Political opposition picks up steam against Chavez

Posted 8:05AM on Thursday 18th April 2002 ( 23 years ago )

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Despite pleas from the head of the Organization of American States, Venezuelan opposition leaders resumed their political offensive against President Hugo Chavez, insisting he cannot unite a country fractured and demoralized after a failed coup. During a stormy parliamentary debate Wednesday, most opposition parties insisted Chavez resign and presidential elections be held. Short of that, many proposed the National Assembly call a referendum to decide whether Chavez should stay. The existing constitution would allow such a vote in 2004. Chavez's term runs to 2006. ``It's not enough to talk,'' said Liliana Hernandez, whose Justice First party also proposed that the entire National Assembly resign. ``There are moments for changing and moments to act. The moment for changing has past,'' she said. ``Fascist!'' shouted ruling party legislators after Hernandez spoke. Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the OAS, warned embittered Venezuelans to talk to one another or risk the loss of their democracy. ``This country has to learn from the traumatic events of last week,'' he said. ``On both sides there is a theory that confrontation is inevitable, as if this is impossible to solve. Those theories lead to instability and war.'' Gaviria was completing a fact-finding mission into the uprisings that overthrew Chavez on April 12 and brought him back to power Sunday. At least 49 people died - some say more than 100 - in massive street protests in the capital as soldiers first ousted Chavez, then brought him back. Both sides blame the other for most of the deaths. Chavez, whose initial popularity in office allowed him to run roughshod over opponents, has admitted errors and appealed for the country to calmly retreat from violence. Opposition legislators didn't formally introduce the referendum proposal. The move was unlikely to succeed because of Chavez's majority in Congress. Ruling party legislators urged opponents to work with Chavez. ``The country should accept this invitation to talk,'' said Jose Luis Farias, a member of the ruling Fifth Republic Movement party. ``People can have reservations. They are right to. We criticize (Chavez's) rhetoric. But the other side must take responsibility as well.'' Gaviria called on Venezuelans to accept the constitution and Chavez as president. He also implicitly criticized Chavez for packing the courts and legislature with his supporters and for bringing the army deeply into political life. He planned to report his findings to the OAS General Assembly, but declined to say what he might recommend. ``We would have liked Gaviria to make a stronger appeal for the recovery of democracy. This is a facade of democracy,'' said Cesar Perez Vivas of the Social Christian Copei party, which says it doesn't recognize Chavez's administration. The coup leaders' own temporary president, Pedro Carmona, had abrogated the constitution and dismissed Congress and the courts. U.S. Ambassador Charles Shapiro said Wednesday that he had met with Carmona after Chavez's temporary overthrow, but denied the United States had aided that government. Shapiro said he met with Carmona on Saturday to ensure the security of some 25,000 U.S. citizens living in Venezuela. He added that he had urged Carmona to restore the National Assembly.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/4/202443