[Peace-discuss] Drums of war for Venezuela, Part 2

[Phil Stinard]

This is an article I wrote about the "Guarimba" (violent opposition 
protests) planned for tomorrow in Venezuela.  If it takes place as planned, 
it will be the second coup attempt against Hugo Chavez.  It could just be 
bluster, but the Venezuelan government is taking no chances and is on high 
alert.  The original article is at:  
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=18308

--Phil

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Venezuelan government says it will neutralize opposition’s subversive 
“guarimba” plan

VENPRES reports that the Venezuelan government says it is capable of 
neutralizing and impeding "any act announced in this campaign of "guarimba" 
(violent opposition protests); now that we have taken precautions.  Citizens 
should not worry about security and public order, because they are duly 
guaranteed.”

Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said, Saturday, that there is a 
very strong Internet campaign ... which has intensified in recent hours ... 
to alarm the population.

    * In Rangel's judgment, the campaign is the product of a radical 
opposition group’s desperation, with stimulation from outside the country.

The Vice President maintains that, based on information he has received 
there will be a guarimba on Monday, April 26, in the same format as that of 
last March "in which they will try to close streets and avenues, provoke 
disturbances, burn tires, and attack passersby.”

    Rangel says that security service investigations reveal that there is “a 
radical opposition sector, united with several military personnel who 
participated in the April 11, 2002 coup, who are promoting this campaign, 
openly supported from outside the country.”

“The government is alert to the internet campaign and fliers distributed in 
various places in the city that correspond to the attitude of irresponsible 
groups that want to once again attack the democratic order!”


Portions of a campaign flier in the possession of VHeadline.com are 
translated here:

The execution depends on you
Venezuela Takes Caracas by Surprise (VTCS)

    (Bring a) knapsack equipped with clothing, non-perishable food, 
flashlights, radios, candles, communications systems, telephones with text 
messaging, and everything you consider necessary for this large campaign.

    When you arrive in the city, turn on your intermittent lights.

    Communicate with other NETWORKS opposed to the regime.

    Schedule of activities and control points for the VTCS action.

    Route-Direction, Point of Control, and Logistics of the Action:

    * Tunnel 1 in the direction Caracas-La Guaira.

    * Tunnel 1 in the direction La Guaira-Caracas.

        A. In the middle of the tunnel very close to the passage that 
connects both tunnels.

        B. In the middle of the tunnel very close to the passage that 
connects both tunnels.

    * In the direction Caracas- La Guaira, park vehicles close together at 
the tunnel exit.

    * In the direction La Guaira Caracas, park vehicles close together at 
the tunnel exit.

    [many other specific descriptions of tunnels, bridges, and roads, with 
instructions for blocking them off]

    * Stop the largest number of cars to avoid the passage of military 
units.

    [..]

    * Park the vehicles at access points to block and protect the radio 
stations with many people, and make speeches.

    [lists of radio and TV stations where opposition speeches will be made]

    * Circuito Nacional Belfort (CNB)

    * Exitos 99.9

    * Mega 107.3

    * Planeta 105.3

    * RCR

    * Kiss FM

    * RCTV

    * TELEVEN

    * VENEVISION

    Action in Maracaibo

    [similar lists of routes to block, and stations to take over]

    Simultaneous Action in the Entire Country

    General concentration in all points that are symbolic of disobedience

    Presence in all radio, TV, and business media

    The VTCS action will be overwhelming.

    Don’t forget that this action isn’t simply a prolonged slow-down of 
roads. It’s done to block all traffic routes that can be used by tanks, 
personnel carriers, and military vehicles drived by the defenders of the 
dictatorship. Remember that this is not a slow-down. You must park your car, 
activate the security system, lock it, and deploy to the meeting places.

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