Jim McIlroy & Coral Wynter, Caracas
Three days of commemorations of the fourth anniversary of the right-wing coup that briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez and installed a pro-US regime were held on April 11-13. The highlight was the opening of a monument to those killed during the coup at the Llaguno Bridge, where reactionary police snipers had opened fire on pro-Chavez demonstrators, provoking a shoot-out that was used as a pretext for the coup.
A couple of thousand people gathered at the bridge on April 11 for the inauguration of the monument, entitled "Between the scream and the silence". Leading officials present at the launch included Venezuelan Vice-President Jose Vicente Rangel, Caracas Mayor Juan Barreto and National Assembly president Nicolas Maduro.
Rangel declared: "This is a homage to all the victims who fell four years ago without discrimination — these were victims of the fascist violence — and to the valour of those who defended liberty and democracy. And I assure you that something like this will never happen again in Venezuela.
"And those who dare to defy the institutions of democracy will be defeated by the people once again. This is a symbol of the combative unity of the people."
Rangel added: "We should be more united and always alert. And we must work for social transformation and to hold high the flag of the fight against corruption and for human rights. Today, we are demonstrating once more that Venezuela is more united than ever."
Minister for popular participation Luis Garcia Carneiro said: "The government is stronger than ever, in the face of destabilisation plans. There is more consciousness, and the armed forces have been strengthened."
At an opening ceremony that morning at the Plaza Bolivar, floral wreaths in honour of the victims of the 2002 coup were laid by representatives of various organisations at the statue of Simon Bolivar, the liberator of Venezuela from Spanish colonial rule in the early 19th century.
On April 12, several hundred people gathered at the National Pantheon to see representatives of popular and community organisations lay commemorative wreaths at the tomb of Bolivar, and a public meeting at the Municipal Theatre heard speeches and musical offerings to mark the anniversary.
On April 13, several hundred people rallied outside the gates of Fort Tiuna. This is where Chavez was briefly held by the coup plotters, and where thousands of anti-coup demonstrators mobilised on that fateful day, before marching on the Miraflores Palace to demand the return of their democratically elected president.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, April 26, 2006.
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