Latin America Remembers Revolutionary Legacy of Hugo Chavez
Commemorations were held across Venezuela on Saturday marking three years since the death of Hugo Chávez. In Caracas, a special ceremony saw leaders from four countries pay their respects to the late president.
Peace, unity and prosperity was the message on Saturday, on the third anniversary of the death of Hugo Chavez.
President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, was at the Cuartel de la Montaña alongside other Latin American leaders to pay homage to the former leader.
“Today the new history begins,” he said.
Evo Morales, Daniel Ortega and Salvador Sanchez Ceren, the presidents of Bolivia, Nicaragua and El Salvador respectively, among others, gathered at the monument to pay tribute Chavez, who died of cancer three years ago.
“With the union of all it is possible to build new prosperity, that is what we are going to see,” said Maduro in an interview with VTV.
“There is no option, either we achieve it or we achieve it. Peace, union and prosperity that is the message today three years after the parting of Comandante Chavez.”
The president said that in spite of the death of Chavez, his message is still strong.
“I feel Chavez more present and more alive than ever, and he generates more and more love in those who fight for the truth of America.” he added.
Indigenous and Catholic communities joined together in a religious ceremony at the Cuartel de la Montaña, in the revolutionary neighborhood of 23 de Enero, to honor Chavez.
At 4.25 p.m. local time a canon was fired to remember his revolutionary legacy, as his death fell at that time, March 5, 2013.
The day was also marked by international leaders, with current and former Latin American presidents paying tribute to Chavez.
Evo Morales, President of Bolivia
“As a human being, (Chavez) was a great support. As a Latin American brother, he was a great integrator. As a politician, he was an anti-imperialist who taught us to lose our fear in the face of the empire, to raise our voice to the empire with no fear.”
Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
“You can’t even imagine all the propaganda that they made against Chavez, full of slander, when in reality Chavez was an extraordinary human being. Despite being a soldier, at the end sometimes he was very naive because he trusted people so much. He was too good-natured, he gave opportunities again and again to the opposition, for them to end up once again driving the dagger into his back.”
Cristina Kirchner, former President of Argentina
“We remember him, those who know that he left life for a free people, and a legacy of American unity.” “Hugo Chavez, remembered by his people with enormous and eternal love.”
Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua
“Chavez is the reincarnation of Bolivar. Chavez knew that revolutions cannot go alone and depart from the principle of solidarity, and this solidarity goes from sharing bread, up to moral solidarity, they all have an infinite value.”
