Posted on 12/01/2007 8:23:57 PM PST by blam
Stand up to Hugo Chavez threats, voters told
By Martin Arostegui in Caracas, Philip Sherwell in New York and Jeremy McDermott
Last Updated: 2:03am GMT 02/12/2007
Hugo Chavez's former defence minister and his strongest foe has urged Venezuelans to defy "psychological warfare tactics" and intimidation when they vote on the president's plan to rule for life.
Hugo Chavez during a rally in Caracas. He says he wants to rule until 2050
Gen Raul Baduel, who has accused Mr Chavez of staging a constitutional "coup", tried to rally opponents of proposals to establish a Cuba-style socialist state in today's referendum.
His warning of trouble for opposition voters from pro-government militia came as Mr Chavez began a final blitz of threats and exhortations to secure a "Yes" vote.
He has become increasingly rattled by opinion polls suggesting that most Venezuelans oppose his institutionalised power grab.
The outspoken autocrat instructed the army and energy workers to take up positions to guard oil facilities - a clear indication that he is preparing to use the pretext of "security threats" to influence voting.
Mr Chavez has called on his red-shirted militants, whom he calls "socialist battalions", to keep a "vigilant presence" around polling stations to protect them from opposition violence. "Imperialism and its lackeys are desperate," he declared before a big closing rally. "They will resort to anything."
He told supporters, many bussed in under duress from Caracas's shanty towns, that he wanted to rule until 2050 - when he would be 97 - and would cut oil supplies to America if he deemed that Washington had interfered in the vote.
The constitutional amendments include an abolition of presidential term limits, greater restrictions on private property and an end to the nominal independence of the central bank. The package is laced with incentives for voters, including cutting the working day to six hours and greater welfare benefits.
Gen Baduel, who stepped down as defence chief earlier this year despite having helped Mr Chavez survive an attempted coup in 2002, fears that the president's tight hold on the levers of power will decide the vote - despite shortages of basic foodstuffs such as sugar, milk and eggs as price controls shackle the economy.
"Tactics of psychological warfare will be used to exhaust and intimidate the voters on Sunday," he said on television. He called on his countrymen to be "strong" and "stick it out" in the big queues expected to form outside voting booths.
The opposition fears that election officials guided by government supporters will delay voting, and that polling stations in anti-Chavez districts will run out of ink. Such "mishaps" often drove voters away from the polls during a 2004 referendum called to revoke Mr Chavez's mandate, which the president won comfortably despite polls indicating that he would lose.
The array of interests opposing the former paratrooper is wider than any he has faced since he came to power nine years ago. As well as the usual critics in politics, business and the Catholic church, students have taken the lead in protesting against the reform, backed by Mr Chavez's former wife, Gen Baduel and the Left-wing political party, Podemos.
The latest polls put the "No" vote between 10 and 13 percentage points ahead of the "Yes". However, the formidable political machinery built by Mr Chavez is expected to marshal government supporters to the polls.
Mr Chavez has sought to whip up nationalist fervour to rally support. As well as assailing his usual whipping boy - the US - he has also picked fights with Spain and Colombia. "This is a battle, a political war, an international conflict!" he declared on the campaign stump in Caracas.
Chavez will find his pine box soon. He is overplaying his hand and the people with means will put him in his place.
Only 43 more years of Chavez. Then the bad guys take over.
LOL!
Chavez will find his pine box soon. He is overplaying his hand and the people with means will put him in his place. (2007)
Castro will find his pine box soon. He is overplaying his hand and the people with means will put him in his place. (1961)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I’m afraid you are correct. Like Stalin supposedly said:
“It’s not the vote that counts, it’s who counts the votes.”
I wonder why the UN isn't there overseeing these elections. They had no trouble insulting the USA when they oversaw ours (in hopes of preventing Bush from winning) I guess that since Hugo is a commie dictator everything is ok.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Good point! Hitler promised a utopia and look what happened.
No, there is no oversight of this election because Chavez won’t allow it.
Yep, it’s me, me, me, what about me” out there. People would rather sit back and allow the government (”them”) tell them what to do and how to do it, as long as they can sit and watch tv with thier case of beer, bucket of KFC, and bag of pot.
The highlight of their day is waiting for the post man to deliver that government check at the end of the month, and a baby bonus check in the middle of the month.
When I was young I worked as a postman for a couple years. Sometimes I’d change the order of delivery my route around, (or do it as differently than the regular mailman, I was a relief carrier) It would drive all those welfare people crazy.
A pine box is too good for him.
We get 14% of our oil from Chavez which represents 80% of his exports.
“Chavez will find his pine box soon. He is overplaying his hand and the people with means will put him in his place. (2007)
Castro will find his pine box soon. He is overplaying his hand and the people with means will put him in his place. (1961)”
Yeah......................
hey d00d
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