[PEN-L:32787] Middle-Class & Armed in Venezuela

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

The Economist
June 29, 2002 U.S. Edition
SECTION: THE AMERICAS
HEADLINE: Middle-class and armed

BODY: IT WAS about an hour into the condominium association meeting,
in a middle-class Caracas neighbourhood, before anyone broached the
subject that was on everyone's mind. "What happens if there are acts
of vandalism, like in April," an elegantly dressed young woman asked
the police officer who was addressing the meeting. "You tell us to
stay calm, but do you have any other advice?" Ever since the coup
attempt in mid-April that briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez, the
better-off inhabitants of the Venezuelan capital have been growing
increasingly nervous. An e-mail campaign is warning them that, if
another military rebellion occurs, they can expect concerted, armed
attacks on their homes by pro-Chavez mobs. In response, residents of
many apartment buildings, and some whole neighbourhoods, have drawn
up defence plans and taken stock of their weapons. "Where I live,"
says a retired general, "we've met several times to make plans. To
decide where to place the rifles, where to place the small arms,
who's going to use which weapon and what the angle of fire should be."

The middle-class districts of Caracas are sandwiched between slums at
the eastern and western ends of the valley. In some cases, posh
residential areas rub shoulders with barrios in which the rule of law
is a joke, and where the police go in--if at all--in flak jackets and
with guns drawn. These areas are among the chief bastions of
government support. Before Mr Chavez was restored to power, in the
early hours of April 14th, widespread looting took place, much of it
seemingly organised by groups loyal to the president. Although their
main targets were shops and supermarkets, some gun-toting Chavez
supporters roared into the nicer streets on motorbikes, sparking
panic.

Whatever the true nature of the threat, gun shops in wealthier
districts are selling many more weapons and bullets these days. Most
popular are shotguns, which are more practical for the non-expert and
for which it is easier to get a firearms licence. One shop in the
east of the city says June sales were up by 35%, although a good
shotgun can cost up to $1,000.

A lawyer who acts as legal counsel to several neighbourhood
associations says he has spoken to active-service generals who say
they would send troops, "even a tank", to defend their own and their
neighbours' homes in an emergency. "The police and the army will be
too busy fighting among themselves," he says.

In the slums, too, people assume that armed conflict is coming and
that the enemy is better prepared. "I have a 24-inch TV," says the
leader of one pro-Chavez community organisation in western Caracas,
"and if I can sell it to buy a pistol, I will." Both sides argue that
the other has "nothing to lose". The middle class is risking nothing,
the community leader says. "They hire people to fight and die for
them."

Rumours of a coup, very loud in mid-June, have died down somewhat in
recent days. But plans among military rebels to overthrow the
government seem merely to be on hold. According to the retired
general, the threat of armed conflict among civilians is one factor
that might cause the armed forces to intervene. No one would question
their right and duty to restore order; and "restoring order" might go
as far as the presidential palace.

GRAPHIC: Watch out for granny, she's got you covered; Chavez may have
the slums, but the nicer streets have their guns.
--
Yoshie

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