Gunmen opened fire on students in Venezuela

[poutismalakas]

I take it that Chavez isn't so loved by his people as some claim?:rolleyes:


CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Gunmen opened fire on students returning from a march Wednesday in which 80,000 people denounced President Hugo Chavez's attempts to expand his power. At least eight people were injured, including one by gunfire, officials said.

Photographers for The Associated Press saw at least four gunmen -- their faces covered by ski masks or T-shirts -- firing handguns at the anti-Chavez crowd. Terrified students ran through the campus as ambulances arrived.

National Guard troops gathered outside the Central University of Venezuela, the nation's largest and a center for opposition to Chavez's government. Venezuelan law bars state security forces from entering the campus, but Luis Acuna, the minister of higher education, said they could be called in if the university requests them.

Antonio Rivero, director of Venezuela's Civil Defense agency, told local Union Radio that at least eight people were injured, including one by gunfire, and that no one had been killed. Earlier, Rivero said he had been informed that one person had died in the violence.

The violence broke out after anti-Chavez demonstrators -- led by university students -- marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that Venezuelans will consider in a December referendum.

The amendments would abolish presidential term limits, give the president control over the Central Bank and let him create new provinces governed by handpicked officials.

"Don't allow Venezuela to go down a path that nobody wants to cross," student leader Freddy Guevara told Globovision.

Chavez, who was first elected in 1998, denies the reforms threaten freedom. He says they would instead move Venezuela toward what he calls "21st century socialism."

The Supreme Court is unlikely to act on the students' demands, given that pro-Chavez lawmakers appointed all 32 of its justices.

Hundreds of National Guardsmen and police in riot gear were posted along the march route to prevent clashes between protesters and Chavez sympathizers, but they were restricted from entering the campus. E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Bosnian Unit]

Im sure he is more popular then Bush :) !

Less Bushes more trees :lol:

http://www.brownpride.us/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/hugo_chavez-01.jpg

Chavez is the man, just becouse he dont support your phony war on terror Western media is trying by any means to put the guy down. And of course Bush needs someone who he can trust as a leader in Venezuela becouse of his oil bussines.

GO CHAVEZ !

[poutismalakas]

Im sure he is more popular then Bush :) !

Less Bushes more trees :lol:

http://www.brownpride.us/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/hugo_chavez-01.jpg

Chavez is the man, just becouse he dont support your phony war on terror Western media is trying by any means to put the guy down. And of course Bush needs someone who he can trust as a leader in Venezuela becouse of his oil bussines.

GO CHAVEZ !
Or maybe just maybe he is oppessing his people and some have had enuff?

[Cro_Sensation]

I don't understand how these people shoot at students, but can't kill any. Either they have very bad aim, or they're using pellet guns. lol

Just a thought.

[PAO_HELLAS]

I am trying to imagine how American police would react if they had to face a similar situation in an American University. I didn't know that American media also complain about police brutality :lol:. I guess they do when it has to do with Chavez.

[Wabbit]

I dont know how this ppl keeps chosing him.......this dude should be killed very painfully and slowly!

:lol:

[-Vozdra-]

Wierd. There was another shooting at a Carl Cox concert in Venezuela, Caracas

4 dead, 5 wounded.

http://www.centralstation.com.au/articles/shownews.asp?newsid=6674

You can see the videos on youtube. Pretty scary stuff

[Cro_Sensation]

Yeah, I saw that. I hear that was more like a gang thing.

Who shoots someone at a Carl cox concert, it's such fun music and everyone is happy. lol

[Bosnian Unit]

I dont know how this ppl keeps chosing him.......this dude should be killed very painfully and slowly!

:lol:

Show some respect to Mr. Chavez !

http://www.leknott.com/photos/uncategorized/chavez2_1.gif

I dont think that any president can get this much people together as he can, not even the ones in India or China where they each have billion+ population !

Of course there is people who dont like him, that is reality......not some Bushit propaganda, and whenever he talks he act like yea i nailed you and that stupid laugh of his........:mad2:

They choose him becouse they wanted to, why not respect that ?

How could Americans choose Bush for 2nd time ?

Or meybe they didnt, elections where fixed in 2000 by his brother Jeb in Florida.......meybe they did the same in 2004......so much about biggest democracy in the world.

Chavez is for the people, i hate capitalist bastards where poor is getting poorer and rich is becoming more rich.

And if there is some different guy (like Chavez) around the world, who dont agree on their global view he should go.......Yea right !

GO CHAVEZ !

[poutismalakas]

Show some respect to Mr. Chavez !

http://www.leknott.com/photos/uncategorized/chavez2_1.gif

I dont think that any president can get this much people together as he can, not even the ones in India or China where they each have billion+ population !

Of course there is people who dont like him, that is reality......not some Bushit propaganda, and whenever he talks he act like yea i nailed you and that stupid laugh of his........:mad2:

They choose him becouse they wanted to, why not respect that ?

How could Americans choose Bush for 2nd time ?

Or meybe they didnt, elections where fixed in 2000 by his brother Jeb in Florida.......meybe they did the same in 2004......so much about biggest democracy in the world.

Chavez is for the people, i hate capitalist bastards where poor is getting poorer and rich is becoming more rich.

And if there is some different guy (like Chavez) around the world, who dont agree on their global view he should go.......Yea right !

GO CHAVEZ !

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- An ex-general who helped President Hugo Chavez through an abortive coup against his leadership in 2002 publically broke with the president Monday over proposed constitutional changes.

Approval of the proposed changes "would in effect finalize a coup d'etat, brazenly violating the constitution," former Defense Minister Raul Baduel said at a news conference. "The Venezuelan people should categorically reject this fraud."

Venezuela's pro-Chavez National Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly approved a package of 69 changes to the 1999 Constitution. The changes would institutionalize Chavez's bid to implant a new model of development -- called "Socialism for the 21st Century" -- in the country while strengthening the power of the executive to rule by decree. It would also change electoral rules and allow a sitting president to seek unlimited re-election -- grandfathering Chavez into that system.

Opposition and human rights groups have been particularly critical of how the changes would give the president greater latitude to impose a state of emergency and suspend individual rights, as well as how they would place further restrictions on the news media. Protesters and security forces have clashed repeatedly in recent weeks as opposition to the changes moved into the streets. Watch protesters in Venezuela »

Baduel, who was Chavez's defense minister and military general in chief until July, became the highest-profile former military official to criticize Chavez's constitutional designs. He targeted his stinging criticism on how the changes would concentrate power in the executive.

"Constitutions are born precisely to limit the power of governments and to protect citizens from the abusive exercise of power, guaranteeing their rights and liberties," Baduel said. "They shouldn't do the opposite."

"Any Constitution that removes the limits on power should be viewed with suspicion," he continued, calling on "on all Venezuelans to vote 'No'" when the changes are put to a public referendum in December.

Baduel's harsh criticism -- and the public nature of his break with his former comrade in arms -- was a sharp counterpoint to their previous relationship.

The two came up through the officer corps together as both military and philosophical brothers in arms: Baduel participated with Chavez in his 1992 coup attempt against President Carlos Andres Perez, but escaped being cashiered from the army because his role in the plot didn't come to light.

Then, as commander of the 42nd Airborne Brigade in Maracay, Baduel's support was critical in helping overturn the abortive coup d'etat in 2002 that briefly unseated Chavez -- and opened the way for Chavez to strengthen his grip on power by moving to clear dissident officers from the military and put the opposition on the defensive.

Baduel was soon promoted up the chain of command, first being put in overall command of the army's main garrison at Maracay and then, in 2006, taking over as general-in-chief and, in July 2006, as defense minister. In all of those roles, he was seen as a right-hand man to Chavez as Chavez reshaped the military from a traditional institutional military into a politicized arm of his "Bolivarian Revolution," and worked to reshape Venezuela as a whole.

However, when he was replaced in July by Gen. Gustavo Rangel Briceno of the Military Reserve and National Mobilization forces, Baduel gave a broad hint of the break to come, using the bulk of his retirement speech to critique the idea of "Socialism for the 21st Century."

"A socialist regime is not incompatible with a democratic system of checks and balances and division of powers," he said. "We must separate ourselves from Marxist orthodoxy."

[valdanito_10]

Chavez has been democratically elected many times, he has the support of venezuela and many latin american countries.

The press love this guy, what a character.

[Bosnian Unit]

Mr. Chavez is next Che Guevara, in just different way and world of fight against CAPITALIST PIGS !