VENEZUELA: AROUND 30,000 VENEZUELAN SOLDIERS MARCH DOWN THE MAIN STREETS OF CARACAS TO CELEBRATE THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE AND ARMED FORCES DAY

Record ID: 648280

  • Title: VENEZUELA: AROUND 30,000 VENEZUELAN SOLDIERS MARCH DOWN THE MAIN STREETS OF CARACAS TO CELEBRATE THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE AND ARMED FORCES DAY
  • Date: 5th July 2003
  • Summary: (W1)CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JULY 05, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MV: PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA HUGO CHAVEZ IN A MOTORCADE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WAVING TO THE CROWD BEFORE THE PARADE BEGINS 0.07 2. WS: CROWD CHEERING 0.11 3. MV: TANK WITH WILFREDO SILVA, COMMANDER OF THE CIVIC MILITARY (THE GROUP IN CHARGE OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS SUCH AS FLOODING AND EARTHQUAKES) TURNING AROUND 0.19 4. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WILFREDO SILVA, COMMANDER OF THE CIVIC MILITARY, SAYING: "Permission to allow the military personnel to begin their participation in the joint military parade." 0.27 5. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA HUGO CHAVEZ SAYING: "This parade will demonstrate one more time how the Venezuelan soldiers are trained and morally equipped to be united with our people and to assure and deepen each day more the national independence. Allow this parade, then, to commence down this pretty avenue, decorated for the day, for this beautiful occasion of patriotism." 0.58 6. SV: HIGH MILITARY OFFICIALS WHO WERE INVITED TO THE EVENT WATCHING 1.02 7. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS MARCHING IN THE PARADE (2 SHOTS) 1.17 8. SLV: SOLDIERS DEMONSTRATING COMING DOWN FROM A HELICOPTER 1.26 9. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS SKYDIVING TOWARDS CLOUDS OF GAS USED TO MARK THE LANDING SPOT (2 SHOTS) 1.40 10. SV: SOLDIERS MARCHING DOWN THE STREET 1.45 11. SV: CHAVEZ CLAPPING 1.48 12. SLV: TANKS GOING DOWN THE STREET 1.54 13. SV: SOLDIER SALUTING 1.59 14. VARIOUS OF TANKS IN PARADE (2 SHOTS) 2.13 15. PAN: HELICOPTER FLYING 2.19 16. PAN: PLANES FLYING 2.25 17. MV: SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS WATCHING THE PARADE 2.29 18. LV: SOLDIERS MARCHING DOWN THE STREET 2.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Reuters ID: LVA5OAB7EBZURVAY4YN6M5SAY2C5
  • Story Text: Thousands of Venezuelan soldiers have marched down the
    main streets of Caracas, driven tanks through the city and
    flown military jets in a colourful celebration of Venezuela's
    Independence Day.


    Some 30,000 soldiers from the different sectors of
    Venezuela's Armed Forces marched down the main streets of
    Caracas on Saturday (July 05) in celebration of the country's
    Independence Day and National Armed Forces Day.

    Commander of the Civic Military Wilfredo Silva kicked off
    the seven-hour long celebration by asking President Hugo
    Chavez for permission to begin the ceremony.

    Chavez used the opportunity to praise the military.

    "This parade will demonstrate one more time how the
    Venezuelan soldiers are trained and morally equipped to be
    united with our people and to assure and deepen each day more
    the national independence. Allow this parade, then, to
    commence down this pretty avenue, decorated for the day, for
    this beautiful occasion of patriotism," he said.

    Some 3,000 people attended the annual celebration as the
    military went through their paces on the streets, as well as
    offered some skydiving and flying demonstrations.

    Venezuela became the first South American nation to
    declare its independence from Spain with the signing of the
    Declaration of Independence on July 5, 1811.

    The South American country was first colonised by Spain in
    the 15th century which began a war of independence let by
    Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar that lasted from 1810
    to 1821.

    Independence was officially achieved in 1830.


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