Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Carter tries to coordinate meeting of Chavez and opposition - suspected of working for government
yahoo.com ^ | Jul 8, 2002 - 9:36 PM ET | FABIOLA SANCHEZ, AP

Posted on 07/09/2002 2:47:16 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's opposition said it rejected an invitation by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to arrange a meeting with President Hugo Chavez to discuss the country's political crisis.

Carter suggested having the meeting on Tuesday, the opposition leaders said after a closed-door session early Monday. Carter was meeting again with the opposition late Monday. The agenda wasn't announced.

Carter came to Venezuela at Chavez's request to save government-sponsored reconciliation talks after at least 18 people were killed in a massive opposition march, sparking a brief coup.

The opposition claimed Chavez wasn't sincere about dialogue and quit the talks. Many Venezuelans fear the deadlock and deteriorating economy will produce a social explosion.

Some opposition politicians want the Organization of American States, not the private think tank Carter Center, to intervene. Others said they felt Carter was being used by Chavez to buy time for his leftist government. Still others said they won't meet Chavez unless the government guarantees the safety of marchers who will commemorate the April dead on Thursday.

"We told former President Carter that we will not be part of a circus," said Antonio Ledezma, head of the opposition Brave People's Alliance party.

National Assembly President Willian Lara, a member of Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party, said Carter asked top lawmakers their views on disputes over the elections commission, the judicial system, a stalled probe into the April violence and economic laws decreed by Chavez.

Julio Borges, a lawmaker with the Justice First party, said he wasn't impressed by a negotiating agenda Carter presented Monday. He declined to elaborate, and it wasn't clear whether Carter or the government drafted the agenda. Carter has declined comment during his visit, which ends Wednesday.

"The agenda shown to us seems to us based more on the government's interests, or how the government can stay in power, than with the problems facing Venezuelan society," Borges said. "Trying to talk about all the country's problems tomorrow would be to talk about nothing."

Venezuela's main opposition parties argue the country is ungovernable under Chavez and want him out of office before his term ends in 2007. They have filed court cases alleging corruption and are organizing a referendum that could shorten his term.

Chavez has resisted the idea of OAS mediation, saying Venezuelans can solve their own problems. After the coup, he removed unpopular ministers from his Cabinet and offered to change laws opposed by the private sector.

The opposition wants Carter to stay in Venezuela to witness Thursday's march, hoping his presence will deter violence.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said security forces will stop marchers blocks away from the palace because the government "suspects there is nothing peaceful about their intentions."

He said the march was organized by the same people the government blames for instigating the April 11 shootings, and he cited threats to assassinate Chavez as another reason to restrict the march.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: communism; latinamericalist

1 posted on 07/09/2002 2:47:17 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
Good morning, CW.

"We told former President Carter that we will not be part of a circus," said Antonio Ledezma, head of the opposition Brave People's Alliance party.

I love that line! The opposition sure has Yimi pegged as well as Chavez who is using that little %/&$%&@ &*^%!!!

2 posted on 07/09/2002 5:25:09 AM PDT by GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
If we're talking about a left-wing dictator on one side and his opposition on the other, we don't even have to ask whose side Jimmy's going to take. The opposition was right. The whole thing would be for show, and Carter has no interest in doing anything but providing cover for the left-wing buddy of his best left-wing buddy, Castro.
3 posted on 07/09/2002 5:39:16 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GatĂșn(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer); livius
The opposition sure has Yimi pegged as well as Chavez who is using that little %/&$%&@ &*^%!!!

The whole thing would be for show, and Carter has no interest in doing anything but providing cover for the left-wing buddy of his best left-wing buddy, Castro.

Bumps!!

4 posted on 07/09/2002 5:48:10 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Cincinatus' Wife
18 USC 953, the Logan Act:
Sec. 953. - Private correspondence with foreign governments

"Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."

5 posted on 07/09/2002 6:44:44 AM PDT by boris
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: *Latin_America_List
Index Bump
6 posted on 07/09/2002 8:19:24 AM PDT by Free the USA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: boris
I wonder if he asked permission? Bush said he could go to Cuba. I wonder if he asked about Venezuela. Actually, each time he pulls one of these stunts, he highlights his predilection for dictators.
7 posted on 07/09/2002 2:29:20 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson