Total of 130 Detained in Venezuela in Paramilitary Plot

[seemslikeadream]

By: Venezuelanalysis.com

Caracas, Venezuela. May 23 (Venezuelanalysis.com).- According to Venezuelan Vice-president Jose Vicente Rangel, a total of 130 individuals have been detained after a group of 70 Colombian paramilitary fighters were initially captured at a farm outside Caracas last week. Several dozens have been presented before military judges, including 13 men captured last Thursday.

The paramilitary group was concentrated at farm in the outskirts of Caracas belonging to opposition activist Robert Alonso. According to testimonies by some of the detainees, the paramilitary group was training in preparation for attacks on Venezuelan military bases and for a coup d'etat against the government of President Hugo Chavez.

While oppositionist Robert Alonso is being actively sought by authorities, retired Army General Uson Ramirez was detained yesterday morning. Ramirez is thought to have provided help to the paramilitary group. The general was part of a group of high ranking officers who rebelled against the Chavez government during the coup d'etat of April 2002.

Paramilitaries may be treated as terrorists


"Those Colombian adolescents were organizing to commit crimes, so they must be held responsible for that in Venezuela, as well as the persons who accompanied them, whether they are naturalized or native Venezuelans," said the lawmaker.

more
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1276


Ex-Venezuelan finance minister arrested over 'plot'
Sunday, May 23, 2004 Posted: 0135 GMT (0935 HKT)


CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) -- Venezuelan troops on Saturday arrested a former finance minister and retired army general accused of links with an anti-government plot, a senior officer said.

Gen. Francisco Uson, who served briefly in President Hugo Chavez's Cabinet before resigning during a short-lived 2002 coup, was detained at Puerto Ordaz in southeast Venezuela, National Guard Gen. Alberto Betancourt said.

Opponents say Chavez, who has accused foes of recruiting Colombian paramilitaries to try to kill him, is using the alleged plot as a pretext to persecute them and disrupt their bid to hold an August referendum on his rule.

Police have arrested at least seven military officers and a number of civilians following the roundup since May 9 of more than 100 Colombians who the government says were being trained in Venezuela as an anti-Chavez paramilitary force.

more
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/05/22/venezuela.plot.reut/

[bemildred]

1. There was another story to the effect that Hugo is pushing

this issue and VZ relations with Colombia NOW because the US
is so hamstrung in Iraq, about oil, and in other ways. I found
that both interesting and credible, Hugo is no fool, but don't
expect to see that story in US media.