Anti-Chávez march takes violent turn

Miami Herald ^ | August 28, 2005 | PATRICIA RONDON ESPIN, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Demonstrators opposed to Venezuela's National Election Council were met with violence during a march through Caracas.

CARACAS - A street march by hundreds of Venezuelans opposed to President Hugo Chávez turned violent Saturday as purported government supporters threw rocks and tear gas canisters at protesters.

Roughly 1,000 demonstrators were marching through the capital to demand that officials on the National Election Council, which is seen as pro-Chávez by government opponents, are replaced before upcoming congressional elections.

Six people were injured when alleged Chávez supporters attacked the march, launching fireworks and throwing glass bottles, rocks and tear gas canisters, Caracas Fire Chief Delio Martínez said.

The violence broke up the march several blocks from congress. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, the Globovisión television news channel reported.

''This government is all about lies,'' said Rómulo Zambrano, a 50-year old publicist, as he marched toward the National Assembly in downtown Caracas.

Opposition leaders claim the council is dominated by government-friendly directors who cannot guarantee a transparent vote. Electoral officials insist their council is independent and preparations have been made for fair elections.

Some opposition leaders have called boycotts in past elections, but most opposition parties are urging voters to go to the polls to demonstrate unity in December's congressional election.

Ruling party lawmakers currently control 53 percent of the National Assembly, a majority that Chávez has vowed will grow in the December vote.

Chávez critics accuse the former army paratrooper of becoming increasingly authoritarian and dividing this South American nation of 26 million along class lines.

A self-styled ''revolutionary'' who was re-elected in 2000 on promises to empower the poor, Chávez says his political adversaries are ''immoral'' power-mongers bent on toppling him.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela LINKS to Chavez articles.

Venezuela halts missionary permits - Action taken after comments by Pat Robertson regarding Chavez - ***CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Venezuela's government has temporarily suspended permits for foreign missionaries after a U.S. televangelist said Washington should assassinate President Hugo Chavez.

The policy announcement came four days after conservative evangelist Pat Robertson said Washington should execute Chavez, a former soldier who often accuses the United States of plotting to kill him.

The chief of the Justice Ministry's religious affairs unit, Carlos Gonzalez, said Friday authorization of permits for missionaries would be curbed while the government tightened regulations on preachers inside Venezuela............***

Iran, Venezuela discuss oil embargo***TEHRAN — "Oil is the lifeline of the West, and most of the West's military industries are dependent on it,” the Tehran Times suggested in an editorial last week. Irritated by a recent resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that called for a halt to Iran’s uranium conversion program, the newspaper suggested that oil-rich states form a united front and use oil as a tool to confront "western neocolonialist countries."

In Venezuela, Pres. Hugo Chavez has taken the idea a step further, threatening to halt oil exports if alleged attacks on his country continue, according to Agence France Press. Appearing last week as a witness at a symbolic “anti-imperialist court” in Caracas, Chavez said, “Washington’s molestation may cause more serious problems; our two oil tankers going to the U.S. everyday may go to another country.” He added that the “Northern America market is not compulsory for us.” Venezuela exports 1.5 million barrels of oil to the United States daily. ...***

.....Chávez was the only foreign leader to visit Saddam Hussein after the first Gulf war. During his visit he embraced Saddam and called him "brother." Source

[TruthFactor]

It's time to implement the "Robertson Doctrine".

This guy is a thug and needs to be taken care of. Pat Robertson's statement may have given these people some hope that they have a friend in the U.S. of A. Here's to hoping they do.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Electoral officials insist their council is independent and preparations have been made for fair elections.

No Communist leader has ever allowed free elections. As Stalin said, "It is not important who votes. What is important is who counts the votes."

A street march by hundreds of Venezuelans opposed to President Hugo Chávez turned violent Saturday as purported government supporters threw rocks and tear gas canisters at protesters.

Yes, every town has citizens walking around with tear gas canisters, right?

[garyhope]

"Yes, every town has citizens walking around with tear gas canisters, right?"

I know I usually keep a few around just in case there's an unfriedly anti-government "demonstration" nearby.

[guitarnick40]

"It's all Bush's fault" says Chavez....that will be the next dateline out of there today.

[wheelright]

No Communist leader has ever allowed free elections.

Does that mean you don't believe Jimmy Carter? Darn it! He said they were fair last time and dollars to donuts he'll certify their elections again.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I know I usually keep a few around just in case there's an unfriedly anti-government "demonstration" nearby.

Good. I just wanted to make sure none of us were shirking our duties.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I was considering dear Jimmah part of the Communist apparatus.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Danny Ortega did. Once.

[exDemMom]

Electoral officials insist their council is independent and preparations have been made for fair elections.

Of course, "fair" means the left wins the election. If people vote otherwise, it's because they don't know what's in their own best interest, and steps must be taken to ensure a fair election anyway.

[Lion Den Dan]

Pat Robertson has the right Idea. Snuff Chavez and save thousands of lives; American soldiers and Venzualen civillians.

[Brilliant]

It may take years before events catch up with Chavez, but I predict they will.

[Embraer2004]

You just have to be patient. In a previous thread I said that the Venezuelans will eventually treat Chavez like the Italians treated Mussolini after WWII. Although a significant minority supports Chavez, the majority of the Venezuelans despise him and live in a cloud of fear, but very soon they will revolt, yesterday's chaos was just the tip of the iceberg. And of course, Chavez and Castro will blame Bush

[Mike Darancette]

Chavez' Brown Shirts hit the street.

[Desron13]

"A street march by hundreds of Venezuelans opposed to President Hugo Chávez turned violent Saturday as purported government supporters threw rocks and tear gas canisters at protesters."

Oh Please! Just where do "supporters" get tear gas canisters? Unless by "supporters" you mean his communist government goon squads. Yeah, I suppose you could call them "supporters".

[Lion Den Dan]

Ofcourse it is Bush's fault. He played upon our fears and set Chavez on the seat of power.