Posted on 12/16/2002 11:12:15 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Monday it supported a referendum on Venezuela's embattled President Hugo Chavez, backing away from opposition calls for immediate elections that could violate the country's constitution.
The White House increased international pressure on the populist former paratrooper on Friday, saying that early elections were the only viable solution to Venezuela's political turmoil. A two-week-old opposition strike has paralyzed the South American nation's oil industry.
But Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and survived a military coup in April, has repeatedly said the constitution only allows for a binding referendum on his mandate in August 2003.
Administration spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters that the United States backed a referendum for "the will of the people to be heard." But he did not specify a date.
"Everything we have called for is in the confines of the constitution of Venezuela. ... Early elections, in the sense that of course, there is a referenda that can be held earlier that is a reflection of the manifestation of the will of the people and this is the process that is anticipated in the Venezuelan constitution," Fleischer said.
"The statement makes clear that it (the political crisis) should be resolved through political discourse and political dialogue, through the ballot box -- ballot boxes in Venezuela also include referenda."
"We're not calling for the constitution to be amended," Fleischer added.
In April, when it looked like Chavez had been ousted, the White House appeared pleased that he had been toppled and was embarrassed when he was reinstated by loyalist officers.
Despite Chavez's return, the country remains tense. Currently, opposition leaders, a loose alliance of political parties, unions and business leaders who blame Chavez for the nation's troubles, insist he resign and call elections.
The opposition strike, which began on Dec. 2, has brought the oil industry to a standstill and sent Venezuelans rushing to stock up on food and gasoline. Banks are partly closed and many other businesses remain shuttered.
The oil shutdown has cut off income to state coffers from petroleum exports, which account for about half of government revenues.
Washington is worried about Venezuelan oil shipments since the strike has cut off some 14 percent of its energy imports at a time when it is considering a war against Iraq.
Day 15: Anti-Chavez Protesters Block Highways
Police, Protesters Clash in Venezuela***CARACAS, Venezuela -- Firing tear gas and rubber bullets, police clashed with stone-throwing protesters Monday after demonstrators barricaded major highways and roads in an escalation of their campaign to oust President Hugo Chavez. Clouds of tear gas wafted in the air as the heavily armed police dispersed several dozen demonstrators and kicked down piles of stones blocking the intersection on Andres Bello Avenue in central Caracas. Some of the protesters hurled stones and chunks of debris from the rooftops of nearby buildings onto police, who fired up at them with rubber bullets.
The confrontation at the intersection marked an escalation of tensions after organizers of a 2-week-old opposition strike called for a day of highway blockades. In and around the capital, strikers closed off routes with disabled trucks, cars, tree branches and stones. In southern Caracas, police armed with rifles tried to keep apart rival bands of Chavez supporters and opponents squaring off on the blockaded six-lane Prados del Este highway.***
A Venezuelan policeman holds back opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who were blocking a highway during a nationwide strike against Chavez, in Caracas December 16, 2002. The stoppage, which has slashed Venezuela's oil output to less than a third of normal levels and virtually paralyzed oil exports, including shipments to the United States, was called on December 2 by business and labor leaders to press Chavez to quit and hold early elections. REUTERS/Kimberly White
And, already translated, the impressive list/photos of all the top Generals and other senior officers with their comments on why they've left Chavez over the past 2 months, now in english, is here...
http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com/en/oficiales.html.
-Shane (My recent eye-witness report here)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.