London: Rally against CIA coup attempt

Dear supporters,

As you know, Venezuelans go to the polls this Sunday (2nd December) to vote on whether to approve the new constitutional reforms. For many months, there have been rumours that the local elite and the US government might launch some kind of coup attempt around this time, using sabotage and propaganda as a cover for direct intervention.

This week, a CIA memo has been discovered that confirms the existence of just such a plan, which is code-named Operation Pliers. It details the tactics that are being used, which include provoking violent uprisings and refusing to accept the referendum result to working closely with international news agencies and preparing the ground for military invasion from Colombia or the island of Curaçao (respectively referred to in the memo as the "green" and "blue" countries). Eva Golinger has written about this revelation at http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2914

It will undoubtedly be more difficult for the US to carry out this plan now that it has been exposed. However, the dangers are still very great and we are asking all supporters to be ever-more vigilant as Sunday approaches. According to the plan, the three or four days following the vote are especially critical. If it looks like they are getting away with their accusations of fraud and Chávez is seen to be isolated internationally, the opposition will be encouraged to escalate the violence up to the point where the US military might step in.

On Sunday itself, we will be rallying against the CIA coup attempt outside Bolivar Hall, where the Venezuelan community in London will be voting, from 5pm once the poll has closed. We invite every supporter of the Bolivarian Revolution to join us but ask that everyone remain calm and polite when confronted or provoked by anti-Chávez Venezuelan voters, who would love nothing better than to engage us in conflict. The address of Bolivar Hall is 56 Grafton Way (off Tottenham Court Road) W1, nearest Tube: Goodge Street. Please bring banners and musical instruments if you have any - and wear red!

Best Bolivarian wishes,

Hands Off Venezuela - London