COPEI confirms second street offensive against government forces

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic news Posted: Monday, June 02, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

It was the turn of the Christian Socialists (COPEI) to announce and confirm that the "Assault on Petare" will go ahead as scheduled, despite one death, 22 injuries and skirmishes between government and opposition shock troops two weeks ago in the western Caracas zone of Catia. 

Speaking for the Accion Democratica (AD) and COPEI  Coordinadora Democratica (CD) Alliance, Enrique Naim  says opposition supporters will assemble on Friday June 13 in Petare's Avenida Lebrun. "It will be a pacific rally and we are convoking  all opposition parties and the civil sector in general." 

Shaking a red rag to the bull, Naim says the Metropolitan Police (PM) will ensure public security for people wishing to attend the rally. "We will inform the Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister about the rally calling on him to respect an act that is democratic." 

Some political observers are judging the wisdom of staging the rally because they say the upcoming recall referendum process should be top priority. Other observers adhere to the view that the Petare rally is part of a growing civil war and the outcome of such gatherings will be more violence whether the opposition holds rallies in conflictive zones of Caracas or whether the government suddenly decides to stage a rally in Plaza Altamira.