From: Barry Stoller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [L-I] Class struggle sharpens in Venezuela AP. 22 November 2001. Venezuela Calls in Riot Police to Quell Clashes Between Opposition Demonstrators, Government Supporters. CARACAS -- Venezuelan police and National Guardsmen fired hundreds of shots into the air and sprayed tear gas to stop President Hugo Chavez's supporters from storming an opposition march Thursday. The centrist Democratic Action Party organized the march through downtown Caracas to protest special powers that give Chavez the authority to pass laws without parliamentary debate. Clashes broke out as Chavez supporters from his leftist Fifth Republic Movement Party, hearing about the march, streamed downtown to stop the opposition protest. Shouts of "Long live Chavez!" were met with "Chavez out!" Riot police tried to separate the two groups - a total of about 6,000 people - but fistfights broke out between the opponents. Police trained a fire hose on Chavez backers to keep them from storming the march. Hours later, Democratic Action supporters were able to finish their march and hold a brief rally, and a tense calm prevailed. Hundreds of police stood guard as Chavez supporters rallied near Congress, some chanting: "Next time, we'll come with guns!" No arrests were made and no injuries were reported, Metropolitan Police Chief Henry Vivas said. Vivas said police would remain on the streets until the rival bands dissipated. A helicopter hovered overhead and police officers stood guard on rooftops. At least 100 National Guardsmen surrounded the Legislative Palace. The protest follows Chavez's approval last week of a package of 49 laws affecting the economy. [N.B.] The most contentious is a Land Reform Law that outlining government expropriation of private land that lies idle. Venezuela's biggest business group, Fedecamaras, complained that the law requires farmers to conform to a national agriculture plan drawn up by the government. Opposition parties and business groups accuse Chavez's government of failing to consult with the private sector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews with continuing coverage of WWIII _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
