...that do not intervene in demonstration.

President Hugo Chávez threatened with “radical socialism” if destabilization actions persist

Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez reported that on Wednesday night student demonstrators threw stones, bottles and Molotov cocktails to the headquarters of the Mechanized Brigade in Lara state and the regional police did not intervene, forcing the National Guard to do so.

He warned that the regional enforcement bodies that do not exercise their authority would be taken over. "There are some people who for some reason think that (demonstrators) should be left alone until they wear themselves out (...) I am referring to the governor of the state of Lara (Henri Falcón). What is going on, governor?" Chávez said he told Falcón on the phone.

"I made a complaint to him and a warning. If the Lara Police Department does not fulfill its functions, I will have to take control of it. I have no problem to do so. I must fulfill my duty. I have the same authority in the states of Lara, Mérida, Zulia, Táchira, no matter who is the local governor. I am the President of the whole Republic," Chávez boasted during an event related to the First Productive Meeting of the Bicentennial Fund, aired in a mandatory broadcast on all TV and radio channels.

Chávez highlighted that Falcón's reasoning about leaving the students alone until they wear themselves out with the excuse that this damages the opposition was used in 2002 and caused the brief overthrow of the government. "We can not allow the violation of any law and let them (demonstrators) block any street. This is illegal," he said.

"Suppose that the police of the state of Aragua apply the same criteria and do not act. We must take over the operations of its police department. I told the Defense Minister (Carlos Mata Figueroa): 'you must use the National Guard and take over the operations of the police department.' If the governor gets mad and goes to the opposition, let him go. In this case, that is not possible," the President stressed. Chávez urged governors and mayors "to enforce laws. I am not referring to repression but to exert authority."

The Venezuelan leader said that some sectors want a civil war to justify the intervention of a "benefactor" empire. Chávez also rejected the protests at baseball games. "They (the opposition) have been struck out eleven times and I will strike them out again in 2013," he said.

In the Palace of Miraflores, Chávez urged the opposition to forget about the possibility that the armed forces could support a coup d'état. "Opposition sectors are provoking it, by shooting at the barracks. There is a whole destabilizing plan (...) Today a rightwing coup d'état is impossible, but a leftist rebellion which deepens the changes is possible, and I could command it. (...) If they force me to do so, I would command it," he said.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

Maria Lilibeth Da Corte
EL UNIVERSAL