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Venezuela - Mass demonstration in Caracas demands resignation of Chavez
AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | December 14, 2002

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.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: castro; chavez; cuba; venezuela
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To: cocopuff
More great crowd photos from yesterday's Opposition march here...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/806773/posts?

-Shane

21 posted on 12/15/2002 2:44:57 PM PST by shanec
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To: HAL9000
Why has the mainstream media clamped such a tight lid o such a big story comeig out of Venezuela? I would think that there would be dozens of jouralistic teams with all sorts of vidio equipment there. Instead there is far less coverage than an Albore speach.
22 posted on 12/15/2002 3:08:29 PM PST by fella
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To: fella
My guess would be a combination of factors...

- This caught a lot by surprize, not even US govt concieved the quick turnaround (about 45 days) and the eventual extent of the general strike the military officer dissenters had galvanized together from the many different and leftover dis-spirited opposition groups after the failed April coup.

- US media pre-occupied with Iraq, terrorism and really important stuff like roasting Lott 24/7.

- US media still hasn't figured out (or maybe it has) that Venezuela is fixing to become another, and much worse, Cuba if it stays course under Chavez.

- US media never eager to expose lies & deceptions of fellow leftist 'regimes of the people'.

BTW, Fox showed up Friday down there, pretty fair reporting, lots more they could/should expose, but tons better than CNN drivel re-wrapped direct from Chavez headquarters.

IMO, this developing situation/story deserves a bunch more attention...

Clearly, no country in South America holds more promise for being a strong and effective ally and supporter of the USA, perhaps none better in this entire Hemisphere, *when* Chavez is gone and remnants of his regime are fully rooted out. Also, though, there is no current government in this hemisphere that is a more "Clear & Present Danger" to the USA with the continuation and expansion of Hugo Chavez goals and initiatives. He has the means at hand to actually accomplish what Fidel Castro has only dreamed/wished he could do.
And, most all of America hasn't a clue of what hinges on this current struggle.

-Shane
23 posted on 12/15/2002 3:52:06 PM PST by shanec
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To: shanec
"- US media pre-occupied with Iraq, terrorism and really important stuff like roasting Lott 24/7.

Perhaps the Lott roast being carried on so far without any fair coverage of the dims real raceism is to coverup this Venesuela situation.

24 posted on 12/15/2002 5:16:54 PM PST by fella
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To: guitfiddlist
Good old Caracus Top, Caracas Top Venezuela.
25 posted on 12/15/2002 5:23:00 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: shanec
Just read a post on www.militaresdemocraticos.com where someone was saying that they heard a report on Radio Union saying that the crew of the Pilin Leon tanker was being held at gun point and told to move the tanker before midnight or they would blow it up. This tanker is carrying 44million litres of gasoline. Somehow the Indian crew was not able to move it. Lets just hope this is just a rumor. Chavez knows that his days are numbered.
26 posted on 12/15/2002 5:55:24 PM PST by cocopuff
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To: cocopuff
cocopuff, I asked down there and didn't get much new news about it, just that...

Yes, the Indian crew that Chavez had hired was unable to move it. So they left again. The crew on Pilin Leon are being held on gunpoint, and incomunicados.

If I hear anything new, will let you know.

-Shane

27 posted on 12/15/2002 7:37:13 PM PST by shanec
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To: HAL9000
When will the Venezuelans realize that Ghandi's method was a fluke and only worked against a democratic government.

The only thing communist dictators understand is Violence. Pinochet knew this and that's why he was the only person able to stop a communist revolution once it had already gotten its foot in the door.

They are probably completely disarmed, not suspecting anything bad could ever happen.

28 posted on 12/16/2002 4:04:53 AM PST by Odyssey-x
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