Venezuelans call for referendum to oust Chavez

More than 400 demonstrators wearing and waving blue, yellow and
red flags gathered Sunday at the Federal Building to demand the
resignation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Amid shouts of “Fuera Chavez,” (Out with Chavez),
all who attended and were registered Venezuelan voters signed a
petition calling for a recall referendum on the leftist
president’s rule.

The document also requested the rescinding of some 49 laws
Chavez put in place since he took power in 1998.

The event was part of a greater worldwide drive for signatures
organized by opposition groups to incite support for an early
election.

“We want to get rid of Chavez democratically and
peacefully,” said Jesusa Martinez, a representative of El
Firmazo, an international organization assembling the petitions.
“He is turning our democratic government communist, killing
innocent people, militarizing the cities, and causing economic
chaos.”

Chavez has said he will not call for an early election, citing
that such an action is unconstitutional in Venezuela.

Most demonstrators present were Venezuelan nationals making
their home temporarily in the greater L.A. area.

Fabiana Alfonzo travelled from Carlsbad, Calif., to pledge her
support to Venezuala’s stability.

“It is important for the Venezuelan government to realize
that a majority of people do not support him,” she said.
“I would have driven to San Francisco if I had to.”

Most protesters stressed the need for the international
community to be aware of what is going on in Venezuela.

“People in the international community should be aware of
the situation because Venezuela is the fifth biggest oil producer
worldwide,” said Jesus Florido, a permanent L.A.
resident.

“Everybody is affected by the changes in the price of oil
brought about by this instability,” he said.

Oil production has dropped off drastically since the start of
Chavez’s rule, helped by a crippling two-month oil industry
strike which did little to keep the country from plunging into
economic ruin.

In an environment already fraught with civil unrest,
demonstrators are seeking democracy as the answer to the volatile
situation.

“Everyone wants a fair democratic government,” said
Ventura resident Gabriela Bigai.

Largely popular when elected, Chavez promised sweeping reforms
to eliminate the large class differences existing in the oil-rich
nation.

But Martinez said Chavez’s stint in office has only
brought about greater levels of unemployment, diminished the
quality of state infrastructure and increased economic ruin in
general.

“Most people here today voted for Chavez a few years
ago,” she said. “We believed in him and he betrayed us
““ now we want him out.”