Venezuelan Troops Seize Caracas Police Weapons

Yahoo - AP story ^ | 1/14/03 | AP writer - Stephen Ixer

[shanec]

Venezuelan Troops Seize Police Weapons

By STEPHEN IXER, Associated Press Writer

CARACAS, Venezuela - Soldiers seized most of the heavy weapons and anti-riot equipment from Caracas' police force Tuesday, police said after President Hugo Chavez threatened to increase the military's control over the force and accused it of siding with his opponents.

Troops searched most of the capital's police stations at dawn and confiscated all weapons except .38 revolvers, said police chief Henry Vivas.

The seizure could raise tensions in a 44-day-old general strike aimed at ousting Chavez, which has been marked by almost daily street protests, including clashes between Chavez supporters and opponents.

"We don't understand this action," Vivas told Union Radio. "This leaves us at a tremendous disadvantage against criminals. Instead of disarming criminals, they disarm the police. It's outrageous." Also seized was anti-riot equipment like tear gas canisters and rubber bullets.

Vivas said the confiscation violated a Supreme Court ruling ordering the government to return the force to the control of Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena, a staunch Chavez foe. Vivas said he would challenge the seizure in court.

A Defense Ministry spokesman declined to comment.

Chavez ordered the military to take control of the police department in November, arguing police brutally repressed his supporters during protests. Pena say Chavez sympathizers attack police and that crime has risen since the military took control.

The Supreme Court overturned the order last month, but Chavez said last week he would not release control of the police. He said police brutality had resumed, accusing police of killing two of his supporters at a protest two weeks ago.

Chavez vows to defeat the strike, which has almost paralyzed Venezuela's crucial oil industry. He threatened last week to order troops to seize control of food plants participating in the stoppage.

On Monday, Energy and Mines Minister Rafael Ramirez called the walkout an act of "terrorism" that has cost the country $4 billion.

"All these acts of terrorism have brought tremendous consequences for the nation," Ramirez said in a televised address.

Once the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, Venezuela has had to pay $105 million to import more than 2 million barrels of gasoline since the general strike began Dec. 2, Ramirez said.

Oil provides half of government revenue and 80 percent of export earnings.

Venezuela's opposition parties, along with the largest labor union and business chamber, called the general strike to pressure Chavez into calling early elections. The walkout is strongest in state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., where 30,000 of 40,000 workers are off the job.

Chavez has fought back by firing at least 1,000 white-collar workers at PDVSA.

Ramirez said daily oil production now surpasses 800,000 barrels. Striking oil executives fired by Chavez say output is just over 400,000 barrels a day. Before the strike, production was up to 3 million barrels a day.

Some strike leaders were considering asking small businesses — who say they cannot sustain losses much longer — to resume work, together with medical workers and teachers, hoping to avoid a popular backlash.

But the strike will continue in the oil industry, said Enrique Naime, a leader of the opposition Democratic Coordinator movement.

Most private schools and some public schools have been closed since the strike started. Hospital workers supporting the strike are only attending emergencies. Many supermarkets have run out of milk and are running low on staples such as flour and drinking water. Many medicines no longer are available at pharmacies.

William Davila, another Democratic Coordinator leader, said the food industry also should be given the freedom to ensure basic supplies.

But Davila said any easing of the strike should depend on a forthcoming Supreme Court ruling on the legality of a nonbinding referendum on Chavez's rule. The National Elections Council scheduled the vote for Feb. 2 after accepting an opposition petition signed by 2 million people.

Chavez says the nonbinding vote would be unconstitutional. His presidency runs until January 2007, and Venezuela's constitution says a binding referendum may be held halfway into his six-year term, or August.

[shanec]

The Police are anti-Chavez and are again being dis-armed, thus when they are needed and can't keep order then Chavez has a better excuse to call in his troops, "for the public good", and/or declare martial law. This is pretty transparent and dovetails with more 'rule of law' bending by Chavez expected THIS WEEK, possibly today, where the TSJ (Supreme Court, Venezuela) will announce...

- In 'Sala Electoral': Leonardo Pizani can not be member of CNE board (electoral authority), thus all recent decisions taken by the board with his participation are invalid. This blocks the non-binding Feb 2 referendum on whether or not Chavez should resign.

- In 'Sala Constitutional': The question put for referendum Feb 2 is not valid, thus Feb 2 referendum is also blocked through this way, just for redundant safety in numbers.

In addition, two more Supreme Court rulings are readied as well, but with less certain dates:

The detention of dissident G.N. general Carlos Alfonzo Martinez (without a warrant or any charges) is ruled "legal", and the general will stay under arrest.

Government intervention of private TV stations and media outlets is ruled "legal".

The situation in Venezuela can best be compared to post-colonial Africa, where the supreme courts of Marxist "Peoples Republics" allowed their ruling dictator and his party to do anything ... with the added danger to world stability that Venezuela is the third largest exporter of oil to the United States, and has billions of petro-dollars. And that the sympathetic Chavez regime, for that reason, is sought out by leftist terrorist groups and dictators as a secure source of financing and aid...

-Shane

[shanec]

ping...

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[HELLRAISER II]

It's hard to believe that we're fixing to bust Saddam a new one in the Middle East and gas prices aren't effected, but Venezuala has a problem and the gas prices go through the roof. I hope the Eco nuts will come to realize this and let us start drilling at home for oil.

[bigfootbob]

"I hope the Eco nuts will come to realize this and let us start drilling at home for oil."

Never happen. This is going along as planned. Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden are probably happy as pigs in a poke.

[bigfootbob]

"I hope the Eco nuts will come to realize this and let us start drilling at home for oil."

Never happen. This is going along as planned. Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden are probably happy as pigs in a poke.

[justshe]

DON'T MEAN TO BUG YOU.....
BUT CAN YOU HELP? PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com STOP BY A BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[HELLRAISER II]

Unfortunately your right, I just get so pissed off when I see these same people bad mouthing people and their SUV's and calling us Terrorists while telling us we have to deal with those same Terrorists because they don't want us drilling for oil on our own soil.

[Rebelbase]

The Right to keep and bear arms cannot be compromised, or else.

[bigfootbob]

true.

[madfly]

ping

[EdReform]

BTTT

[hchutch]

Hugo's making his move.

Damn... time to start looking up Assassins 'R' Us in the Yellow Pages...

[Dog Gone]

This is a dramatic development and an escalation by Chavez.

When even his handpicked Supreme Court ruled that he couldn't seize control of the Caracas police department, you know he's gone over the edge. This action is outrageous and should send shivers down the spines of ordinary Venezuelans.

[shanec]

While Chavez dis-arms the police, it's instructive to see who he is bringing in to help him maintain his regime.

From my Caracas connection at http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com he told me last night that:

"We also got a big IRANIAN contingent, as well as ALGERIANS and INDIANS. The Iranians got a big official government reception, and included high-level government officials from Iran. The Algerians, when they came, got in through customs through a special door and did not have to show passports or pass immigration controls in any way. I have this on tape (filmed by a passenger on the same, from Holland, two days ago)."

Also, he wrote, Chavez is stepping up his dependance on Tripoli for help in supporting his regime there, too. 18 specialist Libyans arrived there 3 days ago, to supposedly restart the oil refineries because he can not find local workers, who are both skilled and willing to break the strike, to do so.

They were received by top-level MVR party bosses, so they might be more than mere oil workers. I am enclosing a list of names and the route they took to get here, for whatever it is worth...

LIBYANS IN VENEZUELA

Flight plan -
01/09/03: LX 2585 Tripoli > Zurich
01/10/03: LH 3755 Zurich > Frankfurt
01/10/03: LH 534 Frankfurt > Caracas

Received in Maiquetia (Caracas airport) by:
Ali Ahmed, of the "Libyan Commission"
Cilia Flores, member of Congress, "MVR"-party
Nicolas Maduro, member of Congress, "MVR"-party
Juan Barreto, member of Congress, "MVR"-party

Arrivals (last name, first name):
Alghariy, Alsudik
Najjar, Elmabruk
Adun, Koaled
Adel, Zeguera
Nagib, Sherif
Benelfgh, Abubaker
Bentahir, Nabiel
Enbia, Abdulfat
Majrab, Waldi
Elkom, Amhamed
Nashnush, Abdulgha
Romia, Mohamed
Shwich, Abduraoo
Elghanud, Abdulnas
Barhmi, Ezzedin
Seleni, Abdulssa
Gwile, Hasan
Besha, Mhemmed

Current place of residence: Hotel Eduard, Macuto, Vargas state

Stated Mission: Reactivation of various PDVSA oil refineries

[DensaMensa]

FOUR CRITICAL STEPS TO ACHIEVING DICTATORSHIP

1) Disarm the PEOPLE.  They can't be trusted.  Besides, it's for the children.

2) Disarm the POLICE.  They can't be trusted.  They may side with the people against the military.

3) Disarm the MILITARY.  They can't be trusted. They may support a coup.

4) Disarm the GUARDS.  They can't be trusted.  Ask Caesar.

[Carry_Okie]

The noose tightens.

Shane, do the citizens of Venezuela possess sufficient small arms to defeat the government?

[RightWhale]

do the citizens of Venezuela possess sufficient small arms to defeat the government?

If civil war breaks out, which side will the US support? Considering the track record, the US will probably support the loser and become status non gratus for a long time to come.

[HELLRAISER II]

They have a serious problem there that is a giant powder keg and the fuse is already lit.

[shanec]

Many of the rank & file military still with Chavez can't be relied on by Chavez whenever he attempts to utilize them in any grossly unconstitutional actions. Also, he needs to create 'excuses' to blunt the world criticism of any future heavy-handed actions. Or, he'd of already stormed the Opposition military based openly and denoucing him daily at the Altamira Plaza here...
http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com
...and also arrested all the political Opposition party leaders, taken over all the media, etc.

Also, even if the military went largely neutral, and while many Venezuelans are armed, they would be well outgunned to match the weapons Chavez has been issuing out to his 'Bolivarian Circles', the left-wing gangs that were key to unravelling the April coup attempt.

The top military that have left him recently, seen at that web site link above, also have commitments from over 22,000 still within Chavez ranks awaiting orders from their commanders on the outside to act. In the meantime, they continue to feed out intel to the Plaza, such as this that came in the second week of December:

Military informer reported, small unit of National Guard ordered by Cnel.(EJ) 2do. Comandante of the Reserve Orlando Zurita Ramirez, who was following orders originating by Chavez, to go to an armory to load up 750 FAL's along with 1.8 million rounds of ammo and transport them to poor neighborhood west of Caracas called "23 de Enero". There they were distributed to local gang of about 1,000 strong called "Caraoaica y Tupacamaro". This is across the street from the Presidential Palace.

Anyways, all of the above can evolve into a real bloody mess of a civil war. The only hope, without bloodshed, I can see, is to force Chavez to leave by exposing to all the world his support of terrorists and then having all nations censor and blockade his regime. Even that may not work, but it has not yet been tried to say for sure.

The USA govt and media should be forefront in this expose, but I'm afraid that the US govt will too readily embrace any solution (whether he stays or not) that'll assure stable oil supplies, and that expose will never really happen.

That would be a real shame because the Venezuelan people could be great allies to the USA, once Chavez regime was gone. According to the just published 2002 Global Attitudes Survey by the Pew Research Center in Washington; 82% there have a favorable opinion of the USA, and that is amongst the highest ratings of all the 44 countries surveyed. And, in regard to supporting the US led war on terrorism, 79% favor it while only 20% oppose it! (What's the current %'s for that question here in the USA?)

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 type initiatives. Unchecked, Chavez will be able to do throughout this hemisphere what Fidel has only dreamed/wished he could do!

-Shane