THIS is in response to article “Chavez’s epic battle” (March 8).The following remarks suggest that the fast-growing new concepts of democracy are getting foothold at the doorstep of America, which itself is considered a leader of the free world.

“Chavez’s avowed mentor Fidel Castro has long been accused of being a ruthless dictator, but both in Cuba and now in Venezuela there is more democracy than in the so-called free world, where a narrow clique of media moguls, financial barons and war-making industries rule the roost”. As reported in the media, farewell to Chavez has been historical, unprecedented in Latin American states. The people have described him as their father and themselves as his orphans. They wept and fainted, chanted and sang extolling him as a martyr, a hero and the saviour of their nation. The honour and popularity Chavez has earned after his death, every political leader in his country would desire for such recognition.

The short statement by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua is meaningful. It showed deep reverence for the leader. He said: “His voice and his thoughts reached far beyond our shores”. How thoughts of a leader can be redeemed. Here, I would like to share my personal experience about Zulfikar A. Bhutto (ZAB) who also held immense popularity beyond our shores.

After ZAB was executed, I had a chance to visit Paris with a group. We were travelling in the Metro which was crowded because of peak hours. When a tall Nigerian standing close to us inquired about our identity, we out of courtesy revealed our identity.

He rode rough on us, letting his anger against the execution of ZAB. And simultaneously he eulogised him. When we asked him whether he had ever met ZAB, or visited Pakistan, he replied in a big no, and kept talking until we reached our destination. There may be a contrast between the fate of ZAB and Chavez. The former was unable to prepare the masses against imperialist forces right in the beginning, which culminated in his unhappy exit. Chavez gave clear directions to his supporters immediately once he was at the helm of affairs and, therefore, the result was different.

SIKANDAR ALI SHAH Kandiaro