<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Proyecto Venezuela  (PV) has reinforced its decision to break away from the opposition Coordinadora Democratica (CD) and has set up its own recall referendum organization. 

At a special assembly this weekend, PV leader, Henrique Salas Romer has hit out at the opposition Coordinadora Democratica (CD) and its supposed presidential candidate, Enrique Mendoza, saying "we don't want just one opposition presidential candidate imposed by a CD clique." 

Salas Romer also slammed marches as the answer to Chavez Frias ... "marches are alright but they don't win elections." 

The former Carabobo State Governor and frequent visitor to Washington warns the CD to get its act together and start preparing its votes for the recall referendum.

As for his own presidential ambitions, Salas Romer told party members that it had two candidates: himself and his son, Henrique Salas Feo ... "we will decide which of us will be the candidate when the moment is right." 

PV's election strategy, Salas Romer says, is not to get rid of Chavez Frias but to elect a new President. 

"We want to defeat his strategy and we will not attack him because it would mean attacking Chavists ... let them see for themselves that Chavez Frias is the black sheep of the family ... Chavez Frias always finds a fool to answer his insults."

PV claims it has 75,000 volunteers that will start the party's "Yes" campaign and promote a current of opinion favoring PV's strategy.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Police Detective Branch (CICPC) have captured Tairo Robinson Aristiguieta Ramirez, whom the surviving victim of the 4 Altamira murders recognized as the person, who nearly killed her. According to TalCual evening tabloid, Aristiguieta Ramirez, who was one of the rebel military officers' security guards around Plaza Francia, has a long criminal rap.

The tabloid claims that Aristiguieta Ramirez was implicated in the famous 80s Mamera case in which a Metropolitan Police (PM) officer killed three youths in an Antimano barrio slum out of jealously. 

A police investigation concluded that Aristigueto Ramirez ... Ledesma's buddy ... was not implicated in the crime, despite a witness insisting that he had acted as accomplice in disposing one of the bodies along the Cota 905 highway. 

Later, Aristiguieta Ramirez was dismissed from the force for indiscipline and corruption, starting a security firm specializing in providing bouncers and security for night clubs and bars, as well as private detective work. 

In the 90s the former police officer was linked to the death of a storekeeper, who allegedly hired someone to kill his son ... he spent several years in Catia and la Planta prisons. 

• At the end of 2002, Aristiguieta Ramirez surfaces as one of the Altamira Plaza security chiefs. 
• On February 5, his brother is shot in a shootout with the police, who accused him of belonging to a gang of car thieves. 
• A week later, the brother's parents accuse the police of executing their son ... a week later, the three soldiers who had joined the rebel military commanders, are murdered allegedly as members of the gang.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The traditional May Day march is set become an opposition march, as all opposition parties have announced that they have ordered their activists to turn up in protest against unemployment, hunger, public insecurity and erosion of political rights, such as democracy and in favor of the recall referendum. 

Accion Democratica (AD), Christian Socialists (COPEI), Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Alianza Bravo Pueblo (ABP), Luis Miquilena's  Solidaridad and Union have announced they will be joining the march. 

Lt. Colonel (ret.) Francisco Arias Cardenas says his Union Party will protest against food scarcity ... "the government exchange control office (Cadivi) is inefficient and unable to authorize dollars for imports." 

The newly created National Workers' Union (UNTV) will be the butt of opposition protest because according to AD leader Jesus Mendez, "it is a creature in the image and likeness of Chavez Frias."

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Pessimistic Venezuelan Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) general secretary,  Manuel Cova says workers have no reason to celebrate May 1st because the government has done absolutely nothing for them. 

"Unemployment is up, the social security system is in shambles, personal security has dipped to its lowest level ... the people gave the government what it wanted , a Constitution, a Constituent Assembly, parliamentary majority and municipal council majority and in return, the people have got nothing."  

May 1st march slogans will concentrate on jobs, salary increase and of course, the threat to democracy. 

Cova has thrown out a suggestion that if the government isn't willing to discuss salary increase and other demands, then Fedecamaras and national trade unions (not CTV as such)will convene  "bipartite" meetings. 

The May 1st march in Caracas will start at 9.00 a.m. from Plaza Morelos and move through Mexico and Universidad Avenues, pass the Attorney General's Office and National Assembly (AN) to end in Plaza O'Leary. 

CTV march organizer, Adolfo Padron has met local authorities and police commanders to arrange security measures to protect the marchers. "This year we expect marchers to beat last year's half a million." 

International Federation of Construction Workers & Carpenters general secretary, Anita Normark will attended the parade, as will Inter American Labor Regional Organization (ORIT)  general secretary, Luis Anderson, who lives in Caracas.  

Nuevo Sindicalismo trade union leader and Venezuelan Confederation of trade Unions (CTV) executive member, Alfredo Ramos says dismissed Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) executives, managers, employees and workers will lead the CTV march on May 1st.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Rebel Army General (ret.) Enrique Medina Gomez has called on the opposition to form a single block again to bring down the government of Hugo Chavez Frias. 

The Plaza Altamira military rebels have been celebrating six months since they jumped the gun in November 2002 and took over the plaza as the military opposition HQ. 

From forcing the pace of opposition action against Chavez Frias in December, the rebels have become the pariah of the opposition ... nobody wants to touch them with a barge pole, least of all the main opposition group Coordinadora Democratica (CD).

The media reported poor attendance at the anniversary rally but indicate that emotions ran high despite a heavy downpour of rain. 

Medina Gomez insists that Venezuela is fast becoming a totalitarian state and that the only answer is a popular insurrection and stronger civil disobedience. 

"We should not fall into the trap of asking the Armed Force  ( FAN)  to intervene ... the FAN knows what it has to do in the circumstances ... if the FAN has not understood its role in preserving the security of society, it runs the risk of being overrun by society." 

The rebels also condemned the arrest of dismissed National Guard (GN) General Carlos Alfonzo Martinez and the political persecution against officers, who have been forced to seek asylum in Embassies.