Army Captain Michael O'Brien resurfaces from the shadows

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Army Captain Michael O'Brien's defense lawyer, Gustavo Parilli complains that President Hugo Chavez Frias, the Defense Minister and Army C-i-C  are not complying with legally authorized measures to protect his client. 

Parilli, who is dismissed rebel General (ret.) Manuel Rosendo's lawyer, recalls that the 5th Caracas Control Judge ordered the government to introduce protection measures in favor of O'Brien Fossi after the events of April 11. 

General Manuel Rosendo used Captain O'Brien's version of a conversation between Jose Vicente Rangel and Libertador Mayor Freddy Bernal on April 11, alleging that Rangel had told Bernal to bring down Bolivarian Circles from the Caracas hillside slums with sticks and stones to prevent an anti-government crowd from marching on Miraflores. 

• Opposition media picked up on the Captain's allegations, which government sources say was gossip, to boost its take on the Llaguno Bridge shootings that occurred later in the afternoon.

O'Brien has kept his head down since the his superior, Rosendo used his aide's bit of news to defend his own actions on April 11 (2002) when as Armed Force Unified Command (Cufan),  Rosendo cut off communications with the President preventing the implementation of an emergency security plan called Plan Avila to counter disturbances. In view of posterior revelations of US government involvement in the coup, General Rosendo will have to clarify his April 11 disappearing act.

O'Brien's lawyer confirms that the lives of the Captain and his family are in danger. However, the lawyer did not offer details regarding if the government had withdrew protection and when ... it is also unclear whether O'Brien continues as an active service officer or has been discharged. 

What news agencies agree on is that there was a legal order banning the transfer of O'Brien from Caracas to any other part of Venezuela and that apparently the Captain has been asked to make another declaration on what he overheard on April 11 in the morning and has refused. Lawyer Parilli promises to take the Captains' case to the Inter American Human Rights Commission.