Washington-Backed Coup Plot Update
Associated Press MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2002
CARACAS, Venezuela - A Venezuelan Navy vice admiral demanded on Monday that
President Hugo Chavez resign in the latest show of discontent among the
military top brass with the leftist President's stewardship of the South
American nation. Vice Adm. Carlos Molina Tamayo, who serves as Venezuela's
ambassador to Greece, urged his colleagues at a news conference in Caracas
to add their voices to increasing demands that Chavez step down. Molina
Tamayo was the highest-ranking officer to demand that Chavez, a former army
paratrooper, resign.
Earlier this month, an air force colonel and a National Guard captain also
demanded Chavez's resignation. Their demands generated spontaneous
anti-Chavez protests that drew thousands to Caracas' streets and spurred
millions of dollars in capital flight.
Wearing his full colors and reading a prepared statement, Molina Tamayo
accused Chavez and a National Assembly, Supreme Court, elections board and
finance ministry dominated by Chavez allies of seeking to impose a
totalitarian regime here. He warned that Chavez's combative style of
government, and his creation of neighborhood committees known as "Bolivarian
Circles," could provoke unnecessary bloodshed between Chavez defenders and
an increasingly potent opposition.
The vice admiral - who said he was trained in electronic warfare in the
United States - accused Chavez of veering Venezuela away from its
traditional allies, such as Washington, and damaging its interests by
cozying up to Cuba and other totalitarian regimes.
"I publicly state my rejection of the conduct of President Chavez and his
regime," he said. "We demand a truly democratic system."
Molina Tamayo condemned what he called "a lack of state of law" in
Venezuela; condemned Venezuela's relations with "the terrorist Colombian
guerrillas;" lambasted what he called illicit "enrichment" of top government
officials; accused Chavez of installing "an extreme leftist" regime; and
demanded an end to Venezuelan sales of oil to Cuba. His demands were likely
to exacerbate uncertainty about Venezuela's political stability and its
economic prospects.
Investors and citizens sent hundreds of millions of dollars abroad after the
earlier demands for Chavez's resignation by Air Force Col. Pedro Soto and
National Guard Capt. Pedro Flores, who claimed to be speaking for most of
Venezuela's armed forces.
- Original Message -
From: "Michael Perelman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 9:37 PM
Subject: [PEN-L:23146] Re: Carnagie 2002 and developments in Venezuela
> The coup in Venezuela should be easy, especially after all the US troops
> hit Colombia. I cannot believe what a free ride the spineless Dems. are
> giving W.
> --
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> Chico, CA 95929
>
> Tel. 530-898-5321
> E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
