Pacifica.org - Five Years Later, Venezuelan Ambassador Reflects on US-Backed Coup, and Discusses Venezuela's Oil Plans, Posada Carriles, and Chavez's Controversial Decree Powers

Five Years Later, Venezuelan Ambassador Reflects on US-Backed Coup, and Discusses Venezuela's Oil Plans, Posada Carriles, and Chavez's Controversial Decree Powers

2007-04-11

Democracy Now! | KPFK

Audio of entire show:

Related Tags:

Bush Administration Scandal, Coup d'etat, Hugo Chavez, International, Public Affairs, US Imperialism, US aggression, Venezuela

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Five years ago this week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was temporarily ousted in a short-lived coup he says was backed by the United States. On the fifth anniversary of the coup, we speak with Venezuela's ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera. In a wide-ranging interview Amb. Alvarez discusses the U.S. role in the coup, why the Bush administration has refused to extradite Luis Posada Carriles, oil laws in Venezuela and more. [includes rush transcript]

Five years ago this week, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was temporarily ousted in a short-lived coup. The date was April 11, 2002.

The leader of the coup was a business executive named Pedro Carmona. Carmona quickly received the support of the Bush administration as well as much of the corporate press in the United States. After the coup, the New York Times proclaimed in an editorial "Venezuelan democracy is no longer threatened by a would-be dictator."

But within 48 hours, following massive street protests, Chavez was back in power. After the coup, Carmona was arrested, but he managed to flee to Colombia where he sought political asylum. However, Carmona's fate could soon change.

On Tuesday, Venezuela's highest court ruled that state prosecutors could request Carmona's extradition from Colombia on charges of civil rebellion. In a moment we'll be joined by Venezuela's ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, but first let's turn to a documentary made by two filmmakers who were in Caracas during the 2002 coup. The film is called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." This excerpt begins with White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - excerpt of documentary produced by Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Brien.

Venezuela's ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera was in Caracas during the coup. He was the Vice Minister of Oil and Gas under Chavez at the time. Ambassador Alvarez joins us from Washington DC.