Fw: Ruling Class Machinations against Venezuela, Bolivarians

["Nello Margiotta" <animarg@tin.it>]

 Agence France-Presse
 Wednesday March 6, 7:22 AM
 
 Venezuelan civic leaders unite to drive Chavez out of
 office
 
 An unprecedented alliance of top labor, business,
 church and political leaders signed Tuesday a
 ten-point plan to drive President Hugo Chavez out of
 office. 
 
 The ceremony was broadcast live by all private
 television networks.
 
 The broadest and largest coalition of groups so far
 calling for Chavez ouster called for a Congressional
 referendum on Chavez's continued tenure in office as a
 response to the "national emergency" created under the
 Chavez presidency.
 
 Such a coalition of business and labor is "unheard
 of," said Pedro Carmona Estanga, president of
 Fedecamaras, which unites the country's chambers of
 commerce.
 
 Labor leaders called for a general strike on March 18
 at the latest.
 
 "The solution is for the democratic and constitutional
 exit of the current government, to which end we have
proposed holding a referendum in the National
 Assembly," Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV)
 president Carlos Ortega said.
 
 Dozens of supporters chanted: "He's out, he's out,
 he's out," referring to Chavez.
 
 "President Chavez has established himself as the
 principle obstacle to governability ... That has
 motivated this historic alliance of business and
 labor," Ortega said of the deal.
 
 Local Roman Catholic Church officials signed on in an
 act of solidarity.
 
 The church "values this type of initiative and is
 prepared to join it," said Luis Ugalde, rector of the
 Andres Bello Catholic University.
 
 "We must unite the country to renewed dialogue and to
 use relevant means to advance peace and democracy,"
 urged union leader Jesus Urbieta.
 
 The CTV and the Fedecamaras grouping of business
 leaders formed a powerful alliance once before, when
 they organized a December 10 nationwide work stoppage.
 The heat was turned up on Chavez when four military
 officers during the past month openly urged Chavez to
 step down, amid dissatisfaction in the armed forces
 with Venezuela's current government.

 Poverty is on the rise and the president recently
 devalued the currency to make exports more
 competitive.
 
 Opponents and supporters of Chavez -- a total of more
 than 40,000 people evenly divided between the two
 sides -- took over Caracas streets February 27 with
 rival marches on the the 13th anniversary of three
 days of violent street protests against policies
instituted by former president Carlos Andres Perez.
 
 Chavez says his leftist "revolution" was a direct
 result of the 1989 violence.
 
 The legislature could organize a referendum to cut
 short Chavez's term. 
 
 If legal requirements are met, a referendum could be
 organized after the midpoint of Chavez's term, which
 would be in January 2004. Chavez began his current
 six-year term January 10, 2001.