Indigenous March in Support of Chavez in Venezuela

On June 7th, venezuelanalysis.com journalist Michael Fox attended the “First National March of the Indigenous People” where hundreds of representatives from various indigenous Venezuelan ethnicities marched in Caracas in support of the government.

Indigenous groups march in Caracas, Venezuela, in support of President Chavez. Credit: Maxim Graubner

Indigenous March in Support of Chavez in Venezuela

By Michael Fox - venezuelanalysis.com

June 11, 2006

Caracas, Venezuela, June 10, 2006—Hundreds of representatives from various indigenous Venezuelan ethnicities marched in Caracas on Wednesday in the “First National March of the Indigenous People.”

The march was organized by the National Indigenous Council of Venezuela (CONIVE) and was held in support of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, against US military operations in Caribbean waters, in support of Venezuela’s withdrawal from the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), and for the unity of their communities in Venezuela. According to CONIVE, the march was the first of many indigenous mobilizations which will be “heating up the streets” over the next 6 months.

CONIVE was born in 1989 and is composed of 60 organizations and representatives from 32 indigenous ethnic groups including the Warao, Yucpa, Wayuu, Timotes, Panare, Yanomami and Yecuana, among others.

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Comments

[Henry]

According to the Census of 2001, there are slightly over half a million indigenous people in Venezuela, or about 2% of the total population. Unlike other Latin American countries, indigenous people are a small minority. I think it is highly unlikely that Chávez will get 300,000 votes among them, as Maldonado suggests (unless there is some fraud).