will be debated article by article, reported Prensa Latina.