----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Mensah" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 12:04 PM
Subject: [unioNews] Columbus 'sparked a genocide'
Published: 2003/10/12 07:36:17 GMT
<H3>Columbus 'sparked a genocide'</H3>
<B><i>Venezuela's populist leader has urged Latin Americans to
boycott celebrations for the anniversary of the "discovery" of the
Americas by Christopher Columbus.</i></B>
President Hugo Chavez accused the much-lauded adventurer of
spearheading a "genocide".
<B>The 1492 arrival of the Italian explorer, employed by Spain,
triggered a 150-year "invasion" of native Indians by foreign
conquerors, who behaved "worse than Hitler", he said.</B>
Columbus Day falls on 12 October and is celebrated with a public
holiday on Monday in the United States and several Latin American
nations.
But at a meeting in Caracas - attended by representatives of the
indigenous population in South America, President Chavez said:
<B>"Christopher Columbus was the spearhead of the biggest invasion
and genocide ever seen in the history of humanity."</B>
Columbus Day should be remembered as the "Day of Indian Resistance",
he said.
Spanish, Portuguese and other foreign conquerors had massacred South
America's Indian inhabitants at an average rate of roughly "one every
10 minutes", he said.
He described Spanish conquistadors like Hernan Cortes and Francisco
Pizarro, as "worse than Hitler".
And he said even the continent's geographical names - such as America
and Venezuela - were created and imposed by foreigners.
<B>Sitting Bull praised</B>
Opponents of Chavez - seeking a referendum to try to vote him out of
office - say his real aim is to instal an anti-US communist system.
In his speech Chavez praised Indian chiefs who had fought against the
invaders, such as Guaicaipuro who resisted the Spanish founders of
Caracas, and American Indian chief Sitting Bull, who defeated US
General George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in
1876.
"Long live Sitting Bull!" Chavez declared, drawing applause from his
audience, many of whom wore traditional native clothes and head-
dresses.
The second Monday in October was declared a national public holiday
by president Richard Nixon in 1971.
© BBC MMIII
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