Posted on 02/08/2002 3:07:59 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - A Venezuelan air force colonel who called President Hugo Chavez a "tyrant" led a crowd of cheering supporters to the president's home on Thursday and demanded that the left-wing leader step down.
Col. Pedro Soto, hailed as a hero by opponents of the president and condemned as a traitor by the government, was joined by another military officer, a National Guard captain, in the noisy anti-government protest in Caracas.
Earlier, the blue-uniformed air force colonel leaped into the public spotlight by delivering a blistering verbal attack against the Venezuelan president, accusing him of being undemocratic and of dragging the military into politics.
Senior government officials dismissed the 49-year-old Soto as a disgruntled misfit, played down his outburst as an isolated incident and said the nation's armed forces remained calm.
Chavez, an outspoken former paratrooper who has ruled the oil-rich South American country for the last three years, was not at his official residence when Soto and several thousand supporters gathered outside, chanting "Chavez leaves today."
Venezuelans call for the resignation of President Hugo Chavez in front of his official residence in Caracas, February 7, 2002. Cheered by several thousand supporters chanting "Freedom Freedom" a Venezuelan air force colonel Pedro Soto called on Chavez to resign and make way for a new, "democratic" government. REUTERS/Kimberly White
"This is a spontaneous demonstration by the people of Venezuela, who have lost their fear," the mustachioed air force colonel told the protesters, who beat pots, honked horns and shouted slogans calling for the president to resign.
Soto, who could face court-martial for insubordination, was joined by National Guard Captain Pedro Flores, who said there was discontent in the military over Chavez's rule.
"Mid-ranking officers are unhappy but they can't say anything," said Flores, who wore a camouflage uniform.
As midnight approached, Soto and the demonstrators left the presidential residence and returned to eastern Caracas.
While the protesters noisily besieged his official home Chavez was at the other side of the city, closeted inside the Miraflores presidential palace with aides and ministers.
A large crowd of his supporters gathered outside the palace to back the populist leader and his self-proclaimed "revolution' in favor of the poor in Venezuela, where huge oil wealth exists alongside grinding poverty.
GOVERNMENT SAYS PROTEST A 'MEDIA SHOW'
Government officials accused the president's opponents, who have stepped up public protests against him in recent months, of using Soto to stage what they called a "media show."
"This is a crude set-up. It's all part of a plot against Chavez," Vice president Diosdado Cabello told reporters.
Nevertheless, Soto's dramatic criticism of Chavez dealt a further blow to the image of the president, accused by opponents of trying to install a Cuban-style, authoritarian, leftist regime in Venezuela, the world's No. 4 oil exporter.
Soto, who earlier escaped arrest by military police when his sympathizers stopped the soldiers from taking him away, had rallied his cheering supporters at a square in eastern Caracas before setting off to the presidential home.
"The people of Venezuela are in the streets, against the tyrant," Soto said, speaking through a megaphone.
"The people of Venezuela ... should be governed by a completely democratic system," he added.
Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin called Soto an "opportunistic leader" of the opposition.
"There is no rebellion, it's just a very personal declaration," said Defense Minister Jose Vicente Rangel.
Soto had said earlier his protest, in which he urged Venezuelans to defend their democratic freedoms, represented the "feeling and voice" of 75 percent of the armed forces.
But Rangel said the situation in the country's armed forces was "absolutely normal ... There is no discontent," he added, dismissing suggested coup fears as "pre-Carnival rumors."
Since taking office three years ago, Chavez has insisted the country's armed forces are fully behind him. He has repeatedly ruled out any possibility of a coup against him.
Opinion polls show Chavez's popularity has fallen sharply since he won an election in 1998, six years after failing to take power in a botched coup attempt which was put down by armed forces loyal to then-President Carlos Andres Perez.
Globovision television said Soto had previously served as an aide-de-camp to President Perez. In 2000, he lodged a complaint with superiors after being passed over for promotion to general and currently has no command role, it said.
Chavez has recently come under fierce criticism from business foes, the Catholic Church, the media and, more recently, the United States, the country's main oil market.
February 7, 2002-- Venezuelan Chavez Says He's Democrat Not Communist after Powell's remarks--[Excerpt] Colin Powell: [Excerpt] "We have been concerned with some of the actions of Venezuelan President Chavez and his understanding of what a democratic system is all about. We have also gone to some of our friends in the region to suggest to President Chavez that there are perhaps better ways to ... deal with the challenges his country is facing." [End Excerpt]
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I think one of the "better ways" is the resignation of Hugo Chavez.
Yes he has "teachers, trainers and doctors" in Venezuela now.
Chavez also has his Casto inspired neighborhood block watchers to help defend his Bolivarian Revolution.
I think this could be coming to a head. Here's to balls!
[Full Text] CARACAS - Venezuela's bolivar had its biggest one-day fall in six years on speculation the central bank may curb foreign exchange trades after raising its discount rate to 50 percent from 40 percent, fueling demand for dollars.
The currency fell 10 bolivars, or 1.3 percent, to 782.50, its largest one-day drop since June 28, 1996. The bolivar has lost 1.9 percent the last two days and 3.8 percent this year, the fifth- worst performance among 56 currencies tracked by Bloomberg.
Currency traders said the bank sold about $300 million in the last two days to stem the bolivar's decline. The central bank raised the discount rate, the rate its sells short-term loans to commercial banks, to take bolivars out of circulation and ease dollar-demand. It was the fifth rate increase in two months.
''To increase rates that much is a sign of desperation,'' said Benito Berber, an analyst with research firm IDEAglobal.com in New York. ``I wouldn't be surprised if they raised rates to 70 percent, but it may not matter -- nobody wants to have their money stuck when exchange controls are imposed.''
Domingo Maza, one of seven central bank directors, Wednesday said demand for dollars had been ''extraordinary'' recently, due to weak oil prices, a widening budget deficit and rising political tensions.
Central Bank President Diego Castellanos said in a release that government spending cuts to keep the 2002 fiscal deficit to 4 percent or less of gross domestic product would allow the bank would keep a strong bolivar.
Domingo Maza said the bank is not planning to limit dollar purchases, but admitted the bolivar is overvalued, citing analysts who estimate an overvaluation of 10 percent to 50 percent.
Dollar demand has been fueled in recent months on a decline in the price of oil, which accounts for half of government revenue.
Increased tension between Chavez and opposition groups has also led to a surge in dollar buying. [End]
Here's the latest. Second Officer Blasts Chavez Amid Protests: Country on "cliff's edge"
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