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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Venezuela Struggles With Paramilitary Plot |
| 2004-05-13 |
| Venezuela's outspoken president, Hugo Chavez, has claimed often and passionately that he is the target of coup and assassination plots. In 2002, it was actually true. So many Venezuelans are befuddled by his latest claims: that dozens of Colombian paramilitaries were training to kill him. More than 100 people have been arrested since authorities stormed a farm on the outskirts of Caracas Sunday. No weapons have been seized, and some wonder whether it is an elaborate ruse to deflect attention from a possible vote to recall the president. "Colombian paramilitary fighters so close to Caracas? It's hard to believe," said Gloria Pineda, a 34-year-old housewife. "How is they get here without being detected? I'm not sure what to think." Colombia's right-wing paramilitaries deny involvement in the alleged plot and Colombia's government has offered to help Venezuela identify the detainees. Chavez claims the United States — along with Venezuelan and Cuban exiles — supported the alleged plot. Washington denied the accusation, which was just the latest in repeated claims by Chavez that the Bush administration is seeking his ouster as president of one of the world's top oil producers. Venezuelan officials have provided only vague information about who the masterminds of the purported conspiracy could be. Some Venezuelans are piecing together their own — often elaborate — theories. Chavez claims Robert Alonso, a Cuban exile and longtime Venezuela resident who owns the farm where the suspected paramilitaries were detained, was involved. Alonso, in hiding, has denied it. |
| Posted by:Fred |