Caracas, Venezuela – Thousands of Venezuelans marched to celebrate the anniversary of the failed coup that catapulted Hugo Chavez to fame 15 years ago Sunday, dancing to anti-American tunes and pulling a 40-foot balloon of the leftist president through the streets.
The crowd converged at a military base outside the Venezuelan capital where the government staged a military parade, with soldiers marching alongside tanks and new Russian-made fighter jets roaring overhead.
Chavez, then a lieutenant colonel, spent two years in prison for leading the Feb. 4, 1992 coup attempt against the government of President Carlos Andres Perez. The rebellion shook one of South America’s oldest democracies, but Chavez became a hero to many Venezuelans angry about government corruption and vast social inequalities in their oil-rich nation.
First elected in 1998, Chavez has emerged as fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy, while Washington has expressed concern about the health of Venezuela’s democracy under the leftist leader.
Speaking to troops and spectators before the parade, Chavez called the coup attempt “a lightning bolt that illuminated the darkness” and repeated his promises to turn Venezuela into a socialist state.
“Fifteen years later, here we are: the people and soldiers together,” Chavez said, wearing military fatigues and his trademark red paratrooper beret.
Widely re-elected to a six-year term in December, Chavez has announced plans to nationalize the country’s leading telephone company, the electricity sector and lucrative oil and natural gas projects.
Throngs of Chavez supporters, clad in the color red of the leftist ruling party, waved Venezuelan flags as they marched toward the Tiuna Fort base, chanting “the people united, will never be defeated!” Dozens danced behind a sound truck playing a hip-hop song that boomed: “We don’t want gringos here!” Others pulled a grinning, 40-foot Chavez balloon through the streets.
“We applaud the rebellion spearheaded by Chavez,” said Gregorio Munoz, a 34-year-old municipal worker. “He gave the people hope for change, and now he’s changing our country through socialism.” More than 80 civilians and 17 soldiers were killed before troops loyal to the government quelled the 1992 coup.
Chavez was pardoned by then-President Rafael Caldera in 1994.
After his release, he spent years traveling across the country, steadily winning support for his fledgling political movement promoting the rights of the poor.
Chavez has celebrated his failed coup every year since first taking office.
Anita Colmenares, a 45-year-old secretary opposed to Chavez’s shift toward socialism, railed against the president for “trying to turn a tragic event into something grandiose” as she watched Sunday’s march from a distance.
“He’s leading our country toward a precipice,” she said.
