Venezuela's Hugo Chavez Received By Thousands
PORT-AU-PRINCE. HAITI — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters on Monday, March 12, as he met with Haitian President Rene Preval to promote aid and development packages in the Haitian capital.
(In the above photo, Haitian President Rene Preval and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stand on the fence in front of the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, while waving to thousands of cheering supporters.)
Supporters met Chavez at the airport and ran with his convoy to the National Palace. Demonstrators waved Venezuelan flags, wore necklaces with photos of Chavez and Che Guevara, and tee-shirts of the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide while chanting "Long live Chavez! Down with Bush!"
Near the airport, a handful of demonstrators blocked a UN jeep from passing while banging on the vehicle and yelling "Down with MINUSTAH", referring to the UN mission by its French acronym.
The demonstration was rife with anti-Bush rhetoric, something Chavez capitalized on as he counters US President George Bush's Latin American tour. At one point, as Chavez's supporters yelled "Down with Bush!", Chavez made a fist and punched his hand, sending the crowd cheering uproariously.
Bush's Latin America tour has been all but outdone by Chavez's countertour. Anti-Bush demonstrations fueled by the two leader's simultaneous tours, also took place in Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.
In Port-au-Prince, Chavez's charisma stoked the poor masses who came out in throngs to greet him. His left-leaning stance and strident anti-Bush rhetoric, is well received by the poor who believe that Bush was the main architect in deposing former president Jean Bertrand Aristide in 2004. Aristide still retains strong support in the capital's poor neighborhoods.
The Venezuelan President met with Preval to discuss a $20 million aid package. Venezuelan soldiers are also in the capital to help construct a road financed by the country.
Chavez seems to be making inroads in a country the United States is heavily involved in; making Washington evermore weary of its foe to the south. Haiti is currently participating in Venezuela's Petrocaribe program, which allows the country to buy oil through Venezuela's state run oil company on preferential terms.
Haiti may be a new battleground for Bush and Chavez to duke it out ideologically in the war for hearts and minds.
Chavez - 1. Bush - 0.
Comments
Wonderful photos. Chavez has been a solid supporter of democracy in Haiti. At the 2005 World Social Forum in Brazil he stated: “There is no solution in Haiti without Aristide...The solution is not in the hands of the United Nations or a group of presidents. It must be taken by the people of Haiti."
Posted by: HaitiAnalysis | March 13, 2007 03:23 PM
Great Story! Now this is good journalism. Keep up the good work. You are well on your way to being a responsible, caring photo journalist. Looking forward to a follow up.
Posted by: Tony Whalen | March 13, 2007 07:59 PM
I can feel the excitement of the people when I look at these photos. I feel fired up. Dad said he is amazed at the HOPE of the people in Haiti. They are strong and they have something to fight for. Thanks for conveying these feelings so well across the miles.
Posted by: Maria Whalen | March 13, 2007 08:02 PM
Well it is rather ironic that Chavez is trotting the globe spreading his good will and Fortune. What a load of Bull Shit this guy carries. You need to look at what is going on in Venezuela, over 85% of the population lives in poverty and the violence is escalating daily. I have some very good friends that have recently left and are living abroad because of the violence in the streets. Chavez's superficial charity drive isn't even a drop in the bucket to the aide given by America. Got some advice for Chavez stay home and take care of your own, what a big 0 in my book. And why are we even making comparisons to Bush yep he has his problems too, but I don't see people sneaking out of our country looking for a better life!
Posted by: George Brun | March 14, 2007 01:54 AM
Chavez's tour isn't anymore ironic than Bush's.
As for making comparisons, the point is that Chavez's parallel countertour was much more sucessful in rallying people to his side. We're talking PR. All Bush's tour did, on the PR front, was remind the world of how unpopular he really is.
If Bush comes here to PAP, which may be possible, he will never have anywhere near the support that Chvez did, nor will he be able to do what Chavez did. If anything, it will show how unpopular Bush is here, too.
This isn't about Chavez in Venezuela, this is about something entirely different.
Posted by: Nick Whalen | March 14, 2007 11:03 AM
Strickly from a theological perspective the people of haiti are blessed, Chavez is a help and yes Bush IS evil. Truly EVIL.
bondie beni ou
Posted by: Pastor Britt Minshall | March 14, 2007 11:07 AM
You got impressively close to Ti Rene and El Colonel. Have you read the transcript of their conversation with Castro yet? Good work, Nick.
That said, I think you may be overstating the importance that Washington and Caracas give to little old Haiti, though. I don't think the either Bush or Chavez would say that Haiti, bless its soul, is a spot where the fate of the Western Hemisphere hangs in the balance. As far as I'm concerned the more aid flowing to Haiti - from Cuba, the European Union, the United States or Venezuela - the better. The need in Haiti is too great for ideological litmus tests. Anyone willing to help should be welcome.
There's an interesting article in this week's Economist about the Bush and Chavez roadshow.
Buena suerte.
Posted by: Michael Deibert | March 17, 2007 03:36 PM
hot damn!
Berto and I were just looking at this together. Very good work...
greets from germany
Posted by: Clemens | March 18, 2007 12:30 PM
I haven't read the transcript yet. Do you have a link to that and the article in the Economist?
I agree that anyone who's willing to give aid, should. Thanks for the input.
kanpe la.
Posted by: Nick Whalen | March 18, 2007 02:30 PM
Great stuff man, you just get better and better. Keep up the good work, but remember to stay healthy and safe. Hope to see you soon, peace kid
Posted by: Sam Schrager | March 18, 2007 08:16 PM
i'm an american who supports chavez. he is a good man and a patriot of his country who helps the poor. if only we had a president like him!
Posted by: joey | March 23, 2007 11:37 PM
Our IM conversation the other night pushed me to spend some time reading through your new postings. I would like to know how you got so close to the two leaders who are central to this piece. Were you the only one there documenting the event?
Looking forward to more conversations . . . peace.
Posted by: Cliff | March 26, 2007 11:52 PM
A lot of pushing and shoving. I ran with Chavez's motorcade to from the airport to the Venezuelan Embassy and then to the Palais Nationale. When I wasn't walking, I was riding in AP's car. I was stringing for them. Every international and local journalist was there covering the event, as were the journalists Chavez brought with him throughout his tour.
best.
-n
Posted by: Nick Whalen | March 27, 2007 12:07 AM