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| Latin America |
| Venezuela Seeks End to Pot-Banging Rallies |
| 2003-09-26 |
| Depending on how you do it, banging on pots and pans -- a traditional Latin American protest against unpopular governments and tough times -- could soon land you in prison in Venezuela. Every toddler in Venzuala is headed to the hoosegow, pronto. Earlier this year, opponents of President Hugo Chavez staged nightly protests, called "cacerolazos," during an unsuccessful two-month strike to oust the president. The protests didn’t seem to faze Chavez. Recently, opponents have targeted the homes of perceived government supporters, frightening families and prompting Chavez to denounce what he calls a new form of "terrorism." See Chavez is actively pursuing terrorists in his own way. Ruling party legislators say the demonstrations have become so where only paper plates and plastic spoons are available Police were called when tray-slamming protesters confronted Saab and his mother-in-law at a Caracas hospital where his wife, Francis Fornino, delivered a baby son in April. In Venezuala people not only recognize politicians, they also treat them with all the respect they deserve. The proposed law, according to ruling party lawmakers, would ban pot-banging protests outside the homes of public officials and those that take place on planes or lead to physical confrontations. Of course, bullies remain free to beat up opposition families. Kind of a spoils of war thing. "It would violate freedom of expression," said Geraldo Blyde of the First Justice opposition party. His party is insisting on a two-thirds vote to pass the measure. Chavez backers are insisting on a simple majority. That, too, is illegal, Blyde says. Ivan Rincon, president of the Supreme Court, recently moved from his Caracas home to a military base to escape repeated protests outside his house. Government foes say he issues rulings that favor Chavez. And the Dixie Chicks thought that they had it bad. Rincon blamed "some crazy people that are on the loose" and urged opposition leaders to dissuade their followers from forcing public officials to "abandon their homes." Chavez has endorsed the bid to criminalize cacerolazos targeting specific people and their homes. "It can’t be permitted because it is called terrorism. It isn’t a means of political protest," he said. Banging on a pot in support of opposition views is terrorism, but funding FARC killers in Columbia is Okee Dokee. What does Chavez think he is Provost of a university in the US? Venezuela’s opposition calls the proposed ban another move by Chavez’s leftist government to silence freedom of expression. The government already is sponsoring legislation to regulate TV and radio programming, and Chavez frequently takes over the airwaves to broadcast his speeches. The newspaper licencing scam will follow shortly I’m sure. I believe Chavez is also seekign to silence puppeteers. "Chavez and his collaborators abuse the power. We let them know that we don’t accept it," said Celia Pinango, 53, a homemaker who waves a frying pan every time Chavez appears on TV. Glad I don’t live at that house. That really could get annoying. "Cacerolazos" have helped created geographic boundaries for pro- and anti-government figures. Fine restaurants in eastern Caracas are off-limits to Chavez supporters, who’ve put up with plate-banging protests by diners. Opposition leaders shy away from downtown. "It’s unfortunate that people have to live this way, but that’s what intolerance does," said the pro-Chavez lawmaker Saab. Venezuela is deeply divided over Chavez’s leftist rule. Opponents are seeking a recall referendum against the president but face intense resistance from the government. On Thursday, National Guard troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets for a second day at dozens of fired oil workers fighting eviction from state housing in western Venezuela. At least five people were hurt and 21 protesters were arrested. The workers are among 18,000 fired earlier this year for joining a failed general strike to oust the president. The recall effort in Venezuala is even more entertaining than the one in California. First they threw out the petitions because the signatures were collected too soon. Now the election committee is limiting the signature collection time frame to 4 days. Chavez wants the window dropped to one day. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #7 He has defined terrorists as anyonewho opposes him. He has defined terrorist activity as beating on a pan to make noise. Does anyone question whether his state has become totalitarian? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-26 6:41:20 PM |
| #6 Wasn't there a hurricane Hugo that swept through the Caribbean a few years ago? Aptly named. This guy could take over for Fidel tomorrow, and nobody would notice the difference (except for the lenght of harangues - NOBODY beats Fidel for being long-winded - even Dean's met his match there!). |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-26 3:17:31 PM |
| #5 If the Venezuelans just roll over on this, then they deserve as much of Hugo as they are going to get. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-26 3:10:02 PM |
| #4 The blew their chance taking this guy out about a year and a half ago (4/02 as I remember).It doesn't look like Hugo's about to give them a do-over. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-9-26 3:07:11 PM |
| #3 Actually, I'm pretty sure Chavez has the required history. Didn't he try to stage a coup? Lesson for the soft-hearted: when someone tries to take over your government by force, don't put him in prison. Kill him. It's much more merciful in the long run. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-9-26 12:07:41 PM |
| #2 Chavez is Fidel without the charisma, intelligence, and guerilla history - he won't survive using Fidel's tactics. Civil war is right, and I'm afraid it will get really bloody |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-9-26 11:39:17 AM |
| #1 Can you say, "civil war"? I knew you could. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-26 11:19:45 AM |