Venezuela's native Amazonian Indian demonstrators have urged the pro-government Mayor of Caracas (Libertador) Freddy Bernal to demolish a statue of Christopher Columbus in Plaza Venezuela as what are described in local news media as “radical government supporters” pulled down the statue to protest the genocide of thousands upon thousands of original South American natives under the iron fist of Spanish colonial rule that ended almost two centuries ago.
Mayor Bernal says five people were arrested after dozens used ropes to pull down the century-old bronze statue of Columbus and then spray-painted graffiti reading: “Columbus Equals Genocide” and “The Resistance Continues!” on the plynth.
· Bernal told Venezolana de Television (VTV): “We call on the minority groups that don't follow the government line to not participate in such acts of violence.”
350,000 indigenous peoples in 28 distinct ethnic groups are among Venezuela's 24 million population ... representatives of those Indian tribes had earlier petitioned Bernal to take down another Columbus statue in Parque El Calvario park and to replace it with a memorial to the legendary Venezuelan Indian cacique (chief) Guaicaipuro, who is remembered for his attacks on the Spanish founders of Caracas and Tupac Amaru, the Inca leader who led a massive Indian uprising against the Spanish in Peru.
Columbus first stepped on Venezuelan soil at Macuro, 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of Caracas on October 12, 1498. The date is celebrated in Venezuela as Dia de la Raza (The Day of Race) commemorating the different races before they began the racial mix that is Venezuela today ... the day was designated a holiday in 1931 by then dictator Juan Vicente Gomez as Columbus Day.
President Hugo Chavez Frias signed a decree in 2002 changing the name of Venezuela's October 12 to “The Day of Indigenous Resistance” and joined indigenous leaders from across the country to attended ceremonies commemorating the antithesis of Columbus' alleged discovery. He has encouraged bilingual education for native Indians who have been given democratic representation in the nation's legislature.
Venezuela's indigenous tribes say Columbus invaded the Americas ... "we were here for thousands of years before he arrived ... Columbus massacred our ancestors!"
David Coleman
VHeadline.com; Venezuela’s Electronic News Service: http://www.vheadline.com/main.asp
Please also see:
Gaviria’s Final Report on the August 15 recall referendum; an opposition coup?
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=23112
Oscar Heck: Venezuela's Chavez must be doing something right ... right?
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=23111
Guacaipuro (Guaicaipuro)
http://www.venezuelatuya.com/biografias/guacaipuro.htm
Tupac Amaru
The Life, Times, and Execution of the Last Inca
http://www.jqjacobs.net/andes/tupac_amaru.html
A Time for Reflection: Columbus Day or Native American Day
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1962&blz=1
Mayor Bernal says five people were arrested after dozens used ropes to pull down the century-old bronze statue of Columbus and then spray-painted graffiti reading: “Columbus Equals Genocide” and “The Resistance Continues!” on the plynth.
· Bernal told Venezolana de Television (VTV): “We call on the minority groups that don't follow the government line to not participate in such acts of violence.”
350,000 indigenous peoples in 28 distinct ethnic groups are among Venezuela's 24 million population ... representatives of those Indian tribes had earlier petitioned Bernal to take down another Columbus statue in Parque El Calvario park and to replace it with a memorial to the legendary Venezuelan Indian cacique (chief) Guaicaipuro, who is remembered for his attacks on the Spanish founders of Caracas and Tupac Amaru, the Inca leader who led a massive Indian uprising against the Spanish in Peru.
Columbus first stepped on Venezuelan soil at Macuro, 500 kilometers (300 miles) east of Caracas on October 12, 1498. The date is celebrated in Venezuela as Dia de la Raza (The Day of Race) commemorating the different races before they began the racial mix that is Venezuela today ... the day was designated a holiday in 1931 by then dictator Juan Vicente Gomez as Columbus Day.
President Hugo Chavez Frias signed a decree in 2002 changing the name of Venezuela's October 12 to “The Day of Indigenous Resistance” and joined indigenous leaders from across the country to attended ceremonies commemorating the antithesis of Columbus' alleged discovery. He has encouraged bilingual education for native Indians who have been given democratic representation in the nation's legislature.
Venezuela's indigenous tribes say Columbus invaded the Americas ... "we were here for thousands of years before he arrived ... Columbus massacred our ancestors!"
David Coleman
VHeadline.com; Venezuela’s Electronic News Service: http://www.vheadline.com/main.asp
Please also see:
Gaviria’s Final Report on the August 15 recall referendum; an opposition coup?
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=23112
Oscar Heck: Venezuela's Chavez must be doing something right ... right?
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=23111
Guacaipuro (Guaicaipuro)
http://www.venezuelatuya.com/biografias/guacaipuro.htm
Tupac Amaru
The Life, Times, and Execution of the Last Inca
http://www.jqjacobs.net/andes/tupac_amaru.html
A Time for Reflection: Columbus Day or Native American Day
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=1962&blz=1