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page: Home : Newsflash VENEZUELA ACTION ALERT On April 11, 2002, the official SOA/WHISC propaganda that the school is “promoting democracy, human rights and civilian control of the government” was once again contradicted by the actions of its graduates. SOA graduates attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government of Venezuela and arrested President Hugo Chavez. Massive demonstrations erupted and police forces killed perhaps 40 government supporters. After 48 hours, the coup government collapsed. The involvement of SOA graduates, already hinted at from the beginning, has now been backed by information from officials at the Organization of American States (OAS) and other diplomatic sources; they assert that the US administration was not only aware that the coup was about to take place but sanctioned it. According to the OAS, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and SOA/WHISC Board of Visitors member Otto Reich, had “a number of meetings with leaders of the coup” over several months. The coup was discussed in detail, right down to its timing and chances of success. Now, in December 2002, the political crisis in Venezuela worsens again, and many observers fear that another coup- or an attempt to petition for international intervention to depose the government - may be around the corner. Please call the Venezuela desk at the State Department and let the administration know that you demand that the US government takes a public stand against unconstitutional and violent means to resolve the current crisis and explain that it will not tolerate a coup government nor have diplomatic or normal commercial relations with any coup-installed government. Please talk to the desk officer Brian Naranjo. Try either or both of these two numbers: (202) 647-4216 |