Posted on Tue, Apr. 15, 2003 Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - A Venezuelan court on Monday convicted a man of killing three people at an opposition rally last year.

The court found Joao de Gouveia guilty of premeditated homicide and sentenced him to 30 years in prison, prosecutor Carlos Bastidas said.

Hundreds of people at an opposition rally were listening to a speech on the night of Dec. 6, 2002, when de Gouveia opened fire, killing three people and wounding 28 others. De Gouveia admitted to the crime.

The killings fueled political tensions between allies and adversaries of President Hugo Chavez on the fourth day of a crippling national strike aimed at forcing Chavez to step down or call early elections.

Nine Venezuelans were killed during the two-month strike, which failed to oust Chavez as opposition leaders had planned.

Gouveia, 39, a Portuguese citizen who has lived in Venezuela for more than 20 years, has five days to appeal the conviction.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, April 13, 2003 By: Letters to the Editor

Reader Kayla Markert writes: On Thursday night (April 10, 2003), my friend's dad was politically assassinated. His name was Gustavo Arismendi ... who worked for the government and was in opposition to the Chavez unit.

As he entered his driveway, he was approached by 2 vehicles, 3 people in each one. He was then kidnapped and driven 20 miles from his home. He managed to shoot the three people who were in the car with him, killing two, and wounding the third. The SUV carrying Gustavo, then opened fire on him, shooting him nine times.

Gustavo recognized he was being taken to a place where those who oppose President Chavez are murdered, so he fought back.

Gustavo worked for the Governor of Miranda State and was vocal in his opposition to President Chavez. In fact, the Governor he worked for is the choice of the people, to assume the position of President, once Chavez is removed from office. That Governor himself was shot exactly one year ago, but thankfully survived. Gustavo, unfortunately, was not that lucky. The Governor has vowed to everything in his power to find out who is responsible for the death of  Gustavo.

Gustavo Adolfo Arismendi, his son, has now assumed responsibility for his 2 younger brothers and mourning mother ... he is scheduled to return to the Houston, Texas on April 27.

A Trust Fund will be set up this Monday by Mike John McGhan who has sponsored Gustavo as a foreign exchange student. Houston Christian High School will be notified if anything changes. I hope each person will contribute to this unfortunate loss.

I have had to deal with losing a father just one year ago and the pain is still there.

Gustavo and I share the same meaning is losing someone who has been to dear to us ... the only thing that is different is how they both passed on to the same place, but in very different ways.

You don't really know what it feels like until is happens to you. In my mind, Gustavo Adolfo will tilt his head high and carry on his father's name with pride.

Please continue to keep his family in your prayers.

Thank you, Kayla L. Markert Celine0626@hotmail.com Houston, Texas

Human Rights issues in Venezuela discussion on human rights as they affect Venezuela and Venezuelans

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

Writing in El Nacional, Sandra Guerrero reports that a few days after Police Detective Branch (CICPC) investigators found a bullet from one of the guns fired from Llaguno Bridge on April 11 incrusted in a newspaper stand on Avenida Baralt between the corners of Munoz and Pinango. 

"It was one of the few pieces of evidence that they managed to collect because Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) supporters picked up spent cartridges."

Guerrero concludes that a "piece of lead fired from one of two guns taken off 2 of the Llaguno Bridge Shooters was collected at the corner of Munoz Pinango where Jesus Mohamed Espinoza Capote (18) was shot through the head."

Others protesters shot in the same point were: Jose Ramon Cova Espana at Munoz corner , Jacinto Antonio Medina Rodriguez wounded between Munoz y Pinango corners near Hotel Eden, Francisco Jose Abad Mora wounded on the corner of Pinango, Victor Manuel Davila Guerrero also wounded on Pinango and photographer, Jorge Luis Recio Paris hit in the spine with bullet and currently under treatment in Spain.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 03, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Mohamed Mehri says he will appeal the sentence freeing the Llaguno Bridge Four at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). Mehri, whose son was one of the April 11 victims, has already been to the Inter American Human Rights Commission (IAHR) to lodge a complaint against President Hugo Chavez Frias. 

"The latest appeal will reach the TSJ where it seems that each TSJ decision is in line with the government's interests ... we are preparing international actions and approaching the International Tribunal of Justice  where there is no such thing as impunity." 

• Mehri says he expects the Llaguno Bridge case will end with a presidential pardon ... "the National Executive wants to turn the shooters into heroes."  

Lawyer Gonzalo Himiob, who unsuccessfully tried to bring a lawsuit in Spain  against Chavez Frias for crimes against humanity,  argues that the sentence is politically and legally incorrect and sends a clear message to government supporters that they have State support to use violence. 

Colleague Alfredo Romero complains that families of opposition lawyers have received threats.