Posted on 06/06/2002 3:05:41 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela - Ruling party lawmakers said Wednesday they will ask prosecutors to formally charge a Venezuelan journalist with treason for releasing a video in which masked men claiming to be military officers criticize President Hugo Chavez.
Three members of Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party on Wednesday accused journalist Patricia Poleo of conspiring to overthrow President Hugo Chavez, who survived a coup attempt last month.
"We are going to file a formal accusation against Patricia Poleo for crimes of treason, for rebellion," lawmaker Cilia Flores told reporters. "These conspirators, including Patricia Poleo, among others, are still determined to depose President Chavez."
The video, broadcast on national television Tuesday, shows 10 masked men in combat fatigues who claim to represent a large group of officers including lieutenant colonels, lieutenants, majors and sergeants.
One of them accuses Chavez of arming neighborhood groups called "Bolivarian Circles" and threatens military repression if they turn violent.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello promptly dismissed the video's credibility, saying there was no evidence the men were military officers.
Chavez denies Bolivarian Circles are armed, insisting they peacefully promote his efforts to empower the poor through community service.
Chavez has accused the Venezuelan media of playing a central role in a coup that deposed him for two days in April. The left-leaning former paratrooper accuses the local press of bias against his government, while journalists accuse him of inciting supporters to harass reporters.
Government supporters accuse television stations of supporting coup leaders by blacking out coverage of mass pro-Chavez protests. The stations insist the blackout was for safety reasons.
Chavez was ousted April 12 by military generals following bloody demonstrations against his rule, only to sweep back to power in another wave of civilian and military protests.
The ruling party lawmakers also accused Poleo of fabricating the video, rather than obtaining it, a charge she denied.
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