Venezuela Mourns Hugo Chavez

Mourners honored the late President Hugo Chavez who passed on March 5, 2013. Chavez organized the Venezuelan people to take control of their lives and futures., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Venezuela mourns Hugo Chavez

Thursday, 07 March 2013 00:00

CARACAS. - “Don’t leave, Chavez, don’t leave,” wailed supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez packing the streets on Tuesday afternoon outside the Dr Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital where the president has fought cancer in the last two weeks of his life.

The national flag was lowered at half mast in front of the military hospital.

Chavez underwent his fourth round of surgery in Cuba last December and remained there for treatment before returning home on February 18.

The military hospital, Plaza Bolivar and the Presidential Palace where saddened supporters gathered, were engulfed in grief.

Supporters carrying pictures of Chavez sang the national anthem and shouted “He’s alive!,” “Everyone is Chavez” and “We have motherland.”

“For me, he was like one of my family and will remain so. Rulers of other nations must learn to give all the love that he gave us,” said Gregoria Jimenez, who went to the hospital with more than 150 people.

Jimenez also expressed solidarity with the president’s family. “They will see that we are here and that there is God who will help us. Now more than ever we are united.”

Pedro Joaquin (26) said that Chavez’s name will be remembered together with Simon Bolivar and Ernesto Che Guevara, two renowned Latin American revolutionary and guerrilla leaders.

“Venezuelans will never forget him.”

“The fight to socialism will continue. We are the people of Hugo Chavez and we will continue the revolution,” said an old man in his sixties.

“Chavez doesn’t die, he still lives in our heart. We love you, all of us are Chavez,” said Juana Luna, a 16-year-old student.

At Plaza Bolivar in downtown Caracas, backers of Chavez began to gather Tuesday afternoon after the announcement of Chavez’s death to show support for Vice President Nicolas Maduro, anointed political heir by the late president.

They shouted “The people with Chavez and Maduro.”

According to the Venezuelan constitution, the vote for a new president should be held within 30 days following the death of a sitting president.

Freddy Bernal, a former official, delivered a speech to the pro-government crowds, urging continuation of the process led by Chavez.

Meanwhile, Daniel Bastidas, a member of the town council of the Manguita neighbourhood, expressed his concern over the country’s fate after Chavez, who had ruled the oil-rich Latin American country since 1998 and whose illness has heightened the country’s political rivalry.

“I cannot believe, I had been told that Chavez would become better. Well, there are so many things that one does not know what to expect from,” he said.

Shortly after being elected for a third term last October, Chavez had to leave for Cuba to undergo his fourth round of surgery after detecting the recurrence of the disease found in 2011. He missed his inauguration on January 10, which fuelled the opposition’s call for fresh elections.

Traffic near the military hospital, Plaza Bolivar and the Presidential Palace is facing a solid gridlock, and the country’s communications also largely broke down, according to Xinhua correspondents.

Meanwhile, opposition parties issued a statement yesterday to express their condolences over the death of Chavez.

They also vowed to safeguard Venezuela’s peace and security and help the country walk out of the woods.

However, throngs of opposition supporters also took to the streets, honking horns at Chavez’s backers.

Police have tightened security to prevent any outbreak of violence.

Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said late Tuesday that a public funeral for Hugo Chavez will be held on Friday with invited guests from across Latin America.

He also declared seven days of mourning for the leader. - Xinhua.