Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Chavez considers martial law after deaths

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/americas/01/04/venezuela.clash/index.html
Chavez considers martial law after deaths
Saturday, January 4, 2003 Posted: 5:42 AM EST (1042 GMT)
 
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- President Hugo Chavez says he is considering
imposing martial law to quell the crisis in Venezuela after two people
were shot dead and dozens wounded during a march aimed at ousting him. 
The violence erupted Friday between supporters of President Hugo Chavez
and striking opposition groups. Police, national guard troops and army
soldiers fired tear gas to try to contain the violence. 
At least six more people were wounded by gunfire and more than two dozen
others were injured by rocks, bottles and other debris hurled by both
sides. It was unclear from which side the gunshots originated. 
Twenty-six people received oxygen for problems due to inhaling tear gas,
said Rodolfo Brizeno, head of the Caracas Fire Department. 
"I am obligated to protect the people. I am obligated to protect public
order," The Associated Press quoted Chavez as saying. "If they force me
to (decree martial law), I'd have to do it." 
But, he added: "So far, despite everything that has happened, there has
been no need to apply any exceptional measures." 
Chavez made his comments after meeting with Cesar Gaviria, secretary
general of the Organization of American States, who is trying to
negotiate a settlement between the government and the opposition. 
Opposition leaders called on Venezuelans to "dig in" and urged them not
to pay sales taxes after weeks of strikes have crippled the economy and
the oil industry of the world's fifth-largest oil exporter. 
The clash marked the 33rd day of demonstrations against Chavez by groups
who have accused him of grabbing power and ruining the country's economy
almost since he was elected four years ago. His opponents want him to
resign or to call early elections. 
Thousands of protesters took to the streets throughout the day. At one
point, roughly 200 supporters of Chavez and more than 1,000 opposition
protesters faced off near a large military facility. They were kept
apart by a line of security forces. 
The standoff came as opposition groups marched to the Fuerte Tiuna
military facility, one of the largest in the capital, to show support
for an army general under house arrest inside the facility. 
The general was forced to retire for his part in a failed April coup. He
was arrested Monday, accused of publicly urging people to support the
opposition strikers. His case is now before the Supreme Court. So far,
the military has backed Chavez. 
After his meeting with the president, Gaviria said both sides failed to
reach an agreement on a February 2 referendum. 
He said the lack of an agreement did not mean there was no hope of
finding a solution to the economic crisis. He said that at least both
sides recognize the importance of the negotiating process. 
Chavez spoke after the meeting on national television, saying the
demonstrators' actions were unconstitutional and undemocratic. 
He reiterated his position the dispute could be handled in a referendum
in mid-August. Under the constitution, a referendum on an elected
official must be held at midterm if requested by enough people. 
That figure, however, must be at least one person greater than the
number who elected the official. Opposition groups have rejected this
option. 
The president said Algeria promised to send a team of 20 people to help
restart the oil industry. He indicated they would include shipping and
computer experts. 
Chavez said he was winning the battle against the protesters and that
soon the oil industry would return to pre-strike levels, but opposition
leaders have dismissed those claims. 
Late last month Chavez bought a tanker of gasoline from Brazil to
provide emergency fuel for the country. Two other tankers were lying off
the coast of Venezuela and a Russian tanker was said to be on its way. 
-- Ingrid Arnesen and Andres Izarra contributed to this report.

¦ were shot dead and dozens wounded during a march aimed at ousting him. 
Ma guarda un po' che novità!
L'ho già scritto: è da mesi che chávez fomenta disordini e guerriglie
in modo da poter avere la scusa che va cercando per decretare lo stato
d'emergenza e sospendere cosí le garanzie costituzionali. E poi?
L'ho già scritto. E ci sta riuscendo.
* Venezuela quiere Vida y Libertad *
-- 
Ciao,
    Mariuccia® /Maracay(Edo. Aragua) *Venezuela.

L'ho già scritto. E ci sta riuscendo.
Certo certo :))
-Stefano

>Purtroppo; Marco.