Breaking:Colombian President Uribe Confirms Plot to Overthrow Chavez

[Clara T]

Plot to overthrow Chavez: Alvaro Uribe
By Andy Goodall - VSC Co-ordinator
Dec 18, 2005, 12:11

Ex Venezuelan militaries had planned to overthrow President Hugo Chavez from Colombian territory revealed Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Uribe confirmed that ex Venezuelan military officials met with Colombian military counterparts in a government building in Bogota.

Uribe made these comments during a joint press conference with Chavez after the meeting held in the northern Colombian city of Santa Marta to commemorate the death of Bolivar 175 years ago
 “Instead of making excuses and instead of deception, I am assuming my responsibility before President Chavez”, Uribe said.


Intelligence at work

The ex Venezuelan military officials held their meeting in a building where some Colombian military officials live.  “After carrying out intelligence work everyone has been advised that the Colombian government will not allow anyone to conspire against a democratic government and even less so against a brother country,” stated Uribe.

<snip>

Note: This important news piece was not published on the BBC web site in English.
Telsur covered the Chavez-Uribe meeting in Santa Marta and showed images of thousands of Colombians gathered in support of Chavez’ visit, some of whom were interviewed, talking about “our Venezuelan brothers”. Suffice it to say that there was overwhelming support for Chavez, even though the Colombian media, controlled by the multinationals and local oligarchy has successfully hidden this fact from the world…up till now. Thank Chavez for Telesur!! It is starting to fulfill its role. (You can see Telesur on the internet: Telesur using broadband.

This is the first time that the Colombian government has recognised that plots are being hatched on its territory to overthrow the democratically elected government of Hugo Chavez. The Venezuelan government has denounced such plots many times in the past which have always been treated in a banal fashion by the opposition mass media, both nationally and internationally.  It remains to be seen if these media outlets change their tune now that Uribe has officially let the cat out of the bag.
These statements from Uribe came hard on the heels of a request for a clarification by Colombian Foreign Minister, Carolina Barco, that the US ambassador in Bogota refrains from interfering in Colombian internal affairs. Ambassador William Wood said, “Colombia is still suffering from political violence and intimidation. This is not new, but it is serious”. Wood added, “The 2003 regional elections were marked by corruption and fear, and in some cases assassinations. There is widespread concern that similar electoral practices could happen in the 2006 elections carried out by the paramilitaries”.

http://venezuelasolidarity.org.uk/ven/web/articles/uribe_admits_assan_attempt.html

Here is the BBC story in Spanish:
Domingo, 18 de diciembre de 2005 - 05:05 GMT
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Uribe: "complot" contra Chávez
Ex militares venezolanos habrían planificado derrocar al presidente de ese país, Hugo Chávez, desde Colombia, según reveló este sábado el mandatario colombiano, Álvaro Uribe.


Ni terrorismo contra Venezuela ni terrorismo contra Colombia
Álvaro Uribe
El mandatario indicó que los ex militares venezolanos se reunieron con oficiales colombianos en un edificio gubernamental en Bogotá.

Uribe hizo los comentarios durante una rueda de prensa que compartió con Chávez, tras la reunión que sostuvieron ambos mandatarios en la norteña ciudad colombiana de Santa Marta, para conmemorar el 175 aniversario de la muerte del libertador Simón Bolívar.

"En lugar de salirnos por las ramas, en lugar de engaños, yo asumí la responsabilidad frente al presidente Chávez", expresó Uribe.

Explicó que en noviembre pasado su homólogo venezolano le entregó una serie de documentos sobre presuntas conspiraciones en suelo colombiano, los cuales fueron revisados por las autoridades en Bogotá.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/business/newsid_4539000/4539204.stm

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. American involvement? Naaah! The CIA would never do such a thing.

Considering their illustrious humanitarian efforts all over Latin America. Not to mention any other part of the world that dares to defy Washington.

[Maestro]

2. No me sorprende para nada.

It doesn't surprise me a bit. This is part and parcel for much of Latin American politics. Of course the US has to much to blame for the instability. Meanwhile, Colombia is still divided between those that support the FARC and the those that support the extreme right wingers.

[rman]

3. conspiracy, anyone?

[NashVegas]

4. Uribe Must Be Pissed About Something

This is a shock.

[RagingInMiami]

5. Uribe sees the tide changing in South America

With the new Bolivian president who's a left-winger and the Chilean socialist who is headed for a run-off next month and is favorite to win.

[Clara T]

6. Simply stating this openly is a sea change for Uribe

Wouldn't it be lovely to see Colombia scale back on the arms shipments received from the US. Maybe nix numerous Pentagon contracts? This would be a seismic shift and send the boys in DC into an apoplectic seizure. I'd buy tickets to see that. Time shall speak more about this matter.