Posted on 08/18/2002 2:15:52 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged supporters on Saturday to stage a nonviolent "counterattack" in protest at the Supreme Court's dismissal of a case against four military officers accused in April's brief coup.
"If they think that we are going to take this, they are very wrong. Now what is coming is a counterattack of the people, a revolutionary counterattack," Chavez said in an address to hundreds of supporters in a poor Caracas neighborhood.
The left-wing leader appealed for calm in a late Friday speech after violence erupted in central Caracas last week between the National Guard and protesters contesting the ruling. Chavez sympathizers blame the officers for conspiring to topple the populist president during the coup.
"Let's not get crazy, no revolutionary should despair," Chavez said on Saturday amid chants of "The angry people are claiming their rights."
On Wednesday the court ruled there was not enough evidence to proceed with a trial for rebellion as alleged by the attorney general. Other charges may be filed against the four high-ranking military officers.
MARCH FOR JUSTICE
Chavez called for his supporters to join a march for justice to the National Assembly next Saturday as a protest against the decision. The president praised members of congress who launched a probe into the top court's judges, who they accuse of corruption and favoritism.
"These 11 judges that voted in favor of this decision have no morality to make any other ruling. They are immoral, and I think that there will have to be a book published with their faces, so that the people can see who they are," Chavez said.
Eleven supreme court judges voted against bringing the officers to trial, while eight voted in favor.
Chavez accuses political foes of manipulating the judges in favor of a dismissal and claimed the decision was part of a plan to destroy his "revolution" and remove him from power.
Opposition leaders have increasingly turned to the Supreme Court as they seek constitutional measures to oust Chavez, including a referendum, shortening his term or lawsuits alleging corruption, insanity and crimes against humanity.
The accused officers claim that they acted only to fill a power vacuum after being told that Chavez had resigned during the April 11-14 coup. The ex-paratrooper was restored to power by loyal troops shortly after his ouster.
The recent violence has further exacerbated the political divisions in Venezuela, where critics of Chavez say his "revolutionary" programs to aid the poor are crippling the oil-rich nation's economy.
Chavez, who led a botched coup in 1992 before turning to the ballot box six years later, has moved to soothe tensions in the military. But critics claim he has culled dissident officers from the ranks.
More is at stake: The court's agenda includes complaints accusing Chavez of misappropriating $2 billion in government funds; illegally accepting $2 million in campaign contributions; and a "crimes against humanity" complaint that places responsibility on Chavez for slayings during the coup. Chavez denies any wrongdoing. He had no immediate comment on the ruling, though his vice president and interior minister urged Venezuelans to accept it as part of democracy.***
Chavez treats democracy like a dirty word.
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