Scuffles in parliament as opposition says no to house debate reforms

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, June 05, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Scuffles broke out among deputies at the National Assembly (AN) after some opposition groups refused to budge from the President's podium, objecting to Movimiento Quinta Republica's (MVR) motion to reform House internal and debate regulations, among which are proposals to hold AN plenary sessions outside the Capitolio and committee meetings, even when there is no quorum and to eliminate the Legislation Committee. 

MVR claims that the idea behind the proposal is to promote citizen participation but the opposition alleges that the move is to mobilize MVR " flying columns" of supporters to harass opponents. 

Opposition deputies also protested the presence of "flying columns" circulating outside parliament gates throwing insults and threats at deputies as they entered Parliament ... US Ambassador Charles Shapiro was heckled by the columns as he left the Capitolio yesterday.

Causa R deputy, Enrique Marquez, who lost his specks in the melee,  accuses MVR of wanting to manipulate Parliament. 

Primero Justicia (PJ)  deputy, Julio Borges argues that the opposition had to react the way it did because the incident is a prelude to the closing of Parliament. 

PJ colleague, Liliana Hernandez, who seems hell bent on winning the super rebel award, joined in the punching and shoving ... so did senior parliamentarian Juan Jose Caldera , who exchanged blows with a MVR deputy, after the latter insulted his family. 

Accion Democratica (AD) parliamentary leader, Henry Ramos Allup rejected a call from AN president, Francisco Ameliach (MVR) to hold a session in front of El Calvario on Friday.  "Such a move can only be approved by decision of the chamber and that didn't happen ... furthermore, the government bench wants to expose us to the aggressions of political criminals."