TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUP IN VENEZUELA

That this House notes that April 2012 marks the tenthanniversary of the coup in Venezuela that temporarily ousted the elected government led by President Hugo Chavez; further notes that a number of people lost their lives and there were many violations of human rights during the three-day coup during which the coup plotters closed down many of the country's democratic institutions; furthernotes that since President Chavez was first elected in 1998 Venezuela has held more sets of elections than in the country's previous 40 years of democracy, all of them free and fair; further notes that Hugo Chavez and his coalition of supporters have won all but one of these elections; is concerned that the coup received backing from elements of the US administration and that millions of dollars are still being provided by the US to opposition parties in Venezuela; congratulates the Venezuelan government on its strong democratic record and strengthening of social progress since the coup, including free healthcare being made available to millions for the first time, the eradication of illiteracy and the halving of extreme poverty; and believes the Venezuelan people should be able to elect their own President on 7 October 2012 free from external intervention and funding.