Interviews with Cristal Montañéz Baylor

Definitely other movements of organizations, societies that have strengthened through these political processes, have caught my attention, especially those nonviolent movements, where society is united for the sole purpose of ending a dictatorial regime without violence.

We have observed this is many countries. It has happened in Yugoslavia. In recent months we have seen an extraordinary process in Iran — Egypt and Libya also can be mentioned — where we see that the people, despite the risks, have decided to defend democratic principles. And these countries have been mostly successful. Some have not been successful, such as Iran and Ukraine. The processes were lost. But the effort was made, the experience of unity has been seen, which leads us to say ultimately the dictators´ wish will prevail. In Iran they stole the elections from the people. In Venezuela they will steal the 2012 elections from Venezuelans.

Cristal Montañéz Baylor is a freedom and democracy activist. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1960. A former model and Miss Venezuela, Cristal began her work as an activist during the 1978 Venezuelan presidential election.

After Hugo Chavez came to power in Venezuela, Cristal served as the International Coordinator for the Resistencia Civil de Venezolanos en el Exterior. In collaboration with other organizations, she mobilized Venezuelan and international communities to protest the Chavez government’s crackdown on civil liberties and political rights. In 2004, Chavez’s administration responded by accusing Cristal of destabilizing the Venezuelan government and the National Electoral Council.

From 2003 to 2008, Cristal served as president of the International Venezuelan Council for Democracy (IVCD), an organization dedicated to advancing democratic values, preserving Venezuela’s tradition of free and fair elections, and promoting government accountability. Under her leadership, the IVCD worked to counter propaganda and misinformation campaigns by Chavez’s government.

Cristal now lives in Houston, Texas where she works to advance democracy, justice, and peace. In this capacity, Cristal leads efforts to educate activists on nonviolent action against oppressive regimes. Cristal also sits on the Hashoo Foundation’s U.S. Board of Directors, an organization that empowers vulnerable communities by facilitating their access to opportunity and promoting more tolerant and inclusive societies.