Fidel ordered Chávez’s ‘rescue’(Ignacio Ramonet)

[bemildred]

Interesting read on the failed coup in 2002.

“They attempted to execute Chávez but the firing squad refused to shoot”

In the book “Fidel Castro, a two-voiced biography,” published by the Debate Publishing House, the Cuban president told Ignacio Ramonet information not previously released about the events of April 2002 in Venezuela.

Castro states that he phoned Miraflores Palace before Chávez surrendered and told him: “Don’t kill yourself, Hugo. Don’t do like Allende, who was a man alone. You have most of the Army on your side. Don’t quit, don’t resign.”

Later, Fidel directed Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque, to fly to Caracas in one of two planes to pick up Chávez and fly him to safety.

Canadian Dimension

[Peace Patriot]

1. Thanks for this post! Very interesting!

I think Fidel is just a little full of himself--but he's so old now, who cares? I don't doubt his story, just think he may be puffing his role up a tiny bit. Perhaps the most important thing he did was to provide Chavez with hope in his darkest hour--a U.S.-backed military coup against him, the elected president of the country, involving some military officers whom he had known and trusted--Castro counselled him not to despair, not to give up and not to resign. In truth, there was huge support for Chavez and for lawful, constitutional government, in the military and in the country, and I tend to think that that support would have won the day. But Castro performed a great service to the Venezuelan people by informing them and the world (from Chavez's daughter) that Chavez had not resigned. His captors were trying to force him to, and he refused. It was a rallying point for all.