Posted on 12/17/2007 8:45:07 PM PST by NormsRevenge
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Monday that Venezuela should open the coffin of independence hero Simon Bolivar to examine the bones, saying there are sufficient doubts about his death in 1830 to warrant a full investigation.
Although history books maintain Bolivar died of tuberculosis, Chavez said doubts exist because some writings suggest it is possible the South American "Liberator" might have been murdered.
Chavez has raised this theory before, but went further during a speech on the anniversary of Bolivar's death.
"Who knows if they even made Bolivar's bones disappear? We have to determine it now," Chavez said. "We have the moral obligation to dispel this mystery, to open ... this sacred coffin and check the remains."
Chavez said it is possible Bolivar was poisoned, even though according to the traditional history Bolivar spent his last days bedridden and dying. He suggested modern "scientific advancements" — apparently DNA testing — could help determine if the remains entombed in the National Pantheon in Caracas are indeed Bolivar's.
"I swear I will not rest in the search for the real truth," Chavez said, pledging "an investigation with all the resources Venezuela can offer."
Bolivar, who liberated from Spain what is now Venezuela and several other South American countries, is an idol to Chavez and the inspiration of his Bolivarian Revolution movement.
Although history books maintain Bolivar died of tuberculosis, Chavez said doubts exist because some writings suggest it is possible the South American “Liberator” might have been murdered.
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Everybody’s a conspiracist these days.
It’s Bush’s fault
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, right, waves to supporters next to the Interior Minister Pedro Carreno during a ceremony to mark the 177th anniversary of the death of Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Monday, Dec 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Why don’t we open up Chavez and see what’s inside him?
Oaf
His back bone has been gone a long time that why he slithers like a snake.
It is a conspiracy of the Illuminati to kill Napoleon, Bolivar, and William Henry Harrison in a bid to take over the world! Sarc/ off
It’s anxiety panic disorder.. he’s missing his bud, Fidel.
Maybe I’m just an unapologetic bigot, but every time I see a South American political leader, I try to imagine them wearing a loin cloth and a headdress made of feathers and red clay.
Bolivar wants Chavez’s remains examined.
Bolivar wants Chavez freekin’ head examined.
This proves TG, that Chavez is only going to be around just a little while longer.
...if he was murdered, his murderer is long dead. Chavez is either insane, got a hidden agenda or both...
From where I sit, it seems only fair that chavez's remains also be examined.
John Wilkes Bush.
Simon Bolivar marched an army from Venezuela to Peru over the mountains and won battle after battle in a monumental march of 1000s of miles of very very rugged terrain
(I’ve been to Boyaca many times)
Chavez is just a hoodie version of a South American lefty thugtator.
not fit to even be in the same boneyard as Bolivar.
Chavez is the South American Idi Amin (and quite likely his brain has been affected by the same disease).
I have read that Caligula opened alexander’s tomb in egypt, and even took his shield and later paraded it about.
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