Posted on 11/02/2007 8:13:38 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
CARACAS - Soldiers used tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons to scatter tens of thousands who massed Thursday to protest constitutional reforms that would permit Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election indefinitely. Led by university students, protesters chanted "Freedom! Freedom!" and warned that 69 amendments drafted by the Chavista-dominated National Assembly would violate civil liberties and derail democracy.
It was the biggest turnout against Chavez in months, and appeared to revive Venezuela's languid opposition at a time when the president seems as strong as ever. Students promised more demonstrations over the weekend, but no opposition-led protests were planned for Friday.
"This is a dictatorship masked as democracy," said Jorge Rivas, an 18-year-old student. "Chavez wants our country to be like Cuba, and we're not going to allow that to occur."
Authorities broke up the protest outside the headquarters of the country's electoral council, reporting that six police officers and one student were injured. But students said dozens of protesters were hurt during the melee. The local Globovision television network broadcast footage of several police beating an unarmed protester with billy clubs....
"Chavez wants to remain in power his entire life, and that's not democracy," said Gonzalo Rommer, a 20-year-old student... Deputy Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami blamed students for the violence...
The amendments would give the government control over the Central Bank, create new types of cooperative property, allow authorities to detain citizens without charge during a state of emergency and extend presidential terms from six to seven years while allowing Chavez to run again in 2012...
Opposition parties, human rights groups and representatives of the Roman Catholic Church fear civil liberties would be severely weakened under the constitutional changes. Chavez, a close ally of Fidel Castro, denies the reforms threaten civil liberties...
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Even the fools at Democrat Underground are beginning to see the truth
How’s that?
Communism always brings repression and poverty to all but the privileged elite.
If Chavez is such a great communist, he should give away his riches to all the poor people in his country. He won’t. Just like Hillary and Kerry, they want one set of rules for themselves and one for the common people.
They are beginning to see that Chavez is a communist dictator.
Support for Chavez at DU is way down
And the revolution begins.
One round can work wonders.
Trouble in worker’s paradise. Who’d have imagined...
The Barbra Walters interview with him still makes me ill. She went on and on about how misunderstood and great he is. Anyone with half a brain knew that it was just a matter of time before this would happen. I guess it’s time for the mass murder of his opponents to begin.
Rivas is correct, but the point of the political structure of Cuba is that it can't be prevented.
Chavez, a close ally of Fidel Castro, denies the reforms threaten civil liberties...
Oh, well, that's OK then.
So far the Marxist dance in Venezuela continues on schedule. It becomes increasingly apparent what Chavez wanted those 100,000 AK-47's for, and it wasn't to invade his neighbors.
Allende had armed a lot of his "workers' councils" too, and his supporters had begun to violently attack press organs in mid-1973. This is part of why the Chilean military was so brutal in the first few weeks after the coup.
But unlike in 1973, some of the natural opposition to the budding dictator has fled to Miami. I don't really know how much sentiment there is among the Venezuelan middle class and military to keep this from happening. I suspect that, especially after the failed anti-Chavez coup, he has done a lot to purge enemies from the military.
No way! Just a few short years ago he was their Messiah. I refuse to believe those DUmmies can actually admit to their being taken in by this charlatan.
Amazing isnt it?
Hugo can always relent and give them back their soap operas and that should take care of any opposition to his being Dictator for Life. The first thing they responded to since the failed coup was the removal of their favorite TV shows. I'm not seriously knocking the Venezuelans because I suspect it would be no different here.
That's a spanish name?
Which Hollywood loon is next in line to meet with Chavez?
But not GONE..................
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