Venezuela’s Opposition: Setting the Stage for Violence?
In recent months,
Venezuela’s powerful opposition has repeatedly suggested that violence is a
viable solution to the country’s political problems. While the government of President
Hugo Chávez has stated firmly that it will respect and adhere to the rule of
law, the opposition has not followed suit.
Some of the recent statements made by opposition leaders
including a former president, a leader of the 2002 coup, and military
officials, are included below. These
statements clearly indicate of the delicate nature of the situation:
On
July 25, 2004, opposition leader and former President Carlos Andres Perez, who
currently lives in the U.S., told Venezuela’s El Nacional newspaper:
“…[D]emonstrations don’t topple governments… We can’t abandon the streets. We
must be in the streets, but not with dancing and idiocies like that… There will
be violence…I am working to get Chavez out. Violence will permit his ouster. It
is the only path we have… I am part of that battalion. As it sounds, it
should be understood. I am part
of this battalion….Chavez should die like a dog, that is what he deserves,
begging the pardon of those noble animals...”
--“CAP
rechaza el pasado y se considera el futuro: ‘El 15 de agosto no se resolverá
nada,’" by Ramon Hernandez, El
Nacional, 25 de Julio de 2004
This was not the first
time the former President has called for violence. On May 6, Perez told a
Colombian radio journalist, “We are inclined to remove him from power, but we
are convinced that the way to do that is not through peaceful means, but by
force . . . all peaceful means to remove Chávez have been exhausted.” Perez,
who lives in exile in the United States, said that "there will be blood
spilled."
--“Carlos Andrés Pérez insta a sacara Chávez por la fuerza”
Associated Press, 6 May 2004
In an April 9 interview
with the Miami Herald, retired General Felipe Rodríguez stated that his
clandestine group, known as the Freedom Commandos, “are working to provoke a
military-civilian uprising…[They] allegedly comprise 10-person cells spread
across Venezuela.”
--“Fugitive plots removal of Chávez” By Phil Gunson, The Miami
Herald, 9 April 2004
On April 28
opposition leader Enrique Mendoza told reporters that if there is no recall
referendum, “The whole world will see a people fighting in the streets….”
--"Venezuela Opposition Will Confirm 1M Names In Recall
Push" Associated Press,
28 April 2004
On Saturday March
28, 2004 coup leader Carlos Ortega told a rally in Miami, “I will return to
Venezuela. . . in secret, to fight for the liberation of Venezuela.”
--“Un líder anuncia regreso clandestino a Venezuela” By Casto Ocando,
El Nuevo Herald,
28 March 2004
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