...see the headlines to the right under "Noticias" here at this site...
http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com/sp/index.html
Need to run them through a spanish-english translator, if you don't read espanol. English version site coming soon.
-Shane
Posted on 12/14/2002 3:36:32 PM PST by HAL9000
Mass demonstration in Caracas to ask for the resignation of Chavez
Saturday December 14, 2002 - 23h20 GMT
CARACAS, 14 déc (AFP) - hundreds of thousands of Vénézuéliens answered the call of the opposition to a walk of protest to require the resignation of president Hugo Chavez, Saturday in Caracas, the thirteenth day of an unlimited general strike.
According to representatives' of the opposition, this demonstration most significant is organized in the history of the country.
At the end of the afternoon, the majority of the demonstrators had massed, on a distance from two kms, the four lanes of the motorway Francisco Fajardo, crossing the center of the capital, noted correspondents of the AFP.
Before joining this gathering point, the demonstrators surveyed the avenues of Caracas to the cries of "outside, outside!" or of "resignation, resignation!", raising a multitude of flags vénézuéliens yellow, blue and red, under immense signs asking for the convocation of "élections as of now ".
Stressing slogans such "goes itself, goes itself!" ("it from goes away!"), or "Esta semana lo mandamos has Habana!" ("this week let us send we it in Havana!", in reference to the friendship of Hugo Chavez with cuban president Fidel Castro, the demonstrators rythmaient their progression of trumpet or whistles and sound of lids of pans entrechoqués, used daily at the beginning of evening to mean their rejection of the mode.
"This mode does not want peace, Chavez continuous to be deaf with the voice of the people", launched one of the speakers to the platform, Carlos Ortega, the leader of the Confederation of the Workers of Venezuela (CTV), one of the organizations at the origin of the movement of strike.
Mr. Ortega announced that the strike would continue until the opposition obtains satisfaction.
The demonstrators had gathered in afternoon the beginning of in six places of the capital, from which they started their walk which led them close to an exchanger on the Fajardo motorway, near the Altamira place, where three opponents were killed at the time of a shooting on December 6.
Walk was convened by democratic Coordination (CD), gathering parties of opposition, the CTV and the employers' federation Fedecamaras, organizing of the strike.
This one was started on December 2 in order to obtain the organization of anticipated elections or the resignation of the head of the State, two requirements refused by president Chavez, re-elect in July 2000 for a six years mandate.
The general strike paralyses the holding public Petroleos of Venezuela (PDVSA) and exports of oil of Venezuela, 5th exporter and 8th world producer of crude.
Catchy. Chapter 2 of All your base . . .
Somebody set Hugo up the bomb! Outside for Chavez, for great justice!!!
? "What Goes Around, Comes Around"? No disrespect whatsoever meant for these brave people - but sometimes translations via Babelfish are like listening to the wit and wisdom of a small child, mostly babble - but occasionally some brilliant zingers and sidesplitters.
This would be a worthy sequel to "all your base--"
CARACAS, Venezuela - In the opposition's biggest show of force since it launched a crippling general strike, more than 1 million Venezuelans poured into the streets of the capital Saturday to demand the resignation of President Hugo Chavez.Chanting "Let him leave today," protesters filled bridges, overpasses and parks along Caracas' busiest highway, carrying giant Venezuelan flags, blowing whistles and chanting anti-Chavez slogans.
Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briseno said more than 1 million people were demonstrating in what he called "the biggest march we've seen in recent times."
Protesters marched with their children, and their dogs. Many followed the march route on bicycles, skateboards and motorcycles.
From a stage under a starry sky, musicians played Venezuelan folk music, dissident military officers fired up the crowd and comedians mocked Chavez's close friendship with Cuban President Fidel Castro.
"Chavez has two jobs: president of the republic and first lady of Cuba," comedian Carlos Donoso said, to roars of laughter from the crowd.
Mayor Alfredo Pena and ousted police chief Henry Vivas have refused to recognize the military presence or the new police chief appointed by Chavez.
On Friday night, a top court issued an injunction handing police installations and equipment back to the mayor while it considered the case. But the military did not withdraw, and police said soldiers continued to restrict their access to the stations. Radios, patrol cars and most rifles were confiscated.
"We have access to our revolvers and a few shotguns, but they are keeping most of our long arms," said Commissioner Lucas Rondon.
Pena said there was little he could do to make the government obey the court.
"I don't have tanks or bazookas or airplanes to make the head of the military in Caracas obey a court order," he told The Associated Press.
Chanting, singing and blowing whistles, protesters streamed through the Venezuelan capital as they converged on wealthy eastern Caracas, where they massed on a major highway in a fluttering yellow, blue and red sea of national flags.
The embattled populist president, facing an opposition strike that has crippled the nation's vital oil industry and rattled markets, has repeatedly dismissed opposition demands he step down and call an immediate vote.
Or a "Ceaucescu" one.
"Wish I were back home on Caracas Top, back in them Venezuela hills..." Hmmm. I'll need to work on it.
Please note the subtle Reuters bias.
1. The crowd is estimated as 1 million by the Fire Department. Reuters claims it's only half a million.
2. The protestors are not average people but "foes."
3. This is just a case of a "leftist leader rejecting the U.S."
4. The "foes" like to congregate in the "wealthy" area of Caracas, therefore do not represent the average person.
5. Against the "wealthy", the "populist" president is "embattled".
...see the headlines to the right under "Noticias" here at this site...
http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com/sp/index.html
Need to run them through a spanish-english translator, if you don't read espanol. English version site coming soon.
-Shane
Since there are anti-communist demonstrations I'm assuming I should apply the reciprocal of the liberals' "million man math" factor to get the real numbers. (Musta been millions!)
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