- Title: VENEZUELA: CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS PROTEST AGAINST STRIKE SHOOTINGS
- Date: 6th January 2002
- Summary: (U7) CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 05, 2003) (REUTERS) MV: VARIOUS OF CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS MARCHING MV: REPRESENTATIVE OF ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES, CARLOS CARVACHO, RECEIVING GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT CALLING TO AN END OF VIOLENCE BY THE METROPOLITAN POLICE MV: CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS SHOUTING 06 MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARVACHO SAYING: "Today we regret there are victims and I am sure the Organisation of American States is going to take a good look at the documents presented by the government." VARIOUS: VARIOUS OF MASS FOR PEACE HELD BY OPPOSITION (7 SHOTS) 52 MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION SUPPORTER, JUAN CARLOS ROJAS, SAYING: "We are asking God to help us, to give us a hand so we can find a solution and obtain the peace we want so we can live as one country as we always had." MV: PEOPLE LEAVING MASS Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st January 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACIGRPHQVFV1SOV5TNO9TJA12J
- Story Text: Thousands of sympathizers of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have marched in Caracas to protest the fatal shooting of two men in clashes that broke out during a protracted opposition strike against the leftist leader.
Waving banners and demanding justice, pro-Chavez demonstrators mobbed a funeral procession for the victims on Sunday (January 05) as the vice president and other government officials helped carry a coffin draped in a Venezuelan national flag.
The killings have intensified political feuding during the five-week-old opposition strike which has crippled the oil sector of the world's No. 5 petroleum exporter. Foes of Chavez have vowed to keep up the shutdown until he resigns or calls early elections.
Government officials blamed police for the deaths on Friday in chaotic street clashes involving rival pro-Chavez and opposition protesters, troops and police. Opposition leaders blame militant Chavez supporters for opening fire.
Two police officers were also wounded on late on Saturday when Chavez sympathizers fired on them outside the funeral home where mourners were holding a mass for the two victims, police officials said.
"All the people of Venezuela, not only Chavez supporters but also those anti-Chavez who are democratic, ask for the law to be applied in Venezuela so there are no more victims,"
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel told reporters on Sunday.
Accompanied by a caravan of cars and buses, the pro-Chavez demonstrators carried the two coffins to a Caracas hotel where they handed over complaints against the police to international mediators who are trying to negotiate an end to the crisis.
"Today we regret there are victims and I am sure the Organisation of American States (OAS) is going to take a good look at the documents presented by the government," said OAS representative, Carlos Carvacho.
The metropolitan police, controlled by the Caracas mayor, a bitter political enemy of Chavez, became the focus of a supreme court battle in November when the government ordered a military takeover of its operations. Opposition leaders complained the measure was illegal and the court ruled the force be returned to the control of the mayor a month later.
Rangel said that the government was examining measures it could take against the metropolitan police and did not discount another takeover of the force of about 9,000 officers.
"All equally deserve condolences and that is why I decree that today begin a three day mourning period in the five districts of the city," said Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena on Sunday.
In other parts of Caracas opposition supporters attended a Mass for peace.
"We are asking God to help us, to give us a hand so we can find a solution and obtain the peace we want so we can live as one country as we always had," said Juan Carlos Rojas.
Chavez, a former paratrooper who was elected in 1998 and survived a short-lived coup in April, accuses his foes of trying to illegally topple him with the shutdown of the oil industry. But he faces increasing opposition to his self-proclaimed "revolution" aimed at easing poverty.
The president's critics accuse him of trying to install Cuba-style communism in Venezuela and say his left-wing reforms, coupled with corruption and chronic mismanagement, have driven the oil-rich country toward economic ruin.
The political deadlock in South America's biggest crude producer has rattled world oil markets and caused international alarm, especially in the United States.
Venezuela normally provides more than 13 percent of U.S. oil imports.
Feuding between supporters and foes of the populist president has often spilled into violence as both sides take to the streets for marches and rallies. During Friday's (January 03) clashes, at least four people were injured by gunfire and 20 others were hurt by stones and objects hurled by demonstrators.
Talks between the government and opposition brokered by the Organization of American States have so far gone nowhere.
Opposition leaders want Chavez to agree to elections within the next three months and they are also determined to hold a referendum on Chavez's rule next month despite government objections.
Chavez has rebuffed calls for early elections. The government is also contesting the referendum in several appeals filed to the Supreme Court, describing it as unconstitutional and refusing to provide financing for the poll.
Chavez says his opponents must wait until August -- halfway through his current term due to last until 2007 -- when the constitution allows for a binding referendum on his rule. But opposition leaders say the country's crisis cannot wait. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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