The statement by Kerry was posted on his campaign website March 19 and became front-page news here three days later.

“With the future of the democratic process at a critical juncture in Venezuela, we should work to bring all possible international pressure to bear on President Chávez to allow the referendum to proceed,” said Kerry in his statement. He was referring to the faltering drive by the opposition coalition Coordinadora Democrática for a referendum to recall the president.

“Throughout his time in office,” Kerry continued, “President Chávez has repeatedly undermined democratic institutions by using extra-legal means, including politically motivated incarcerations, to consolidate power. In fact, his close relationship with Fidel Castro has raised serious questions about his commitment to leading a democratic government.”

The Massachusetts senator went on to repeat, even more bluntly, accusations against Caracas that Bush administration officials made to justify the expanding U.S. government offensive against Cuba and Venezuela.

“President Chávez’s policies have been detrimental to our interests and those of his neighbors,” Kerry stated. “He has compromised efforts to eradicate drug cultivation by allowing Venezuela to become a haven for narco-terrorists, and sowed instability in the region by supporting anti-government insurgents in Colombia.”

Kerry said the Venezuelan government must be pressured to comply with the agreements it made “to allow the referendum to proceed, respect the exercise of free expression, and release political prisoners.”

Kerry’s statement reflected the frustration among U.S. ruling circles that the third U.S.-backed attempt by Venezuelan capitalists to topple the Chávez government has failed without an alternative course on the horizon. Two previous efforts—a military coup in April 2002 and a bosses’ “strike” about a year ago—were defeated as a result of large working-class mobilizations.

The pro-imperialist opposition received a temporary boost on March 15 in its campaign for a so-called referendum, when a Supreme Court panel here threw out an earlier decision by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council that basically rejected the referendum petition. That ruling, however, was itself overturned a week later by the Supreme Court’s constitutional panel, leaving little doubt that the referendum bid is all but dead.  
 
 
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