Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (61751)	12/14/2002 9:12:24 PM
From: BigBull	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

MSNBC says 1 million take to the streets in Caracas - No Mas for the leftist Chavez. This HAS to be the end for this clown. Gotta be. For him to live through this will require a miracle greater than the resurrection. BTW the new administration in Ven WILL PUUUUUUUUUUMP! Chavez is toast this time. Venezuelan strike shuts highway msnbc.com 1 million take to streets in protest, officials say Dec. 14 — The strike by Venezuelans demanding President Hugo Chavez's ouster is crippling oil production, and the oil-rich country could be out of gasoline by the end of the week. NBC's George Lewis reports. CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 14 — In the opposition’s biggest show of force since it launched a crippling general strike, more than 1 million Venezuelans poured into the streets of the capital Saturday to demand the resignation of President Hugo Chavez. CHANTING “Let him leave today,” protesters filled bridges, overpasses and parks along Caracas’ busiest highway, carrying giant Venezuelan flags, blowing whistles and chanting anti-Chavez slogans. Popular folk musicians gave a fiery concert into the night. Caracas Fire Chief Rodolfo Briseno said more than 1 million people were demonstrating in what he called “the biggest march we’ve seen in recent times.” Meanwhile, government officials summoned Chavez supporters to an unannounced “Christmas celebration,” where several thousand people danced and clapped their hands to traditional Christmas music. Opposition leader Carlos Ortega said the march was what the opposition needed to topple Chavez. “This response should bring the head of state to make the decision he needs to make about Venezuela’s crisis — and that is none other than to leave, quit, so Venezuela can restore confidence, peace and calm,” he said. The demonstration was peaceful. Protesters marched with their children or their dogs. Many followed the march route on bicycles, skateboards and motorcycles. But the government, the opposition and international mediators have warned that riots could break out any day as the 13-day-old strike makes food, cash and transportation increasingly scarce and further polarizes Venezuelans. Efforts sponsored by the Organization of American States to head off violence have produced no results. The opposition says it will continue its protest until Chavez steps down or calls elections; Chavez says he will do neither. The strike has crippled Venezuela’s oil industry — the world’s fifth largest — rattling international markets and its chief petroleum customer, the United States. Crude output has fallen from about 3 million barrels a day to only 550,000. For the second straight day Saturday, Chavez supporters massed around the presidential palace, celebrating his rule but also protecting the president in case the opposition decided to march on his offices. A march on the palace in April led to violence that killed 19 people and sparked a coup that ousted Chavez for two days. The gathering of Chavez supporters was on the path the opposition rally would need to take to reach the presidential palace. But Ortega said he would not urge the marchers to move on the palace, saying that “would be irresponsible at this point.” The opposition supporters packed the streets with a sea of red, yellow and blue signs — the colors of Venezuela’s flag. “2002 without Christmas; 2003 with freedom,” read one sign. “If we’re afraid, we’ll never get away from this man,” said Rita de Velasquez, 37, a saleswoman. “If we don’t defend our country like men and women, later we’ll be crying like children about our dictatorship.”