Happy Valentine! But not in the streets!
Saturday 14, February 2004

Well, the opposition is getting ready for its multiple marches meeting all on the central highway of Caracas in front of the Botanical Garden. The different paths had had to be changed several time as chavismo has tried to put up as many obstacles as possible (forbidding access to Avenida Bolivar and CNE, making out a "street fair" in Plaza La Candelaria, a particular sore spot for Chavismo that used to consider that downtown area as theirs! And that really irks them since it is a frequent starting point for opposition marches). Still, several marches will converge on the final point.

Already TV is showing impressive images of the organization being set up in front of the Botanical Garden (one of my favorite spots in Caracas by the way. The picture below is taken from the entrance and you can see the Avila in the background. The main highway is just behind the line of trees. That is where who knows how many thousands people will gather around noon)


An interesting development came this morning as Jorge Rodriguez, one of the pro-Chavez directors of the CNE has announced that he will propose the CNE directorate to go to the Botanical Garden to meet the leaders of the opposition that have been barred to go to the CNE today to submit their complaint. Still, is this just a ploy to look good? I am hearing right now on TV Enrique Mendoza thanking Rodriguez but that he will not accept his proposal as the opposition should be able to access any governmental office it wishes, without receiving permission from Chavez or the military. A nice way to ask the question as to whether we are already under a military regime. Considering the events of the alst few days, this is not an iddle question.