Pablo Medina sets out to break down East/West Caracas “Berlin Wall”

www.vheadlines.com Posted: Friday, March 21, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Former Patria Para Todos (PPT) leaders have allied with former guerrilla group, Bandera Roja (BR) to form an anti-government barrio slum organization called Gente del Pueblo.

Former Chavist kingpin, Pablo Medina and Carlos Melo have joined Gabriela Puerta Aponte (BP) and Gustavo Mujica as bridgeheads to break what Medina calls the “imaginary Berlin Wall" that divides east and west Caracas.

The new group’s first action is to organize a signature campaign tomorrow Saturday in Caricuao. Medina has called on Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) not to interfere and says he wants to show that people in west Caracas are not 100% behind the government, as is commonly believed.

“Popular sectors have had enough of Chavez Frias and we aim to show it by holding assemblies in west Caracas parishes with the help of the Coordinadora Parroquial (parish coordinating committees). Melo says self-defense groups will be on hand to deal with MVR circles that attempt to break up the signature campaign.

The leaders criticize the "government ploy" of organizing a mega-market at the same hour as the signature campaign that will operate a few blocks away and President Chavez Frias’ decision to broadcast his Sunday radio address from Caricuao. “If the President decides to broadcast from Caricuao, he will receive a mega banging of pots and pans.”