VENEZUELA: NATIONAL GUARD AND DEMONSTRATORS CLASH ON STREETS OF CARACAS/ POLICE VEHICLE AMBUSHED.

Record ID: 640497

  • Title: VENEZUELA: NATIONAL GUARD AND DEMONSTRATORS CLASH ON STREETS OF CARACAS/ POLICE VEHICLE AMBUSHED.
  • Date: 3rd August 2002
  • Summary: (U7) CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 2, 2002) (REUTERS) GV/MV: PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING IN DOWNTOWN CARACAS (3 SHOTS) MV/MCU: NATIONAL GUARD TRYING TO CONTROL PROTESTERS (2 SHOTS) MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER JOSE MORENO SAYING: "We are here demanding justice against the conspirators that are here at the Supreme Court. We want them jailed, we don't want them to be released because if we have conspirators that are left free, then this will continue. Putting these people in jail is a way of regaining calm because we will know that justice is being served. We want them punished. We want them jailed, that's what we want."
  • Embargoed: 18th August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3R4CIOCA08YV1UIWWXIS4TPV8
  • Story Text: Violence has broken up again in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, in the worst street confrontations since last April, authorities reported.
    At least five people were left wounded Friday (August 2) in a poor Caracas neighbourhood, after heavily armed gunmen ambushed a police patrol as political tensions continue to rattle Venezuela.
    This is the most serious outbreak of street violence in the South American country since the attempted coup against president Hugo Chavez last April. Chavez was deposed, but quickly restored to power by army factions loyal to the Venezuelan leader.
    Pockets of violence have erupted in Caracas this week as supporters of Chavez protested a Supreme Court decision to postpone charges against four military officers accused in the short-lived coup against the president.
    Gunmen opened fire on Friday with a heavy calibre weapon on a Metropolitan police vehicle in the impoverished "January 23" district of western Caracas, piercing the truck's armour and wounding one officer in the leg, Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena said. Four civilians were also wounded by gunfire.
    Residents in the "January 23" neighbourhood used buses and trucks to block streets. Journalists, including a Reuters reporter, were threatened by residents and warned not to enter the area.
    City officials closed subway stations nearby the attack site and closed off avenues around the Miraflores Presidential Palace, where small groups of hooded youths and others threw stones and firecrackers at the police. Police responded with tear gas.
    The rest of Caracas remained calm and business continued as usual.
    Venezuela's Supreme Court on Wednesday postponed a ruling on whether to send two generals and two admirals to trial for their alleged role in the coup against Chavez. A judge will make another proposal on the case later this month.
    Clashes between supporters and foes of Chavez on Wednesday turned into a riot as police and National Guard troops fired tear gas and water cannons to control pro-government groups who were demanding a trial for the military officers.
    More than three months after the April 11-14 coup against Chavez, simmering political tensions are still rattling Venezuela as his foes seek constitutional measures to oust the fiery former paratrooper.
    Protesters on both sides of the deeply divided oil-rich nation blame each other for the more than 60 deaths during the coup and the days of rioting and looting that followed.
    Since Chavez's election in 1998 on a platform of social reform, his opponents have increasingly blamed his left-leaning policies for fomenting class hatred and driving Venezuela into recession. Millions of poorer voters still see Chavez and his self-proclaimed "revolution" as the key to a better life.
    The case against the military officers has exposed Venezuela's bitter political splits. Chavez opponents have warned that a trial against the officers could spark a backlash while militant supporters of the president say they will take to the streets if the officers are set free.
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