Posted on 04/16/2002 6:32:19 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
HAVANA - (AP) -- President Hugo Chávez's return to power in Venezuela continued to dominate headlines here on Monday as Cuba's state-controlled media closely followed the aftermath of the two-day overthrow of Fidel Castro's strongest ally in the Western Hemisphere
The Bolivarian Revolution Triumphs, the Communist Party newspaper Granma said in a front page story about Chávez's return to the capital after being held two days by the military following violent protests.
Chávez has long identified with South American independence fighter Simón Bolívar and even renamed his country the ''Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela'' in his honor.
Chávez has referred to his rule as the ``Bolivarian Revolution.''
Cuba's Cuban Workers Union congratulated Chávez supporters Monday for the ''triumph of right and justice'' with Chávez's restoration of power.
''We reiterate to our Venezuelan brothers that they can always count on the sure and unconditional support of the millions of Cuban workers who feel as if the cause of the Bolivarian Revolution is ours,'' read the letter, published in the weekly newspaper Trabajadores.
Over the weekend, Cuban TV broke repeatedly into regularly scheduled broadcasts to keep citizens here updated on what was happening in Venezuela.
Many Cubans stayed up all night to watch live images provided through a direct link with Venezuelan TV showing Chávez's triumphant return to the Miraflores presidential palace.
Castro's communist government earlier condemned Chávez's ouster as a coup orchestrated by corrupt politicians and business interests.
Hugo Chavez, left, is embraced by Fidel Castro in this Dec. 14, 1994 , file photo at the University of Havana, Cuba, during Chavez's visit to Cuba at Castro's invitation. Chavez, whose self-proclaimed mission was to fulfill the dreams of 19th century independence fighter Simon Bolivar of a free and unified South America, was Friday ousted at age 47. (AP Photo/CP, Jose Goitia, File)
Here is another one from the Miami Herald-- Chavez strengthens his grasp on power*** As the nation returned to normal, Chávez gave a long public address Monday before a packed room of journalists, where he called for dialogue and insisted many coup participants were manipulated. Many members of the armed forces who tried to overthrow him were deceived by civilian conspirators, Chávez said.
''They were tricked,'' Chávez insisted. ``I have no feelings of revenge or hate. No. I will review each one on a case by case basis and respect everyone's human rights.''
He also blamed the media for allegedly distorting information and magnifying the extent of the uprising. ''The news media have enormous power, and they should not act as a laboratory of lies, sowing terror,'' Chávez affirmed. ``That is terrorism, becoming a nest of terror in order to create a psychological impact.''****
Sorry, Hugo -- some country has already used that name. What's more, Bolivar was a believer in democratic pluralism and republican government. He was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a communist, like you and your object of unrequited love there.
"Kiss me, you fool!!"
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