[A-List] Venezuela: growing unrest

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Venezuela on edge of turmoil as protests grow
Andy Webb-Vidal in Caracas
Financial Times: November 19 2002

Venezuela appeared on the verge of a breakdown in law and order on Monday as
thousands of opponents of President Hugo Chávez took to the streets of
Caracas to protest at alleged government-orchestrated violence.

The protests mark the latest stage in rising tensions following the virtual
collapse of peace talks aimed at reconciling the government and opposition
groups. Tuesday may see a further escalation if people respond to calls for
a massive protest march.

Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, is in a deep recession
despite high oil prices. Opposition leaders say the country has become
ungovernable under the beleaguered populist President Chávez.

Mr Chávez, elected four years ago after leading a bloody failed coup attempt
in 1992, and who himself survived a military-civilian coup in April, has
seen his popularity plunge to 30 per cent.

Pent-up public anger burst into the open on Monday after a firebomb attack
late on Sunday damaged the headquarters of Globovisión, a television news
channel seen as critical of Mr Chávez.

Alberto Ravell, director of Globovisión, alleged that militant supporters of
Mr Chávez were to blame and described the incident as "government-inspired
terrorism" and "notice of war".

José Rangel, the vice-president, condemned the attack and promised an
investigation. The bombing followed the channel's coverage of troops firing
tear-gas at civilians protesting against the military takeover of the
metropolitan police force, commanded by Alfredo Peña, city mayor and a
Chávez opponent.

Enrique Mendoza, opposition governor of the state of Miranda, which overlaps
Caracas, and Mr Peña called for a march on Tuesday on the national assembly
to protest against what they said was Mr Chávez's anti-democratic and
anti-constitutional behaviour.

But concerns were growing on Monday over the high risk of violence during
Tuesday's planned demonstration. Opposition leaders said Mr Chávez was
attempting to create chaos to justify declaring a state of emergency or
martial law, a move that could potentially enable him to block an early
referendum on his rule.