Venezuela's Chavez warns Costa Rica on 'coup plot'

[arcos]

Venezuela's Chavez warns Costa Rica on 'coup plot'

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused Costa Rican government officials of backing his opponents in an alleged coup plot from San Jose to topple his leftist government.

<snip>

Chavez, a fiery, outspoken former army paratrooper who often denounces conspiracies against him, did not provide details about how Costa Rican officials were involved.

<snip>

Costa Rica earlier this year granted political asylum to Carlos Ortega, a firebrand Venezuelan union boss who led a crippling opposition strike in December and January that failed to topple Chavez.


Chavez, who also survived a brief coup in April last year, on Sunday played an unspecific audio tape he said was a recording of Ortega in San Jose, the capital of the small Central American nation, and another opposition leader talking over details of plans to destabilize his government.

<snip>

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/03/content_277875.htm

[ugarte]

1. Sad to say

the Ticos more and more have lost their sovereignty to the U.S. The country that used to brag about not having an army now has one--only it's not theirs!

[9215]

2. Bush, Cisneros, Ortega link

They call it privatization, I'd call it theft.

http://forums.transnationale.org/viewtopic.php?p=574

The goal: privatization of Venezuela's oil

......A May 1 article in Mexico's Proceso says one of the aims of the coup leaders was "the privatization of PDVSA, turning it over to a U.S. company linked to President George Bush and the Spanish company Repsol; plus the sale of CITGO, the U.S. subsidiary of PDVSA, to Gustavo Cisneros and his partners in the north, as well as an end to the Venezuelan government's exclusive subsoil rights."

Cisneros, a longtime friend of former President George Bush, heads up a corporate empire stretching from the U.S. to Patagonia, the British Economist reports.

PDVSA is Latin America's largest company -- a lucrative prize awaiting the eager fingers of the privatizers. The maneuvers to achieve privatization of PDVSA began in earnest after Chavez became president. Though we are told that it was the workers who reacted against Chavez's changes, a March 2001 Wall Street Journal <http://www.transnationale.org/fiches/-852570645.htm> article disclosed a different picture, speaking of "top management and white-collar workers" at PDVSA "in open revolt against the government of President Hugo Chavez."

The WSJ reported: "hey have participated in ... noisy demonstrations and work stoppages to protest the recent appointment of three Chavez loyalists to PDVSA's board. ... Leaders of a newly organized PDVSA management union' aren't saying when or if they would strike. However, after holding a companywide meeting last weekend, they announced plans to carry out a series of gradual escalations of the conflict that could culminate in an indefinite strike ... The controversy quickly exploded when thousands of PDVSA executives signed full-page newspaper ads denouncing the new appointees as incompetent.'" On April 4, 2002, "PDVSA executives declared a work stoppage," the WSJ reported. In the lexicon of U.S. labor, these "strike" actions would be considered "lockouts" by management.

The leadership of the oil workers union, which operated in close alliance with the two political parties that ran Venezuela <http://www.transnationale.org/pays/ven.htm> for 40 years before Chavez, also became involved. And information continues to surface about the role played by the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) leadership, especially its president, Carlos Ortega, in the coup attempt and his ongoing role in efforts to bring down Chavez. Tayler notes that former Venezuelan president Carlos Andres Perez, currently living in Miami, who is wanted on corruption charges in Venezuela <http://www.transnationale.org/pays/ven.htm> and has been accused of involvement in the plot, is a mentor of both Ortega and Carmona.......

[Say_What]

3. US Officials Statements on Venezuela are a Permanent Provocation

The US has been relentless in it's desire to overthrow democratically elected Chavez. Consequently, the Venezuelan government is keeping a spotlight on whatever information about covert opts going on against them--this may save them from being overthrow--it isn't 1973 Chile anymore. The history on Allende tells us that these dirty tricks went on for a number of years before the US suceeded in overthrowing him and installing Pinochet.

<clips>

Venezuelan Vice-president José Vicente Rangel responded today to some statements made by US government officials on Venezuela's political situation and the accusations of CIA involvement in Venezuela.

"It really bothers me having to keep answering those statements, because they are routine, they are a permanent provocation. What they say makes no sense. Mr. Colin Powell said something that reveals a certain degree of ignorance of history. He said that the CIA practices denounced here were done in the nineteenth century. It seems like Powell did not live in the twentieth century when the CIA armed the conspiracy against Allende (Chile), against Nicaragua, against the Dominican Republic, against Panama, etc." said Rangel.

Rangel also talked about the accusations against the Venezuelan government made by the US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "Mr. Boucher said that the differences with Venezuela are political because we have repressed demonstrators and closed newspapers. I would ask to him; which newspapers has President Hugo Chávez closed?,” asked Rangel.

Boucher said recently that the US problems with Venezuela arise from the way the political problems have been handled in the South American nation, "repressing the press, closing newspapers and beating up demonstrators."

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1086

[9215]

4. 'Demonstrators" or insurrectionists?

These purported demonstrators/protesters are not addressing policy issues, they are trying to overthrow a democratically elected leader by force with assistance from a foreign power (The US via the CIA, Whackemhut) backing locals power grabbers. This is how they differ from what we see in the US and other places.

If the US Constitution was in place in Venezuela these thugs could be hauled in under the Alien and Sedition Acts.


Chavez is fighting the bastards and taking his grievances to foreign countries who harbor them like Costa Rica. He has a case and his voice should be heard.


A :toast: to Venezuela and its fight for democracy.

[AP]

5. See this movie:

[Minstrel Boy]

6. That Chavez - what a conspiracy theorist!

Chavez, a fiery, outspoken former army paratrooper who often denounces conspiracies against him

This reads like "there he goes again," as though the plots against him are all in his head.

:eyes:

[9215]

9. Just like we are, hee, he.

Nice one.

[eablair3]

7. Costa Rica -- ties to U.S.?

who are the leaders and the people in power in Costa Rica? And, how closely are they connected to big business, the U.S. and to the CIA?

I saw the docu movie "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" this past weekend. It was about the coup in April 2002 in Venezuela. If you get a chance, see it. It's way worth it. Simply amazing video footage showing much of the insides of both sides. It really showed how the media is used to attempt to manipulate the process. GREAT DOCU!

I think Chavez may have made a mistake by letting the guy who announced himself as President during the coup, Pedro Carmona, and this "union" operative, Carlos Ortega, to get away. Carmona is living in Miami, according to the movie, and Ortega is now in Costa Rica, i guess according to this.

Was there some type of deal made in allowing Carmona and Ortega to go free after they led an armed coup, took the President of Venezuela captive for two days, dissolved the National Assembly (legislature), dissolved the Venezeulan Supreme Court, etc., all in violation of the Venezuelan Constitution. Now, wouldn't all this be considered the highest form of treason? They both should have been arrested and put in jail for life ion Venezuela. But, both are out and still plotting from outside the country.

[Say_What]

8. Carmona was under house arrest accused of rebellion and usurping

the presidency until he fled to Colombia where he was granted asylum.

<clips>

... After the failed coup, Mr Carmona was placed under house arrest, accused of rebellion and usurping the presidency. He denies the charges, saying the military asked him to head a transitional administration.

When a court ordered his transfer to prison, he sought refuge in the Colombian embassy and asked for asylum.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1927678.stm

---

Chavez Opposition Leaders Now in Exile

<clips>

... Ortega has tried to stay involved in Venezuelan politics, granting some interviews to local media and applauding a petition for a possible recall vote on Chavez's presidential term, which ends in 2007.

But he also has plenty of free time since Costa Rica granted him asylum this year. Rather than stage daily news conferences, he reads about them.

"I spend most of my time ... reading the news and maintaining contact with those involved in the struggle in Venezuela," Ortega told The Associated Press by telephone.

Since Ortega fled treason and rebellion charges, Chavez has tried to weaken his Venezuelan Workers Confederation, the country's largest labor group, by negotiating collective bargaining contracts with an upstart union.

<http://insidecostarica.com/specialreports/venezuela_chaves_opponents_in_exile.htm>

[eablair3]

10. thanks

thanks for the links and info. I did a little searching on it, too.

I had read where Carmona had turned up in Miami after fleeing to Columbia. How could they (Chavez) let this guy escape? Why was he under "house arrest" in his own home? Chavez and his people have either be totally inept or there was some deal cut somewhere along the line to let this guy escape. How could you let the leader of an armed coup who took control of the palace and kidnapped the elected President to get away? For what Carmona did, I'd think that he be in a high security prison. Anyway, he did "escape" and seek asylum from Columbia officials, and he later turned up in Miami:

>>>Sunday afternoon - from El Universal (Mexico City)
In a speech to the nation, Chávez assured there would be neither reprisals nor a witch hunt against the opposition. He also said those who provoked the bloodshed would not go unpunished. He denied he had ever resigned and noted he had the support of heads of states worldwide. Crowds celebrated his return in Caracas. Carmona was placed under house arrest. Soon after he fled to Colombia claiming persecution. He now resides in Miami.<<<<

http://www.chavezthefilm.com/html/backgrd/coup.htm

Another link showing Carmona in Miami afterwards:

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/venezuela/carmona-fiu.htm
http://news.fiu.edu/releases/2002/7-1_lacc.htm

Carmona apparently did give his speech at FIU in Florida.

I think I recall reading somewhere that the U.S. government (Bush people) were starting to get embarrassed over harboring this guy, and they finally got around to revoking his visa. Not entirely sure, but I thought I had seen something to that effect. If anyone else knows Carmona's whereabouts, I'd be interested in hearing. He may have again went to Columbia. Of course, there is no connection between the U.S. and Columbia (sarcasm).

Ortega was initially allowed to stay in the country, and didn't flee to Costa Rica until after his actions in instigating the strike and insurrection in Dec 2002 or around that time.

>>>>>UPDATE
In December 2002, in another attempt to oust Chavez, CTV and Fedecamaras organised a General strike, which despite causing widespread economic damage – particularly in the oil industry – failed.
In February 2003, the Venezuelan authorites, after what they claimed had been a prolongued and thorough investigion, issued a warrant for the arrest of Carlos Ortega. Ortega has since fled to Costa Rica.<<<<<<

http://www.chavezthefilm.com/html/backgrd/coup.htm

another link having to do with the NED in Venez:
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/South_America/Our_Gang_Venezuela.html

lots more at:
http://www.zmag.org/venezuela_watch.htm

[Say_What]

12. In defense of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"

From Venezuelanalysis.com

<clips>

Through this document we would like express our strong support for the public screenings of the award-winning documentary "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Also, we would like to address some false claims made by a Venezuelan opposition group called Recivex, its president Ms. Maria Teresa Van der Ree, and the Venezuelan web magazine El Gusano de Luz seeking to discredit Venezuela’s current government, and to censor the screening of the documentary.

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is an excellent documentary made by two Irish filmmakers who had the luck to be at Presidential Palace at the time the coup d’etat against Venezuela’s twice democratically-elected President Chavez took place in April 2002. The many awards and excellent reviews that this documentary has garnered internationally can be seen at www.chavezthefilm.com. Regardless of one's personal feelings about Hugo Chavez and his government, the film is a historical document, and deserves to be seen.

The well-coordinated campaign to pressure Amnesty International and other groups to censor the exhibition of the documentary is part of an effort to silence those who have denounced horrendous human rights violations that were committed during the coup d’etat against President Chavez and during the dictatorship that briefly replaced him. These violations include:

* arbitrary arrests,
* extra judicial killings,
* torture
* kidnappings
* persecution,
* violation of the rights of assembly and freedom of expression.

All of this occurred under a dictatorial rule that abolished the Constitution, dissolved the elected National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and fired all state governors, the Attorney General and the Human Rights Ombudsman.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1047

[AP]

13. They coup leaders were in hiding. When Chavez said there wouldn't be

a witch hunt they popped up.

Chavez learned in the repsonse to the coup that the people were in control of the government. So he did need to crack down hard on the coup leaders. He just needed to follow the constitution (which is a point I think the movie makes very clear).

[Judi Lynn]

14. More and more articles are pointing out that Hugo Chavez

has been extraordinarily generous and charitable to the coup-plotters and seditionists, and we all know they would NEVER have extended the same kindness were the situation reversed.

They have suceeded in remaining free to start their next upheaval and even possible assassination all over again. Chavez has proven himself a very strong president, and a good human image.

[9215]

11. kick

[Judi Lynn]

15. Here's an item that bears some emphasis

since so many people have been living with a lie fostered by propaganda, or are deliberately trying to keep a lie in motion, concerning Venezuela's agreement with Cuba concerning oil. This is the agreement made not only with Cuba, but with other small nations, as well:

Under the terms of the San Jose Pact, Venezuela and Mexico have undertaken to sell oil on extremely favorable credit terms to a string of 11 nations in Central America, including the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and the USA's arch-fixation, Cuba.
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=12209