Chávez RETURNS!!!

[Ecuajey]

Ousted Venezuela president returns

Chavez, freed, reclaims office
from which he was ousted

ASSOCIATED PRESS


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pauses during his adress the nation from the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on Sunday.

CARACAS, Venezuela, April 14 — Hugo Chavez was freed by his military captors and returned to reclaim the Venezuelan presidency Sunday, in a dramatic restoration of power two days after the military said he had resigned. Chavez stepped down from a helicopter, smiled and raised his fist in triumph as a greeted hundreds of cheering supporters outside the Miraflores presidential palace. Thousands in the street beyond began singing the Venezuelan national anthem.

HIS RETURN SHORTLY after 3 a.m. followed the resignation of Pedro Carmona, who resigned amid violent protests after just one day in office as interim president of Venezuela, the No. 3 supplier of oil to the United States.

Chavez’s vice president, Diosdado Cabello, had declared himself acting president until Chavez’s return from military custody. He appeared healthy and hugged supporters as a military band played.

Chavez’s family, supporters and former government officials insisted he never resigned as president, as Carmona and Venezuela’s high command claimed.

In a largely conciliatory speech, Chavez later told a news conference he had not been mistreated and recognized that both his government and his opponents had made mistakes.

“There isn’t going to be any retaliation, no witch hunt. I haven’t any thirst for revenge,” Chavez said, calling for his supporters who rioted on the streets in support of his return on Saturday to go quietly back to their homes.

State prosecutors were interviewing Carmona and several senior military officers at the Fuerte Tiuna military base, even though they were not formally under arrest, Chavez’s defense minister, Jose Vicente Rangel, said.

INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT

The Organization of American States was sending a delegation to Venezuela to assess the situation. Chavez is a former army paratrooper who led a failed 1992 coup but was elected in 1998 on an anti-poverty platform. His term was to end in 2006.

Chavez’s attorney general, Isaias Rodriguez, told Carmona’s ministers they were under arrest pending possible charges.

“They must take responsibility. They will be put on trial with all their rights, but they will be put on trial,” Cabello said. Some military officials also would be tried for military rebellion, he said.

Instantly returning to his old talkative form, Chavez gave a rambling hour-long monologue that ended shortly before dawn broke over the troubled capital. He illustrated his promises of respect for the law by waving a small blue copy of the country’s constitution and held up a crucifix he had taken with him into captivity.

Chavez recalled how he had washed his own socks and underwear and said the popular protests and army mutinies in his favor marked a historic triumph for the Venezuelan people.

“I never for a moment doubted that we would return. But I never thought we would return so quickly,” he said.

Statements by military generals that he had resigned and asked to be sent abroad were lies, he said.

“They put a piece of paper on the table saying “Resign,” but I said, “I am a president being held prisoner, but I am not resigning.”

CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS RALLY

Tens of thousands of people surrounded the presidential palace Sunday after news of Carmona’s resignation. They set off powerful fireworks as they waited for Chavez’s anticipated return from military custody.

“Chavez is coming! Chavez is coming!” said Dario Fereira, an unemployed man wearing a tattered shirt.

Chavez administration officials — many of whom had evaded dozens of police raids under Carmona’s brief reign — and loyalist military officers hugged each other in the palace’s marble-floored courtyard.

“In these past two days they have persecuted us,” said Rafael Ramirez, president of the state-run national gasoline company.

Unshaved and with red-rimmed eyes, Ramirez said he had hidden in friend’s homes after Chavez’s arrest on Friday. Asked about the turnaround, Ramirez said: “It’s marvelous because the Venezuelan people responded to this illegal coup attempt.”

Chavez’s labor minister, Maria Cristina Iglesias, said Chavez was kept on Orchila Island off the Venezuelan coast.

Just hours earlier, interim president Carmona — a businessman and co-leader of a general strike called last week against Chavez — announced he had resigned.

RECENT DAYS DEADLY

Carmona was named president by the military high command Friday, hours after generals arrested Chavez for allegedly ordering gunmen to fire on a massive opposition protest on Thursday. Sixteen died and hundreds were wounded in the melee.

Dozens more died in rioting and looting on Saturday.

Thursday’s march capped a general strike called to support oil executives who were protesting a Chavez-appointed board of directors at the state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela.

A work slowdown by the executives severely cut production and exports in Venezuela.

Caracas Mayor Alfredo Peña said at least nine people were killed and 40 wounded Saturday. But an Associated Press reporter witnessed dozens of bodies at city hospitals.

“We have every right to protest, but they are gunning us down out there,” said Edgar Paredes, his clothes soaked in blood as he brought his wounded brother to a hospital. He didn’t know who shot Luis, and probably never will. Like most violent demonstrations here, gunfire can erupt from any side, at any time.

Demonstrators supporting Chavez — or opposed to the way he was ousted — forced Carmona to step down. The commander of a strategic air base in the central city of Maracay rebelled Saturday, setting in motion nationwide protests demanding Chavez’s return.

Thousands took to the streets, taking over state TV, to demand that Chavez be reinstalled. Signaling a split in the armed forces, several military commanders refused to accept Carmona’s appointment.

Some Latin American leaders denounced Friday’s irregular transition of power. The United States said Chavez was responsible for his own ouster because of attempts to violently suppress a Thursday opposition demonstration in which gunmen fired upon a 150,000-strong march.

At the palace, supporters displayed a huge poster of Chavez lit by floodlights. A military brass band stood at the ready. Red-bereted soldiers with automatic rifles paced through the hallways; others pumped their fists and egged on the crowd.

“Chavistas” seized the state-run TV station late Saturday. Even as gunfire rattled downtown streets, pro-Chavez lawmaker Juan Barreto praised the “peaceful insurrection” that called for Chavez’s return.

CARMONA’S CONCESSIONS

Bowing to a demand by restive army commanders, Carmona said earlier Saturday that Chavez would be allowed to leave the country. He promised to reinstate the country’s National Assembly, which he dissolved on Friday, along with the Constitution, Supreme Court, and other institutions.

Carmona also lost the support of the 1 million-member Venezuelan Workers Confederation, which co-led last week’s general strike, after Carmona decide to dissolve Congress, said confederation director Jesus Urbietta.

Jesse Chacon, president of Venezuela’s telecommunications agency, said TV stations’ conduct last week will be investigated. Chacon condemned stations that failed to cover protests against Chavez’s ouster.

At least 20 disturbances were reported in Caracas on Saturday. Unrest also was reported in the cities of Maracay, Guarenas, Los Teques and Coro. Police fought pitched battles with Chavez supporters in the western Caracas slum of Catia, a Chavez stronghold.

[i]© 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Ecuajey]

[i]Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez waves as he arrives to Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas after being freed by his military captors, early Sunday, April 14, 2002, two days after the military said he had resigned. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez)


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's daughter Maria Gabriela breaks down as she speaks to her father in this image from television in Caracas, late Saturday, April 13, 2002. Her father returned triumphantly to office on Sunday--two days after he was ousted and arrested by Venezuela's military. (AP Photo/APTN) [i]

[lacoctel]

ISN'T IT WONDERFUL!

I was so sad to have heard of yet ANOTHER coup de tat
in South America, the land of my son's ansestors. He's an
I-Mex (Inca Mexicano), Peruvian, Mexican (w/some other French/Arab in the mix). Definitely half Bolivariano.

Para nosotros, la patria es Las Americas
-Simon Bolivar

I found out on Friday evening when I got a sad call from my Salvadoran friend and could not believe my ears. I surfed over to the BBC and then put on
Univison. But like I told my friend who called... debemos mantaner la fe companera...porque
realmente no es el fin... hasta el fin!

I only watched a few minutes of the news on Univision and read just one net news story. I refused to listen to or read any more bad news and half truths coming through from the coup leaders. Saturday I just went to a carnival w/my son and then sort of maintained a very informal "vigil" at my house w/a few friends, Boricuas, Brasileiros, Chicana/os, Mexicana/os from the neighborhood, as we just hung out and enjoyed some homemade Peruvian food and good musica. We were concerned and chatted awhile about the situation alla en Venezuela. I just tried to stay positive.

I'll never forget hearing this cancion by los van van that Saturday night, just hoping for the best and believing it was possible.
Dice la cancion:
Para todas las personas que confiamos en usted
Amparame, protegeme, ayudame
Yo creo en ti, porque yo creo en dios
Todos los Latinoamericanos que estamos lleno de fe
Merecemos ache
Manana en la manana impieza lluvier el cafe

It says so much. For those of us who truly care about what
is fair and what is just, we have to mantener la fe even in
the worst of times, and believe in each other and our leaders, especially the ones who win democratic elections. We have to know and be clear that in the case of Latinoamerica, a coup de tat is always wrong, as it would be here in the U.S.
And as I mention the U.S.A., stopping recounts of votes in an elction where one candidate CLEARLY won the popular vote, and the (dumb) electoral vote is dangling by a few thousand questionable votes, and then one side does everything possible to stop the recount, that is wrong also, and will always be wrong.

Be clear on what is fair and just, walk with our heads
high, stay postive with la confianza, esperananza y fe
SIEMPRE.

Blessings
Amira

[conciencia]

Lacoctel...La verdad impera! They are those who were talking trash but now just "Silence"....interesting!

[lacoctel]

Hi Conciencia!

Como has estado? I'm ok. I've been busy with a few different
things. A new job in what is said to be one of the worse
parts of Los Angeles. But it's a lot of hype. It's OK over there. And my son is now 31/2 and talking up a storm, so we
have lots to talk about these days, tu sabes, so I've been
spending much less time online.

How is work, familia all that? You know what, email me through the email address the prompt provides for me with
una notita w/your new email. I know Lety changed
hers and I think yours is changed too, que, No?


P'alante!

Amira

[Nacionalista]

Coctelita!!! It is great to see you here again.

Please accept a big Latin-American double hand shake and a huge Boricua brotherhood hug from me.

[lacoctel]

Good to hear from you too!

Hope all is well.

Un abrazo fuerte,

Amira
aka
la coctelita
aka
mujercita molotov