Posted on 06/22/2002 4:05:53 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, ousted briefly during a coup in April, said on Friday his government had installed anti-aircraft batteries in Caracas in case an air attack was launched against him.
"It's a theory that we have to consider ... that they could be preparing, from somewhere in the Caribbean, some bold aerial action against Miraflores Palace," Chavez told reporters, without indicating who might be planning such as attack.
The populist president said his government had installed the air defenses on the basis of information obtained from suspects in the April 11-14 uprising that left more than 60 people dead.
Chavez, a former paratrooper who himself led a botched coup in 1992 before turning to the ballot box, declined to provide further details. Miraflores is located in central Caracas near other key government buildings.
Fears of a renewed military uprising have kept Venezuela on edge since rebel military and civilian leaders ousted Chavez for about 48 hours before loyal troops restored him to the presidency.
Testimony from high-ranking military officials about deep splits in the armed forces have underscored jitters over another coup. The officers say the military is simmering with discontent over attempts to purge anti-Chavez dissidents from the ranks.
"Actually a coup attempt to topple the government in Venezuela would be impossible because... we are better prepared. They surprised me once, but not a second time," the president told reporters.
Chavez has previously dismissed rumors of another coup attempt as part of a propaganda campaign by political foes bent on overthrowing his government.
Since his landslide election victory in 1998, Chavez has pushed a program of social reform aided at easing poverty and erasing inequality in his oil-rich South American nation.
But he has seen his popularity wane as civilian and military opponents blame his left-leaning social reforms for spooking foreign investors and dividing the country along class lines.
I think it is looking more and more like if they leave him alone, he is going to fall anyway. With the economy in a total shambles (they were only able to sell about 7% of the bonds they tried to float this week -- and that was only the short term bonds -- nobody wants the long term ones), US$2.3 billion missing from the FIEM rainy day fund, and the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruling (yesterday or the day before) that Chavez could be indicted while sitting as President for the campaign contribution from the Spanish Bank, old Hugo has got plenty to bring him down. Further, he announced last week that he had miscalculated and that, according to the constitution, his presidency could be brought up for a "vote of confidence" this year (intead of 2003). The opposition is at least 60% strong, according to the polls taken after his announcement.
I thought it was also very telling that when he went to Spain for the recent summit meeting (the one that he all but ignored after he arrived), that he brought 40 suitcases for a two or three day trip. He was obviously worried about being kicked out of office while he was gone -- why 40 suitcases -- Marisabel wasn't even with him -- she had already left him. (Smart woman, IMO -- she really showed Hitlery up!).
It is not a question of whether his days are numbered -- they are. It is only a question of how he will fall.
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