Native Latins Are Astir and Thirsty for Power – Chavez has taken most aggressive tack***In Bolivia and Peru, this change has been accompanied by violent protests. Elsewhere, it has meant the rise of new leaders like President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil, a former labor leader born a peasant, and Lucio Gutiérrez in Ecuador, a former army colonel who led the coup that overthrew President Jamil Mahuad, a Harvard-educated favorite of the International Monetary Fund, in January 2000.
Mr. Gutiérrez was elected president in November after railing against traditional politicians and promising to cut poverty and scale back market reforms. He was supported by a powerful indigenous movement, Pachakutik, and inspired in part by another former army colonel and coup plotter, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. Mr. Chávez, who introduced a new Constitution in Venezuela and is redirecting oil profits toward social programs, has taken the most aggressive tack.***
Venezuela's Chavez rejects war in Iraq – Congratulates anti-war protestors on New York turnout***CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said he does not support the U.S.-led war in Iraq and applauded positions taken by other countries and protesters opposed to war. "Venezuela rejects ... the war which has been unleashed in recent days," Chavez said Saturday. "We are highly comforted to know that the great majority of the world's countries have come out against the war in Iraq." The president's comments were his first openly condemning the U.S. policy of invading Iraq. Other senior ministers had previously criticized the military action, however. Chavez also congratulated anti-war protesters in New York on a high turnout Saturday. ***