Chavez's Followers,
Opponents March On Coup Anniversary
CARACAS - Thousands of followers and
opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez took to the streets of Caracas on
Thursday to commemorate a coup 18 years ago
-- for opposite reasons.
Chavez' followers celebrated the 18th
anniversary of the coup led by Chavez as the
Day of Dignity, while his opponents took the
occasion to protest the shutdown of six
cable television stations which had refused
to air Chavez's speeches.
The 1992 coup was an abortive attempt staged
by the military to oust then President
Carlos Andres Perez. Though it failed to
unseat the civilian authorities, it left a
controversy that lasts till the present day
and put Chavez, the coup leader, to national
spotlight.
The two groups gathered at different
locations in the capital city and marched
separately.
Chavez's followers assembled at the
Venezuela Square, all dressed in red, for a
march along main avenues of Caracas. They
caused hours-long traffic jams and ended the
march at the Defense Ministry building.
The opponents gathered at the Brion de
Chacaito Square in the east of Caracas and
marched to the National Assembly building in
the center of the city.
This was the second time in two weeks that
Chavez's followers and opponents marched on
the same day.
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