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Posted on 01/14/2003 3:58:47 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS, Venezuela - Ruling party legislators said they will urge citizens to boycott a February referendum on President Hugo Chavez's rule, even if the Supreme Court upholds its constitutionality.
Venezuela's opposition is demanding that Chavez resign and call new elections if he loses a nonbinding referendum Feb. 2. They have buttressed their demands with a strike that entered its 7th week Monday and has dried up oil revenue in the world's No. 5 oil exporter.
Chavez refuses to step down. He argues Venezuela's constitution only allows a binding referendum midway through a president's term - August in his case.
Several members of his Fifth Republic Movement party, which has a slim majority in Congress, have challenged the February vote in the Supreme Court.
"If the referendum does take place, our position would be total abstention," Fifth Republic lawmaker Omar Mezza told El Universal newspaper for its Monday editions. "Our complete abstention would take away its legitimacy."
Opponents cite an article in the constitution that allows citizens to petition for a referendum on "matters of national importance" at any time. The also cite an article that allows citizens to disown governments that threaten democracy.
The Supreme Court has not said when it will rule on the referendum.
Strike leader Julio Brazon, president of Venezuela's largest chamber of commerce, warned the court not to make a decision that "goes against the majority of this country's courageous citizens."
The National Elections Council agreed to organize the referendum after accepting an opposition petition signed by at least 2 million people. But council members have warned it may have to postpone the vote if the government doesn't provide funds for it soon.
Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton told The Associated Press the government would consider providing funds for the vote if the Supreme Court upheld it.
"An opposition that contributes ... to strangling the country's economy and calls for tax evasion ... is demanding funds for a vote. How curious," Chaderton said in Colombia. "But at an opportune time, after the judicial institutions make their decision, we will decide."
Opponents accuse the Chavez of running roughshod over democratic institutions and wrecking the economy with leftist policies. The opposition has staged dozens of street marches, called for a tax boycott and held a two-day bank strike last week. A strike by oil workers has helped push up world oil prices.
On Sunday, Chavez threatened to revoke the broadcasting licenses of Venezuela's main TV and radio stations, accusing them of supporting opposition efforts to overthrow him.
Chavez said the stations were abusing their power by constantly airing opposition advertisements promoting the strike.
Venezuela's main television stations have not broadcast any commercials during the strike except the opposition ads. Media owners say they adopted that stance because Chavez incites his supporters to attack reporters.
"They are worse than an atomic bomb," Chavez said during his weekly radio and television show. "If they continue to use their licenses to try to break the country or oust the government, I would be obligated to revoke it."
On Sunday, tens of thousands of the anti-Chavez protesters marched on Los Proceres park outside the Fort Tiuna military base in Caracas, seeking military support for the strike. Troops lobbed tear gas at the protesters but they quickly regrouped, shouting "cowards" at hundreds of soldiers facing them with armored personnel carriers.
Troops also kept back dozens of Chavez supporters protesting nearby.
Hector Castillo, a photographer for the local newspaper El Mundo, was injured by rubber bullets that some soldiers fired into the air, Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briceno said. Eighteen other people were treated for asphyxiation, he said.
The park is one of eight security zones in Caracas decreed by Chavez. Protests are banned in those areas unless authorized by the Defense Ministry.
The military - purged of dissidents after a brief April coup - has supported Chavez during the strike, with troops seizing oil tankers, commandeering gasoline trucks and locking striking workers out of oil installations. Top commanders have professed their loyalty to the government.
Chaderton dismissed the possibility that Venezuela was heading toward civil war.
"We are not preparing ourselves for civil war but to preserve peace and reconciliation," he said.
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Eds: Associated Press Correspondent from Margarita Martinez contributed to this report from Colombia.
Incredible stuff....
I bet Chavez and da Silva and Fidel are on their party line around the clock trying to strategize...
Interesting how the left's best buddy Chavez treats reporters- if he was Pinochet the US media would be screaming for his ouster and trial instead of keeping mum or even supporting Hugo Chavez.
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