Chavez decrees pay boost for Venezuela military

Reuters ^ | 12 Oct 2003 22:03:54 GMT | Staff

[Bobibutu]

12 Oct 2003 22:03:54 GMT Chavez decrees pay boost for Venezuela military

CARACAS, Venezuela, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is resisting opposition efforts to call a referendum on his rule, on Sunday ordered a hefty salary rise for the armed forces in an apparent bid to shore up his support.

The left-wing former paratrooper, who survived a brief coup last year, made the announcement at a time when his political opponents are campaigning hard for a referendum to try to vote him out of office in the world's No. 5 oil exporter.

"I have decided that from January 1, 2004 onward, the salary of all professional members of the armed forces will be increased by 30 percent," the populist Venezuelan leader said in a broadcast on state television.

Recent opinion polls show two out of three Venezuelans would vote him out of office in a referendum, which could be held in February, 2004, if the opposition collects enough signatures to trigger a vote. Chavez rejects the polls as biased, but has launched new social programs to woo voters.

The president, who was elected in 1998, six years after failing to seize power in a botched coup, has tightened his control over the military since he was briefly toppled by rebel generals and admirals in April, 2002.

Reinstated by loyal troops, he purged his opponents from the armed forces, which he describes as a strategic pillar of his self-styled "revolution" in Venezuela. His foes accuse him of ruling like a dictator and seeking to install Cuba-style communism.

"United, the soldiers and the people are invincible," Chavez said on Sunday.

Accompanied by defense minister Jose Luis Prieto and military commanders, he ordered the armed forces to defend Venezuela's western border against Colombian leftist rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and drug-traffickers.

"We've told the Colombian groups they have to stay on their side," he said.

He also told the military to be alert for attempted "subversion" by opposition groups, and he included among these members of Caracas' Metropolitan Police which is run by anti-Chavez mayor Alfredo Pena.

Chavez, who accused this police force of backing last year's coup, sent in the army last November to take over their stations. Following a Supreme Court order, the soldiers only finally withdrew from the police stations last week.

"At the slightest sign that this police force is becoming a destabilizing group, we'll send in the tanks again," Chavez said.

[Reactionary]

I guess the Stalinist fruitcake is getting nervous.

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[Bobibutu]

A 30% raise! I guess nervous.

[xrp]

WOW 30% raise for government employees! It's a good thing that the American government doesn't do things like this, ripping off the American taxpayer...ERRR, oh wait, they do. Nevermind.

Reagan cut nondefense spending, Bush hasn't. The budget for the useless Department of Education is 60% higher than it was three years ago.

Nealz Nuze

[Bobibutu]

"WOW 30% raise for government employees! It's a good thing that the American government doesn't do things like this, ripping off the American taxpayer...ERRR, oh wait, they do. Nevermind."

OK I'll nevermind since you are so far off point you make no sense.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[xrp]

I guess you're too stupid to understand.

[kylaka]

30% and all the Coca-Cola that's fit to drink. Ummm... how much is 30% of worthless worth?

[Bobibutu]

"I guess you're too stupid to understand."

V E N E Z U E L A - C H A V E Z - M I L I T A R Y - R A I S E is the subject of the thread - take your personal rants on threads that address the subject matter you are enamored with.