- The Guardian
- Issue #1968
During a recent visit to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Embassy in Canberra, a CPA delegation – featuring General Secretary Andrew Irving, President Vinnie Molina, and CC member Romina Beitseen – interviewed HE Daniel Gasparri, Charge d’affaires, on the importance of the Bicentenary of the Battle of Carabobo.
What is the meaning of the commemoration of the Battle of Carabobo for Venezuela?
HE Daniel Gasparri (DG): The Battle of Carabobo marks a historical period with notorious consequences in different areas, but which in the main heralded the beginning of the nation’s independence. It draws a line; the “before and after” in the history of Venezuela.
The victory of the patriots against the monarchists is a landmark in history demonstrating the strategic potential of the Liberator, Simon Bolivar, who achieved this military deed through a clear vision, correct analysis, and plan.
Today, 200 years later, despite there no longer being a monarchist army from the Spanish empire, Venezuela still faces threats and adversities. However, the Venezuelan people know they can confront what they face with patriot pride and the blood of independence running through their veins.
Therefore, remembering the details of this battle and its relevance is of great importance in maintaining morale and keeping the fighting spirit high.
Indeed, today Venezuela faces a set of unilateral coercive measures which cause shortages in medicines, food, and services. Nonetheless, the will of the people is strong. The Bolivarian Government implements different strategies to overcome the situation and to guarantee the wellbeing of the people. Something is very clear with the Bolivarian Revolution: that the people are the priority.
So, this Bicentenary reminds us that we must have the same strength that our army had in that historical confrontation that managed to break the chains of the Spanish Empire. The Venezuelan people must keep up the fight to safeguard their sovereignty and independence in the face of threats from foreign forces. When we remember all the efforts, sacrifice and determination of our distinguished soldiers who participated in that event, we are filled with the same determination and with the enthusiasm that characterised Pedro Camejo, better known as Negro Primero. He took the initiative and moved forward. So, likewise, the people of Venezuela push ahead with the resolution of love for their free and sovereign homeland.
What lessons can we rescue from the event and continue to apply today?
DG: 2021 coincides with the Bicentenary of the Battle of Carabobo. It comes during a world pandemic that has changed the lives of all the people on the planet one way or another, in positive and in negative ways. The pandemic has shone a light on areas that haven’t been worked, and it has shown people where their priorities are and highlighted how to spend their time.
In this regard, the Battle of Carabobo teaches us about the perseverance of the military team in the fight for independence. We use this lesson on a daily basis when we set out to work responsibly and each action is done with the determination to build a better country, more prosperous and more secure.
The lessons we rescue, due to the relevance of the event, are abundant. But we can focus on three lessons. Firstly, the importance of planning because this victory was the result of ten years of strategic work by the Liberator, Simon Bolivar. Thus, it is indisputable that such a deed did not come out of nowhere. The Liberator divided his troops into three flanks, headed by Jose Antonio Paez, Manuel Cedeño and Ambrosio Plaza, respectively. We are talking about more than 6000 men that confronted the monarchist army composed of 4500 men – secondly, the value of trusting in ourselves. The Liberator was never intimidated by the threats of the Spanish Empire, nor by its weapons or the volume of its army. We have to use this self-confidence in the present times when we face obstacles because there isn’t any difficulty we can’t overcome together. And thirdly, a lesson with high value is to have vigor in our actions. Thus, we recall the vigour of Negro Primero, who teaches us that acting with audacity determines success or failure. In all, we can affirm that this celebration gives us the opportunity to study lessons from the past, to apply them to the present to reach for a better future.
What is the panorama?
DG: The Battle of Carabobo was won thanks to the visionary mind of Simon Bolívar. That same vision is currently being applied to the new economic policies that seek new non-oil incomes as a possible way to outweigh the difficulties being generated by the Coercive Unilateral Measures imposed by the United States and to move forward in the construction of a sovereign homeland.
On the other hand, due to the economic recovery after the pandemic and the advance of humanity towards the new normality, Venezuela expects, amongst other strategies, the reactivation of the tourism sector, to show the world the charms and natural richness of our country, that can be enjoyed responsibly with the biosecurity protocols in place.
The celebration of the Bicentenary of the Battle of Carabobo has definitely been beneficial to feed the patriot fighting spirit that resides in the working people, who along with Constitutional President, Nicolas Maduro, and the civic-military union is determined to advance and tell the world with pride: unbeaten yesterday, invincible today!
The Communist Party of Australia thanks HE Daniel Gasparri for the time taken to discuss this important history. We call on readers and supporters to continue and strengthen the solidarity work with the Bolivarian Revolution against these coercive measures and self-determination without foreign interference.