Thwarted opposition to stage symbolic referendum on February 2 

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, January 24, 2003 - 3:22:47 PM By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Chacao Mayor Leopoldo Lopez accuses the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of decreeing the death of justice in Venezuela on throwing out the opposition consultative referendum.

• Primero Justicia (PJ) Lopez insists on holding a “symbolic” signing campaign on February 2, the date the opposition and the National Electoral College (CNE) had set for the referendum.

“On February 2, we will collect signatures for a constitutional amendment, a constituent national assembly, recall referendums for seven pro-government Assemblymen and a letter to the Organization of American States (OAS) signed by all Venezuelans.”

Radical Socialist Causa R leader Andres Velasquez says the consultative referendum planned for February 2 will go ahead despite its suspension by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). “We are going to do it as a protest."

Velasquez was present at the opposition march in Bolivar State and stated that the signature protest would take place all over Venezuela in community halls and tents … “we’ll turn it into a live and direct national survey to show the whole world that Chavez Frias has no legitimacy.”