General Lopez Hidalgo's report on US involvement in April coup released in tabloid snippets
<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Las Ultimas Noticias editor Eleazar Diaz Rangel has released what seems to be snippets from General Melvin Lopez Hidalgo's report on US involvement in the April 11, 2002:
On April 8, 2002, when rumors were rife in the barracks and the conspiracy was afoot, US Embassy Naval Attache, Captain David H. Cazares approached a group of Venezuelan Army and Navy (Armada) officers and asked General Roberto Cardenas why he hadn't made contact with US ships off the coast and a submarine off La Guaira.
"What were they waiting for?"
General Gonzalez Cardenas said he didn't know what he was talking about and went off to speak to the Brazilian Military Attache.
Cazares asked Navy Captain Moreno Leal if the person he was talking to was General Gonzalez , who served on the border ... "it's General Gonzalez alright but I don't know if he served on the border." He spoke to Gonzalez Cardenas again, asking why no contact was made with three ships and the submarine. Gonzalez Cardenas said he would find out.
It is evident that Cazares had got the wrong Gonzalez ... he met the right one in the elevator and reminded him, "this will have an operational cost ... I await your answer."
On Friday April 12, US Embassy military attache, Colonel Donal F. McCarthy called the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV) Intelligence Office asking for authorization for an overflight of a Hercules C130 transporting a "diplomatic load" of 5 kilos of lithium battery, 5 kilos of compressed oxygen class 2.2, 56 kilos of 1.4 munitions, 30 kilos of flares, 40 kilos of demolition charges, and 2 kilos of detonator.
A General involved in the April conspiracy admitted that what took place on April 11 was a coup attempt. National Guard (GN) General Alfonso Martinez told the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) but the majority of magistrates decided that there was a "vacuum of power" on April 11. The General's declaration found no echo in the media.
On Saturday, April 13 there was a US ship near La Orchila island from where a plane made several overflights without authorization from Venezuelan authorities but the movements were detected and recorded.
Las Ultimas Noticias published a photo of US Colonel James Rodgers driving his car in Fuerte Tiuna barracks during the coup d'etat ... the AFP agency reported that the Colonel had been there from Thursday, April 10 until Saturday, April 13 ob the 5th floor of the Army Command building.