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Chavez erects obstacles for foes who won office
CARACAS, Venezuela - In November, Antonio Ledezma, a well-known opponent of the Venezuelan government, defeated President Hugo Chavez's handpicked candidate for mayor of greater Caracas. It was a particularly bitter setback for Chavez, not just because city hall is such a prized post but because Ledezma is so reviled by the president and his backers. But Ledezma, 53, was mistaken if he thought winning office would mean controlling a far-flung city apparatus. Armed supporters of the president, wearing the government's trademark red T-shirts, took over city hall and three other vital government buildings. Incoming municipal officials found offices ransacked, computer equipment pilfered and vehicles missing. The officials also said they discovered that former mayor Juan Barreto had hired thousands of hard-line Chavez supporters -- not to work in city agencies but to proselytize for the president's so-called Bolivarian revolution, serve as bodyguards to pro-government lawmakers and function as shock troops to intimidate Chavez's foes. Balance at link. Posted by: Besoeker 2009-02-12 |
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