VENEZUELA: Thousands celebrate failed coup that jump-started Hugo Chavez's political career

Record ID: 213895

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Thousands celebrate failed coup that jump-started Hugo Chavez's political career
  • Date: 4th February 2013
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 4, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE DANCING IN THE STREETS CELEBRATING THE 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUP ATTEMPT BY VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ (WHO WAS AN ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL BACK THEN) A PERSON PLAYING DRUMS DURING CELEBRATION A GROUP OF PEOPLE PLAYING DRUMS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN MARCH TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUP ATTEMPT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHAVEZ SUPPORTER, TERESA ALVAREZ, SAYING: "From the heart, I am telling my president to get better. To get well, to come back and speak to us and sing us the songs he has always sung to us whenever he gives a speech." A CHAVEZ POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHAVEZ SUPPORTER, JUAN TREMARIA, SAYING: "I came to be a part of this magnificent rally that the Venezuelan revolutionary movement is celebrating today to commemorate that February 4 once again, of that and for Comandante Hugo Chavez Frias." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING WITH FLAGS HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 04, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RALLY TO CELEBRATE THE 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUP ATTEMPT BY CHAVEZ VENEZUELANS HOLDING A PHOTOGRAPH OF CHAVEZ WITH CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY LEADER, FIDEL CASTRO A VENEZUELAN FLAG VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA, EDGARDO ANTONIO RAMIREZ, SPEAKING AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA, EDGARDO ANTONIO RAMIREZ, SAYING: "Comandante Chavez is progressively getting better and he will keep getting better." MEMORIAL PLAQUE IN HONOUR OF SOUTH AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY HERO, SIMON BOLIVAR RAMIREZ LEAVING A FLORAL OFFERING AT THE SIMON BOLIVAR MONUMENT THE SIMON BOLIVAR MONUMENT PEOPLE CELEBRATING AT THE RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN WOMAN, MARIA PATINO, SAYING: "We are full of optimism, full of joy, full of happiness and hope that our comandante will return healthy and safe to continue with this revolution which is here to stay." A WOMAN LOOKING ON A BALCONY WITH A VENEZUELAN AND CUBAN FLAG
  • Embargoed: 19th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cuba
  • Country: Cuba
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEMP08VAJ86ND9MEXZYTFMN5M3
  • Story Text: Thousands of supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spilled into the streets on Monday to celebrate the 1992 failed coup attempt led by Chavez which solidified him as a revolutionary leader in the OPEC nation.
    Rallies were held in Caracas and in Havana, Cuba where the ailing leader remains hospitalised following cancer surgery there last December.
    In the Venezuelan capital, Chavez supporters danced, waved Venezuelan flags and displayed posters and banners depicting the fiery leader as they marked the 21st anniversary of the February 4, 1992 attempted overthrow of then-President Carlos Andres Perez.
    Though Chavez failed to remove the unpopular president from power, the effort launched Chavez's political career.
    After being jailed for the coup attempt, Chavez was pardoned by newly elected President Rafael Caldera. After his release, Chavez toured the country and won a 1998 election which led him to take office early the following year.
    February 4 has been commemorated every year since and is recognised as one of the pillars of the Bolivarian revolution led by Chavez.
    The socialist leader however, has not been seen or heard from in public since the December 11 surgery in Cuba, his fourth operation for a cancer first detected in the pelvic area in June 2011.
    Recent government reports have indicated the leader, who has been in power for 14 years, is steadily recovering.
    Supporters at the Caracas rally said they looked forward to his homecoming.

    "From the heart, I am telling my president to get better. To get well; come back and speak to us and sing us the songs he has always sung to us whenever he gives a speech," Chavez supporter, Teresa Alvarez said.

    "I came to be a part of this magnificent rally that the Venezuelan revolutionary movement is celebrating today to commemorate that February 4 once again, for that and for Comandante Hugo Chavez Frias," said another Chavez backer, Juan Tremaria.
    Supporters in Caracas held a number of mass rallies in different points of the city, many of them culminating in the historic city centre, not far from the Miraflores presidential palace.
    Hundreds more participated in a similar rally in Havana, Cuba where Venezuelans visiting the island celebrated alongside Cuban residents. Chavez is closely aligned with the government of Cuban President Raul Castro and is a close friend of Castro's older brother and former president Fidel Castro.
    Venezuela's ambassador to Cuba, Edgardo Ramirez, addressed the crowd gathered at a statue of Latin American independence leader, Simon Bolivar in downtown Havana, insisting Chavez is recovering following the surgery.

    "Comandante Chavez is progressively getting better and he will keep getting better," Ramirez said.
    Supporters here echoed the positive sentiment, including Venezuelan, Maria Patino.

    "We are full of optimism, full of joy, full of happiness and hope that or comandante will return healthy and safe to continue with this revolution which is here to stay," Patino said.
    Despite complications after the operation, officials have been more optimistic about Chavez's state in the past few weeks, suggesting he was over the worst of the recovery period and may come home soon.
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