VENEZUELA: DISSIDENT MILITARY OFFICERS HAVE STOKED COUP FEARS BY APPEALING FOR REVOLT AGAINST PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ

Record ID: 230537

  • Title: VENEZUELA: DISSIDENT MILITARY OFFICERS HAVE STOKED COUP FEARS BY APPEALING FOR REVOLT AGAINST PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ
  • Date: 24th October 2002
  • Summary: (W5) CARACAS, VENEZUELA (OCTOBER 23, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ANTI-CHAVEZ DEMONSTRATORS CONGREGATING IN THE ALTAMIRA PLAZA; SLV ANTI-CHAVEZ DEMONSTRATORS SLEEPING IN THE ALTAMIRA PLAZA (6 SHOTS) 0.27 2. SCU SOLDIERS READING A NEWSPAPER 0.32 3. SCU ANTI-CHAVEZ DEMONSTRATORS READING NEWSPAPER; SLV SOLDIERS ON PLATFORM LOCATED IN ALTAMIRA PLAZA (2 SHOTS) 0.40 4. SLV/MV DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLAGS AND POSTERS 0.50 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VICE-ADMIRAL HECTOR RAFAEL RAMIREZ PEREZ, EX-CHIEF OF STATE AND HIGH GENERAL OF THE VENEZUELA ARMY, SAYING "We are looking for a peaceful way, Armed Forces without arms. Armed Forces and the people are calling for a rectification in order to get out of the current crisis and recover our democratic road. That is what we most want in Venezuela." 1.08 6. SLV DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTING ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS AND WAVING FLAGS; SLV SOLDIERS ON PLATFORM IN ALTAMIRA PLAZA; SLV ANTI-CHAVEZ DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTING AND WAVING FLAGS (6 SHOTS) 1.44 7. SLV MIRAFLORES PRESIDENTIAL PALACE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY 1.52 8. SCU PEOPLE READING NEWSPAPERS; SCU NEWSPAPERS (3 SHOTS) 2.07 9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BYSTANDER YONNI RAMOS SAYING: "The civil society still lacks much strength to overpower the government. It is illegal and that is why we are awaiting the referendum or the elections of 2003." 2.20 10. SCU NEWSPAPER HEADLINES AND PEOPLE READING THE NEWSPAPER (2 SHOTS) 2.29 11. SLV PRESIDENTIAL PALACE OF MIRAFLORES FUNCTIONING NORMALLY 2.34 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Reuters ID: LVA6CFXM2OD4PVRPS3GQFIOHSQRW
  • Story Text: Dissident Venezuelan military officers have stoked
    coup fears by appealing for a revolt against leftist President
    Hugo Chavez, but their call has been ridiculed by the
    government and received no clear support in the barracks.

    A small crowd of opponents to populist President Hugo
    Chavez still accompanied the 14 rebel officers in east Caracas
    early on Wednesday (October 23) after they broadcast a message
    calling on the armed forces and civilian population to reject
    Chavez's rule.

    "We are looking for a peaceful way, Armed Forces without
    arms. Armed Forces and the people are calling for a
    rectification in order to get out of the current crisis and
    recover our democratic road. That is what we most want in
    Venezuela," said Vice-Admiral in the Venezuelan Armed Forces
    and Ex-Chief of State Hector Rafael Ramirez Perez.

    The appeal, broadcast on Tuesday (October 22) by private
    television channels, sent fresh shockwaves through the world's
    fifth largest oil exporter, which has experienced political
    turmoil since Chavez survived a short-lived coup in April.

    According to dissident leaders, the number of soldiers
    joining the anti-Chavez movement has risen since Tuesday
    (October 22) night.

    However, Chavez's government said it was in control. It
    ridiculed the dissidents as frustrated coup plotters with no
    powers or standing in the armed forces.

    Chavez's aides said he was working normally at Miraflores
    palace, where guards tightened security.

    Late on Tuesday (October 22), several thousand people
    cheered and joined the dissident officers in a Caracas square.

    Similar demonstrations were reported in other cities.

    Waving flags and chanting slogans, the anti-government
    protesters packed Caracas' Altamira square. Surrounding
    streets were jammed with cars honking horns and flashing their
    lights.

    "The civil society still lacks much strength to overpower
    the government. It is illegal, and that is why we are awaiting
    the referendum or the elections of 2003," said protester Yonni
    Ramos.

    In their broadcast, the dissident officers accused Chavez,
    a former paratrooper democratically elected in 1998, of
    dragging the military into politics, dividing Venezuelans with
    his left-wing policies and confrontational rule, and leading
    the country toward Cuban-style communism.

    But the government said the rebels were nearly all the
    same officers who tried and ultimately failed, to oust
    Chavez in April. Deposed for 48 hours by rebel generals and
    admirals, Chavez was restored by loyal troops and followers,
    although more than 60 people were killed in street violence.

    Government officials said the officers already faced court
    martial probes for their alleged role in the April coup. They
    commanded no troops and had been sidelined from active duties.

    The military rebels, who called for a campaign of civil
    disobedience against Chavez in both the armed forces and
    civilian population, denied they were planning a coup.

    The dissidents justified their action by invoking Article
    350 of Venezuela's constitution. This states that "The people
    of Venezuela ... will refuse to recognize any regime,
    legislation or authority which contradicts democratic values,
    principles and guarantees, or violates human rights".

    Chavez opponents had staged a 12-hour nationwide strike on
    Monday (October 21) to pressure him to resign and call early
    elections.

    Elected six years after himself staging a botched 1992
    coup, Chavez insists the public and armed forces back him.

    The dissident officers said they were supporting what they
    believed was the desire of the majority of Venezuelans to see
    Chavez quit.


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