Irresponsible accusations flying through the air after Plaza O'Leary shooting tragedy

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 02, 2003 By: David Coleman

Irresponsible accusations are flying through the air after the death of 46-year-old Richard Herrera in a shooting incident at Plaza O'Leary in Caracas during an opposition Confederation of Venezuelan Trade Unions (CTV) May 1 demonstration.  Paramedics who were quickly on the scene say several others were injured but that Herrera had been killed from several bullets to the chest.  Felix Lungar (32), also wounded in the shooting, was rushed to the University Hospital Clinic as CICPC detectives began a thorough investigation.

Chacao Mayor Leopoldo Lopez says the demo was progressing peacefully when a verbal altercation broke out and he heard five distinct gunshots.  "Everything happened very quickly, I was about 15 meters from where it happened ... then there were people running away ... unfortunately, there were no policemen close at hand ... the killer got away but there were witnesses who saw him and they described him as wearing a white shirt and camouflage trousers."

National Assembly (AN) deputy, Gerardo Blyde told reporters in the El Silencio district of Caracas that the suspect has been identified as a local criminal aliased "The Chicken" whose last known residence was in Block 1G and that he escaped capture through the parking area.  Other versions of what happened claim two people shooting from a motorcycle.

Proyecto Venezuela deputy Maria Gabriela Mataudon says she saw the alleged killer fire off the shots and then being taken away in a police car ... a witness adds that it was a State Political & Security (DISIP) police patrol car and that the arresting officer was identified by badge number 21.534.

More than 2,000 officers from the Metropolitan Police (PM), National Guard (GN), PoliCaracas and Fire Emergency crews had covered the demonstration but PM deputy director Lazaro Forero says it was impossible to foresee the tragedy.  "We did not expect it ... it was a surprise to everyone and we are trying to get to the bottom of what really happened."

Opposition Globovision TV News channel did not delay much in bringing live pictures from the scene, highlighting unsubstantiated accusations that the shooting had taken place on direct orders from the Chavez Frias government.  Official Ombudsman German Mundarain says, however, that the shooting resulted from a one-on-one verbal dispute between two people in Plaza O'Leary, and that one of the two pulled out a gun and fired.  "We can not at this stage attach any political motive to the shooting ... the gunman escaped into one of the buildings close by but we have clear signals as to his identity and he will be captured sooner or later."

Mundarain says he regrets that there have been so much irresponsible public speculation as to who, what or why lies behind the Plaza O'Leary shooting ... "we have no evidence that this crime has any political motive and there is no evidence to substantiate any such claim ... it appears to me to be highly irresponsible to make such statements as have been attributed to elements of the opposition since it doesn't contribute anything to the maintenance of peace and general order."

In update news, Metropolitan Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena says five were injured and 9 have been detained following Thursday's, Mat 1 demonstrations across the capital.  The injured have been named as Alfonso Ochoa, Jorge Espinosa, Luis Tovar and Junior Contreras who were treated at hospital emergency rooms while Jaime Leon is in intensive care at the Military Hospital although expected to be off the danger list shortly.

Metropolitan Police (PM) officers have reportedly detained Rafael Urbina (19), Jackson Aborrea (22), Felix Moreno (19), Carlos Borrero (35), Franklin Ortiz (19), Carlos Alberto Montero (33), Alberto Fernandez (44), Erika Contreras (22) and Jose Pulido on an assortment of weapons-related charges.

Pena says he regrets the latest acts of political violence and adds "it will not be possible to return peace to the streets unless we can disarm these violent groups and if proper elections are not supervised by international inspection organizations."