14 military officers call for coup, face court martial

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Venezuela Government Unfazed by Rebel Officers Call (excerpt)
Last Updated: October 23, 2002 05:12 AM ET
By Pascal Fletcher

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Dissident Venezuelan military
officers stoked coup fears by appealing for a revolt against
leftist President Hugo Chavez, but their call was ridiculed
by the government and received no clear support in the
barracks.

A small crowd of opponents of the populist president still
accompanied the 14 rebel officers in east Caracas early on
Wednesday after they had broadcast a message calling on the
armed forces and civilian population to reject Chavez's
rule.

The appeal, broadcast on Tuesday by private television
channels, sent fresh shockwaves through the world's fifth
largest oil exporter, which has experienced political
turmoil since Chavez survived a short-lived coup in April.

There was no sign of support for the proposed revolt from
the military ranks and Chavez's government said it was in
control. It ridiculed the dissidents as frustrated coup
plotters with no powers or standing in the armed forces.

"There is absolute calm in all the garrisons around the
country," Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said.
He added that the rebel officers would face court martial.

Chavez's aides said he was working normally at Miraflores
palace, where guards tightened security.

Late on Tuesday, several thousand people cheered and
joined the dissident officers in a Caracas square. Similar
demonstrations were reported in other cities.

Waving flags and chanting slogans, the anti-government
protesters packed Caracas' Altamira square. Surrounding
streets were jammed with cars honking horns and flashing
their lights.

In their broadcast, the dissident officers accused Chavez, a
former paratrooper democratically elected in 1998, of
dragging the military into politics, dividing Venezuelans
with his left-wing policies and confrontational rule, and
leading the country toward Cuban-style communism.

But the government said the rebels were nearly all the same
officers who tried -- and ultimately failed -- to oust
Chavez in April. Deposed for 48 hours by rebel generals and
admirals, Chavez was restored by loyal troops and followers,
although more than 60 people were killed in street violence.




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