Posted on 09/17/2003 10:40:44 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who faces a referendum challenge from political opponents, has canceled a planned visit to the United States next week that included an address to the U.N. General Assembly, government sources said on Tuesday.
Besides the United Nations (news - web sites) in New York, the left-wing Venezuelan leader had been planning to visit the Organization of American States in Washington and the oil industry city of Houston in a Sept 25-29 trip.
"He's not going to either Washington or the U.N ... he prefers to concentrate on affairs at home," one government source, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters.
The sources offered no further explanation for the trip cancellation by the populist president, who has traveled widely and enjoys lecturing foreign audiences about his "Bolivarian Revolution" in the world's No. 5 oil exporter.
Chavez, a former paratrooper who was first elected in late 1998 and survived a coup last year, is facing a determined bid by opponents to hold a nationwide referendum on his rule.
Venezuela's National Election Council last Friday rejected as flawed an opposition referendum petition backed by more than 3 million signatures. Opposition leaders plan a second collection of pro-referendum signatures on Oct. 5.
Foes of Chavez say his "revolution" has dragged Venezuela into political chaos and economic ruin. He dismisses them as resentful "oligarchs" trying to defend their wealth and privileges.
Venezuelan President Teaches ABCs on Live TV*** CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's left-wing soldier president, Hugo Chavez, tried his hand at teaching on Monday, helping poor students learn to read and write in a two-hour class broadcast live to the nation from the presidential palace.
From a specially prepared classroom at Miraflores Palace, the former paratrooper and schoolteacher's son lectured teen-age and adult students from an impoverished Caracas neighborhood on the importance of reading and writing.
"Reading helps us to interpret the world," the populist president said, before taking a roll-call of his students, writing words on the blackboard for them to read, and drilling them in punctuation and spelling.
Infuriating midday television viewers across the South American nation, his government interrupted all normal television and radio programming for more than two hours to broadcast the presidential literacy class live.
Venezuela's telecommunications laws allow the president to do this at his discretion. But critics of Chavez, who accuse him of ruling like a dictator, say he frequently abuses this right to make marathon propaganda broadcasts.
The class was organized to promote a government campaign to eradicate illiteracy in the world's No. 5 oil exporter. The campaign was launched two months ago with textbooks, videos and educators provided by Cuba's Communist government.***
So THAT'S what he does when he's not ordering them shot for demonstrating...teaching them to READ. How quaint. Dontcha all just feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO warm and fuzzy toward old Hugo now?
Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez comparing good luck necklaces.
Hugo Chavez and his bird.
The REAL face of Hugo Chavez.
Hugo, don't you know its never a good idea to come between the nation's housewives and their daytime TV!
LOL...oh, and Castro made a practical joke once.
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