Venezuelans Crowd Outside Presidential Palace Demanding to See Chavez

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBYVIQ7D9E.html

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Nearly 1,000 supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez massed outside his palace Monday, demanding that their leader show his face to reassure them that he was all right after three days of not appearing in public.

Throngs of Chavez loyalists faced off with police in anti-riot gear along the fences of the Miraflores presidential palace. Many demonstrators climbed the iron fences and stood atop them, shouting: "We want to see Chavez!"

Information Minister Andres Izarra told the television station Globovision on Monday morning: "There is no reason to be alarmed."

"There is nothing abnormal or extraordinary occurring," Izarra said. He said the 50-year-old president was well and handling government business as usual.

But those in the crowd said they weren't convinced. Asked about Izarra's assurances, demonstrator Rosa Perez said, "That's a lie. We don't trust any of them."

[Robbien]

1. First Globovision, now the AP. Looks as if we are really pushing this stor

Wonder why.

[genius]

2. I'm getting really worried about Chavez. He's the best leader in the world

We can't lose him.

[arcos]

17. Although I agree losing him would be a tragedy...

Don't you think calling him the best leader in the world is an overstatement?

[genius]

23. I can't think of a better world leader.

He's giving land and oil profits to the people.

[Runcible Spoon]

3. wow if W made no appearances in 3 days

I'd be thrilled not to have to look at his smug smirk. Must be nice to have a leader whom you care about.

[genius]

The Venezuelans love him. Losing him would be a great tragedy

He is the example which all leaders should strive to become. Bush wants to oust him and has tried many times. Let's hope he's OK and that this is a false alarm.

[genius]

4. The Venezuelans love him. Losing him would be a great tragedy

He is the example which all leaders should strive to become. Bush wants to oust him and has tried many times. Let's hope he's OK and that this is a false alarm.

[IndianaGreen]

25. If Bush and Cheney were to disappear in the Bermuda Triangle

few would miss them!

[kentuck]

5. He's committing the same sin that Saddam committed....

He's trying to influence the price of oil. We cannot allow that to happen.

[kentuck]

6. He's committing the same sin that Saddam committed....

He's trying to influence the price of oil. We cannot allow that to happen.

[Judi Lynn]

7. The "opposition" could easily take advantage of this situation

by placing snipers outside the building waiting for him to appear. Interesting time for Luis Posada Carriles's incarceration, since he was involved with American right-wing-designed death squads, drug operations, bombers, terrorists of the foulest stripe. Some of his fellow terrorists could easily be lying in wait to pick Chavez off.

Remember Posada Carriles was in charge of Venezuelan security forces under Carlos Andres Perez, who ordered his military to fire into protestors, and killed off many of them. Carlos Andres Perez has been howling for the violent murder of Hugo Chavez publically.

In effect, mainstream media serve as the echo chambers of empire, colluding in imperial silences as well as projecting hyperbolic PR spin. Condoleeza Rice's commitment to the subversion of Venezuela's elected government has been clear ever since the coup of April 2002. The perversity of her analysis of Venezuelan affairs can be seen in this quote from NBC's "Meet the Press" on April 14th 2002. Interviewed by Tim Russert after Chavez was returned to power by massive popular demonstrations against the coup plotters, here's what Rice had to say:

"I hope that Hugo Chavez takes the message that his people sent him that his own policies are not working for the Venezuelan people, that he's dealt with them in a high-handed fashion. And I hope what he said in his speech this morning, that he understands that this is a time for national reflection, that he recognizes it's time for him to reflect on how Venezuela got to where it is. He needs to respect constitutional processes....." (Condoleeza Rice Interview with Tim Russert, Meet the Press, NBC News)Perhaps only in the United States could an analysis so totally contrary to the facts be taken seriously. But the profound mendacity of individuals like Rice is nothing new. Their conscious doublespeak - averring concern for democracy while doing all in their power to destroy it - serves as a cover for deniable operations by Rice's shadowy covert operations colleagues - operations like the murder of Danilo Anderson.

http://lark.phoblacht.net/ts01122g.html



He's got your constitution, Condoleeza!

[kentuck]

8. He's committing the same sin that Saddam committed....

He's trying to influence the price of oil. We cannot allow that to happen.

[genius]

10. I've noticed that some of my postings are going up twice too.

I think it's part of whatever's going on with the Democratic Underground today.

[JohnyCanuck]

9. I wonder if he might have been suddenly taken ill

with an "unknown disease" like the one Yasser Arafat had.

[Cha]

11. I read on DU..the

other week that Chavez has said that if anything happened to him that his "military knew what to do"!

I hope this doesn't have to be put into place.

[NNN0LHI]

12. How long until a fat grinning Chavez holding an AK-47 appears? n/t

[cal04]

13. VHeadline

I would not be surprised if these rumors came from factors interested in destabilizing and generating unrest in the country,” explained Izarra. Chavez is addressing government issues as usual .On Monday morning, Izarra told pro-opposition television station Globovisión that the President was well and addressing government issues as usual.

He made the statements after hundreds of government supporters went to the Miraflores Presidential Palace on Sunday night demanding to see if the Venezuelan President was alright.

Chavez, who is currently visiting his family, was notified about the situation and asked to tell his supporters at the Presidential Palace that he was well. However, hundreds of his supporters were concerned because his attendance at the pro-government demonstration and his radio and television broadcast were both cancelled

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=36436

While supporting of the government they demanded the appearance of the president of the Republic that believed was kidnapped or wounded, president Chávez made a visit to his smaller daughter, Rosainés Chávez, that lives in Barquisimeto (Edo.Lara) (Photo AP and Efe)
(from a spanish newspaper)

[maddezmom]

14. Chávez resurfaces at cabinet meeting; dispels rumours

President Hugo Chávez Monday explained at a cabinet meeting, broadcast live on the official TV channel Venezolana de Televisión (VT), the reasons why he was absent during 24 hours.

He claimed that after watching Sunday the Venezuela-Brazil volleyball game on TV, he decided to visit his seven-year-old eldest daughter Rosainés in Barquisimeto, Lara state (north-western Venezuela).

"Nothing wrong has happened, absolutely nothing," Chávez said. "I took advantage of the fact that "Hello, President" was off the air to see my child," he said.

~snip~
more: http://www.eluniversal.com/2005/05/30/en_pol_art_30A564841.shtml

[cal04]

18. thanks for the update. Pic of Chavez

7:39 PM ET
In this picture released by Miraflores, President Hugo Chavez appears in a Cabinet meeting in the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 30, 2005, reassuring hundreds of worried supporters massed outside who had demanded proof that he was all right after he disappeared from public view over the weekend. (AP Photo/Miraflores, Marcelo Hernandez)

[chknltl]

19. Thank you for that link, maddezmom

pfew.... the conspiracy theorist in me was beginning to rear its head on this topic. The recent development of server problems in DU (and elsewhere) combined with missing world leaders was causing me think that finding a bunker off-planet might be in order!

[genius]

22. Thank you for the information I guess we can relax.

With the Evil Empire trying to destroy all independent republics possessing oil, it's kind of natural to worry when a good leader whose country has the most oil in the western hemisphere disappears.

[NorCalDem]

15. Man, Chavez must really be a bastard

to recieve such support and downright concern when he disappears for a few days. I can't remember the last dictator that was so loved by his people, can you? Maybe it has to do with him not being a dictator, but you wouldn't know it from reading/listening to anything printed about him in this country.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. I was just wondering how long Bush could be gone before

--- the public would even notice.

They could announce that he was in Crawford, and the American people wouldn't think anything of it for a very long time.

[tanyev]

20. It would be such a relief not to see his mug

on the news every night.

[Algorem]

26. Raucous god-let-him-be-dead celebrations would break out worldwide.

I'd break one of the moe-foes out maself.

[lovuian]

21. This is not good!!!

That Chavez hasn't showed means something is really wrong!!!

[Robert Oak]

24. sin of all sins, he just stood up to big oil, he's dead meat

at least from History of any politician, esp. S. America who has an
"accident" when they stand up to esp. big oil.

If this is another I just don't know anymore.

[Judi Lynn]

27. Opposition to U.S. Makes Chávez a Hero to Many

Opposition to U.S. Makes Chávez a Hero to Many



Leslie Mazoch/Associated Press
Supporters of President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela rallied Monday outside the presidential palace in


By JUAN FORERO
Published: June 1, 2005
Correction Appended

BOGOTÁ, Colombia, May 31 - When President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela arrived at the World Social Forum in Brazil in January, he was greeted with thunderous cries of "Here comes the boss!"

At ceremonies in March surrounding the inauguration of Uruguay's president, Tabaré Vázquez, the latest left-of-center leader elected in Latin America, throngs roared their approval as Mr. Chávez gave one of his characteristically rambling talks, full of warnings about American imperialism.

And in Buenos Aires, crowds mobbed Mr. Chávez when he showed up to inaugurate Venezuela's first state-owned gas station in the Argentine capital, part of a food-for-oil deal popular with Argentines.

It is the kind of public adoration that brings to mind another Latin American leader, Fidel Castro, who for more than 45 years has drawn accolades wherever he has gone, much to Washington's chagrin. Now, it seems, the torch is being passed, and it is Mr. Chávez who is emerging as this generation's Castro - a charismatic figure and self-styled revolutionary who bearhugs his counterparts on state visits, inspires populist left-wing movements and draws out fervent well-wishers from Havana to Buenos Aires.
(snip)

Mr. Chávez is also riding a wave of popular reaction in the region against the "Washington consensus" of democracy and open markets that the White House, for the moment, seems unable to dampen. While few leaders in Latin America are as provocatively anti-American as Mr. Chávez, three-quarters of South America is governed by left-of-center presidents, and next year Mexico may well elect a leftist populist of its own, Mexico City's mayor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
(snip)

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/01/international/americas/01letter.html?
(Free registration is required)

[0rganism]

28. "one of his characteristically rambling talks"

Nope, no editorial insertions here, move along.

I can only wonder what would happen if a bushspeach were journalistically described as "characteristically rambling", let alone the more accurate "characteristically dishonest and muddled." No, instead, bushspeak is lauded as "folksy", "down-to-earth", and "a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that connects with Americans alienated by elite liberals."

[sarcasmo]

29. I wouldn't doubt if the CIA already had plans to take him out. He is a

great leader that doesn't take shit from the USA, which will usually get you whacked CIA style.