Colombia Grants Asylum to Venezuelan Coup Leader

Associated Press ^ | May 26, 2002 | Andrew Selsky Associated Press Writer

[colgin]

Colombia Grants Asylum to Venezuelan Coup Leader By Andrew Selsky Associated Press Writer Published: May 26, 2002

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Colombia announced Sunday it has granted asylum to Pedro Carmona, who was briefly installed as president of Venezuela during a short-lived coup last month. The Colombian Foreign Ministry said in a communique that it "has decided to grant diplomatic asylum" to Carmona, who slipped away from house arrest in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Thursday and fled into the residence of the Colombian ambassador. Carmona is facing a trial in Venezuela for rebellion and conspiracy for his role in the coup and could have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Colombia stood virtually alone among Latin American nations in applauding the ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on April 12. Chavez was reinstalled only two days later amid widespread protests in Venezuela and a split in the military into pro- and anti-coup factions.

Dozens of Venezuelans celebrated the decision Sunday outside the darkened Colombian ambassador's residence, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting, "Carmona, friend, the people are with you."

Carmona told the Venezuelan television station Venevision by telephone that he felt "profound gratitude" to Colombia. His wife was greeted outside the ambassador's residence Sunday with cheers. "We're very grateful," said Gladys de Carmona.

Venezuela did not immediately issue a formal response to Colombia's move, but there seemed to be conflicting comments from top officials.

On Friday, Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel had said Venezuela would not object if Colombia granted Carmona asylum. But late Sunday, Foreign Minister Luis Davila said in Caracas that it was "contradictory" to grant asylum to a Venezuelan citizen accused of Venezuelan crimes.

Davila told Globovision that neither Carmona's life or personal safety were endangered before he took refuge at the ambassador's residence. Both are appropriate grounds for asylum, he said. The final decision is up to Chavez, Davila said.

Nonetheless, Davila said, Venezuela respects "the sovereign decision of the Colombian government" and noted the two governments have been regularly discussing the case since Carmona made his bid on Thursday.

Tarek William Saab, a Chavez confidante and head of the National Assembly's foreign affairs committee, said in Caracas that he expected Venezuela to grant the request.

The short-lived coup by members of the military high command came after gunfire broke up a massive march against Chavez's rule, leaving 17 people dead and hundreds wounded on April 11.

The next day, rebel military officers installed Carmona as interim president. Chavez was restored to power April 14 after Carmona dissolved many of Venezuela's democratic institutions, triggering the popular rebellion. Dozens more died during the crisis.

The 61-year old business leader denies conspiring to overthrow Chavez's government, saying he accepted the presidency because he believed Chavez had resigned.

Carmona argues that he is a political refugee because a Venezuelan court ordered him jailed for rebellion.

"In no way am I eluding my responsibilities," Carmona said Sunday night on Venevision.

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Associated Press reporter Jim Anderson contributed to this story from Caracas, Venezuela

[colgin]

A step in the right direction.

[Aim small miss small]

Good for him. He is probably pleased.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Dozens of Venezuelans celebrated the decision Sunday outside the darkened Colombian ambassador's residence, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting, "Carmona, friend, the people are with you." Carmona told the Venezuelan television station Venevision by telephone that he felt "profound gratitude" to Colombia. His wife was greeted outside the ambassador's residence Sunday with cheers. "We're very grateful," said Gladys de Carmona.

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Chavez Political Foe Leaves for Asylum in Colombia - Wed May 29,10:20 AM ET - [Full Text] - CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - The Venezuelan businessman who led an interim government that briefly replaced President Hugo Chavez after last month's coup left for Colombia on Wednesday, three days after the neighboring Andean nation granted him political asylum. Pedro Carmona, who had faced rebellion charges for his alleged role in the coup, fled from house arrest last week to the residence of the Colombian ambassador after claiming he feared political persecution.

Colombian Ambassador to Venezuela German Bula said on Wednesday that Carmona would leave on a commercial flight to Bogota after he was granted safe conduct out of the country by the Venezuelan government. Amid tight security, Carmona departed on a Colombian military aircraft bound for Bogota from Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, local television and radio media reported.

A leading opposition figure, Carmona was sworn in as president of the interim government that replaced Chavez in mid-April after rebel civilian and military leaders briefly toppled the left-wing leader. Venezuela's security police detained Carmona after loyal troops restored Chavez to power 48 hours later.

Chavez, a former paratrooper elected in 1998 on a platform of social reform, still faces opposition calls for his resignation. More than six weeks after the short-lived coup, his supporters and critics remain bitterly divided over the killings that triggered the coup. [End]