Cuba protests ouster of Venezuela's Chavez

yahoo ^ | Apr 13,2002 10:42 AM ET | ANITA SNOW, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

HAVANA - Reeling from the loss of its closest regional ally, the Cuban government rallied thousands of people on Saturday to protest the ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and efforts by nine other Latin American neighbors to censure Cuba for its human rights record.

"The truth is that in Venezuela they have had a coup," Bruno Rodriguez, Cuba's ambassador to the United Nations, told the crowd gathered for the government's regular rally, this week held in the community of Guira de Melena, in Havana province outside the capital.

President Fidel Castro, who considered Chavez a friend, attended the rally in the front row of the crowd, but did not speak. Castro has not yet spoken publicly about Chavez's ouster.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro jokes with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, right, in this Aug.12, 2001 file photo as he arrives at a dinner organized by Chavez to celebrate Castro's 75th birthday in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. Chavez, the former army paratrooper who polarized Venezuela with his strongarm rule and whose friendship with Cuba and Iraq irritated the United States, resigned under military pressure Friday, April 12, 2002 after a massive opposition demonstration ended in a bloodbath. (AP photo/Jose Goitia)

Vice President Carlos Lage and Castro's older brother Ramon were among other well-known figures in the crowd, which the government estimated at 15,000 people.

Rodriguez criticized the United States for not condemning Chavez's overthrow, saying that "the Yankees are almost always behind coups ... and install dictators."

The Cuban ambassador also expressed concern for Chavez's safety, citing reports from the ousted leader's daughter, Maria Gabriela Chavez, who said her father had been taken to an undisclosed location.

Rodriguez also criticized a proposal by Latin American nations led by Uruguay to censure Cuba in the coming days before the United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva.

The ambassador asked what the rights commission planned to do about the Chavez's ouster, which he characterized as the illegal removal of a democratically elected president by Venezuela's "oligarchs."

Castro once referred to Chavez as "a man worthy of admiration and support," and the men appeared to share a true mutual admiration and affection.

Following the leftist Chavez's 1998 election, Castro visited Venezuela three times, most recently in August when he celebrated his 75th birthday.

Chavez's detractors had accused him of trying to "Cubanize" the country, but Chavez's supporters said that his "Bolivarian Revolution" was original and did not imitate any other nation's model.

[BARLF]

I Kinda like this new sheriff we have in town! A Gary Cooper kind of guy.

Like this Reich,too. But he will get an ear full from our Fidel loving congresscritters that have been pushing trade with Cuba. All my Rino Rep. JoAnnEmerson has been preaching for the past year is" Time to remove the embargo on Cuba."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

" Time to remove the embargo on Cuba."

Perhaps it's time for Ms. Emmerson to be removed.

Otto Reich is not one to be intimidated and his opponents know it. He has their number and he'll deal with them as they come. How nice to have men and women of character getting back into government. Now the Senate, what a sorry group of dumb bunnies and low lifes.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Rodriguez criticized the United States for not condemning Chavez's overthrow, saying that "the Yankees are almost always behind coups ... and install dictators."

Hahahahahahahaha! Yep, that's why we support Castro! LOL!!!

[A. Pole]

And to respond to an obvious question, I know that Chavez was elected (after he failed to take power in a coup in the early 90's). However, he quickly made it clear that he intended to become "president-for-life" on the model of Castro.

Did he? Proofs please. And did the Congress also intend to be congress-for-life? And Supreme Court? Or was Chaves unconvenient to the foreign interests?

[A. Pole]

Hahahahahahahaha! Yep, that's why we support Castro! LOL!!!

No, USA supported Batista, Somoza and shah. Castro, Sandinistas and Chomeini was a reaction.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Castro, Sandinistas and Chomeini was a reaction.

A reaction that lasted over 40 years as in the case of Castro. Are you denying that Castro is a murderer and a dictator?

[A. Pole]

I have a feeling that this year might see a similar phenomenon as dictatorships in Iran, North Korea and elsewhere might be overthrown by popular uprisings. Wishful thinking perhaps but Venezuela might be the spark.

The popular uprising in Iran already took place. It was when the shah was overthrown. And the "democratic" (big oil) coup is not finished yet! See the Chavez loyalists take hold in Caracas thread.

[A. Pole]

A reaction that lasted over 40 years as in the case of Castro. Are you denying that Castro is a murderer and a dictator?

Not any worse than Somoza, Shah or Batista. I do not like this self-righteous "pro-democratic" hypocrisy when the selfish interest, oil or money is the objective. The rule of Batista, Shah or Somoza was not better than Soviet rule in Poland and most of the time it was worse.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I do not like this self-righteous "pro-democratic" hypocrisy when the selfish interest, oil or money is the objective. The rule of Batista, Shah or Somoza was not better than Soviet rule in Poland and most of the time it was worse.

I have no time to debate your lack of knowledge. However, your opinion is just that. Gotta go now.