Скачать или смотреть VENEZUELA: PROTESTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT REFORMS

(9 Sep 1999) Spanish/Nat

Several thousand people have marched through the Venezuelan capital Caracas as part of a peaceful protest against government reform.

They are demanding that the country's powerful new Constitutional Assembly does not take over local governments as part of its corruption-purging changes.

The protestors handed over a petition outlining their concern about the new measures to the Vice President of the Assembly.

Thousands of Venezuelans, including 300 mayors and their supporters took to the streets of the capital Caracas on Thursday to protest at the anti-corruption reforms planned by the government.

Demonstrators held a rally outside the Constitutional Assembly, where the reform bills are currently being debated.

The protesters claim any move by the Assembly to assume control of local and state governments would be illegal.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We say No to these measures. With respect, Mr President, local government in Venezuela has been winning battles for the people with public support. We have come here to tell the Constitutional Assembly that no Venezuelan judge is going to give up his government - we will only act on a mandate from the people."
SUPER CAPTION: Rafael Barrez, President of the Association of Mayors of Venezuela

The protestors are accusing President Hugo Chavez of leading Venezuela into authoritarian rule.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We are the citizens of the country- the people who have been taken advantage of and are still waiting for unfilled promises. I hope the president takes a good look at himself and realises that March, April, May, June, July and August have passed and that September is about to go. And the people are still waiting for you to fulfill your promises."
SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Ledezma, Mayor of Caracas

Mayors from across the country reminded him that it was the people that got him where he was and that the measures aimed at the mayorships would only alienate them further.

The measures would move power from local to central government.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Don't forget that it was the people that voted you into power!"
SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Ledezma, Mayor of Caracas

After the rally the protest moved to the entrance of the Constituent Assembly.

As the delegation of mayors tried to get inside the building to hand over their petition, riot police installed outside initially blocked their entrance.

Water cannon trucks stood by to quell any violence but the struggles passed off peacefully and the delegates were allowed to enter.

Once inside, the petition was handed to the Vice President of the Constitutional Assembly Aristobolo Istiuriz.

Chavez, a cashiered lieutenant colonel who led a failed 1992 coup attempt, has come under fire from critics who say he is trampling Venezuela's constitution.

The Constitutional Assembly, a body created in July to write a new constitution, has virtually shut down Congress and this week launched a purge of the notoriously corrupt judicial system.

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