Venezuelans remember the coup against Chávez

<a href=www.sun-sentinel.com>South Florida Sun Sentinel By Sandra Hernandez STAFF WRITER Posted April 12 2003

MIAMI · Exactly one year after President Hugo Chávez was briefly ousted from power in a bizarre and violent coup attempt, Venezuelans recalled the day in an array of ways from protests to quiet moments -- a reflection of the deep divisions that split the South American nation.

In Miami, dozens of protestors carried flags and blew whistles at a candlelight vigil to remember the dead and call for the removal of Chávez.

"I'm here tonight to remember those who lost their lives," said Miriam Salas, who was in the capital city of Caracas on April 11 when the violence broke out. "I never imagined that so many people would die that day. I just remember walking, and then running for cover. I don't think anyone who marched that day could have imagined what was to come."

Just a few miles away in Coral Gables, however, a supporter of Chávez chose to remember the day quietly.

"I called some friends just to see how things are back there," said Carlos Matamoros, a local radio host who supports the charismatic but controversial leader. "I don't plan on making a celebration of this day. I think you remember this tragic day quietly and hope it never repeats itself."

Last April 11, Caracas was turned into a battleground after a protest march calling for the removal of Chávez turned deadly. Shots rang out as the throng of marchers approached the presidential office, leaving 19 people dead and scores injured. Military leaders who blamed the president for the violence briefly forced Chávez out. A temporary government was installed, but it collapsed after leaders announced they were dissolving the constitution and most of the government institutions.

Less than 48 hours later, troops and supporters loyal to the president restored him to office.

Chávez appeared on television the following day and promised to bring unity and restore order in the country.

But a year later, Venezuela remains one of the most polarized places in the region with an ongoing battle between Chávez's opponents who vow to remove him from office and his supporters who say they will back him.

"The country is worse off today than a year ago," says Alfredo Keller, a Venezuelan analyst and pollster. "There is very high unemployment, crime is a real problem and the economy is on the verge of collapsing."

Unemployment is near 20 percent, murders are at an all-time high and hundreds of small businesses have shut down while larger companies fled months ago.

Venezuela has the largest oil reserves outside the Middle East and is a key provider of fuel to the United States.

Moreover, the country's opposition movement that spurred the coup now appears to be confused. The leaders of a two-month-long strike that paralyzed the country and shut down its oil production are scattered.

Labor leader Carlos Ortega has sought political asylum in Costa Rica. And the two remaining leaders -- Carlos Fernandez, who heads the country's largest business chamber, along with Juan Fernandez -- were both in South Florida this weekend.

"The danger right now in Venezuela is the more time that goes on, the more radicalized the both sides become," Fernandez said during an interview in the Weston home of a friend.

But the 53-year-old businessman insists the opposition will remain intact to push for an August referendum that would open the door for removing Chávez.

"I'm not sure that there will be a referendum, but we will push for that," he said.

Until now, Chávez had not committed to calling for a referendum, but on Friday, the government and members of the opposition agreed to hold a vote after Aug. 19.

The agreement could lead to a peaceful solution of an otherwise untenable crisis, according to analysts.

"We are headed toward a crisis when August comes, unless there is some vote," said Keller, the analyst. "I imagine the opposition will do everything possible to get it done and the government will try and stall it and blame the opposition. If that happened, you will have a very serious crisis."