This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/world/americas/one-year-after-chavezs-death-a-divide-in-venezuelans-fervor.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
One Year After Chávez’s Death, a Divide in Venezuelans’ Fervor One Year After Chávez’s Death, a Divide in Venezuelans’ Fervor
(6 months later)
CARACAS, Venezuela — In the year since the death of Hugo Chávez, this country’s longtime socialist president, one thing has remained constant: He is still loved and hated with almost equal fervor. CARACAS, Venezuela — In the year since the death of Hugo Chávez, this country’s longtime socialist president, one thing has remained constant: He is still loved and hated with almost equal fervor.
To mark the anniversary, the government on Wednesday held a parade, a ceremony with a cannon salute at his tomb and a religious service. In the afternoon, fireworks burst over the capital at the hour of his death.To mark the anniversary, the government on Wednesday held a parade, a ceremony with a cannon salute at his tomb and a religious service. In the afternoon, fireworks burst over the capital at the hour of his death.
His successor and acolyte, President Nicolás Maduro, presided over the events, which served as a distraction from weeks of protests against his government and the country’s deeply ingrained problems, including high inflation, shortages of many basic goods and violent crime.His successor and acolyte, President Nicolás Maduro, presided over the events, which served as a distraction from weeks of protests against his government and the country’s deeply ingrained problems, including high inflation, shortages of many basic goods and violent crime.
“He is a person who is super gifted, who God chose like he did King David, like Moses,” Fidela Rebolledo, 60, a nurse, said of Mr. Chávez, speaking about him in present tense. Ms. Rebolledo, dressed in a red T-shirt and head scarf, rode a bus 11 hours from the eastern city of Puerto Ordaz to file past Mr. Chávez’s tomb, in an old military barracks in a slum neighborhood on a hill above the city. “He is not dead,” she said. “He lives in my heart.”“He is a person who is super gifted, who God chose like he did King David, like Moses,” Fidela Rebolledo, 60, a nurse, said of Mr. Chávez, speaking about him in present tense. Ms. Rebolledo, dressed in a red T-shirt and head scarf, rode a bus 11 hours from the eastern city of Puerto Ordaz to file past Mr. Chávez’s tomb, in an old military barracks in a slum neighborhood on a hill above the city. “He is not dead,” she said. “He lives in my heart.”
A few hundred of the most dedicated Chavistas, as his followers are known, lined up outside the barracks-turned-mausoleum at 10 a.m., a far cry from the immense crowds that poured into the streets of Caracas to mourn after he died at 58 following a long battle with cancer.A few hundred of the most dedicated Chavistas, as his followers are known, lined up outside the barracks-turned-mausoleum at 10 a.m., a far cry from the immense crowds that poured into the streets of Caracas to mourn after he died at 58 following a long battle with cancer.
Mr. Chávez’s remains are kept in a dark marble sarcophagus that on Wednesday had an honor guard of four soldiers in scarlet dress uniforms with gold braid and high black hats topped with tall red spikes like velvety cattails. As people filed by the tomb they ran a hand on top of the smooth marble, pressed their faces to it, sang songs or cried.Mr. Chávez’s remains are kept in a dark marble sarcophagus that on Wednesday had an honor guard of four soldiers in scarlet dress uniforms with gold braid and high black hats topped with tall red spikes like velvety cattails. As people filed by the tomb they ran a hand on top of the smooth marble, pressed their faces to it, sang songs or cried.
As one group left the mausoleum, Mr. Chávez’s mother, known as Mamá Elena, arrived, wearing black. Weeping, she hugged a surprised visitor and said, “Keep him forever in your hearts.”As one group left the mausoleum, Mr. Chávez’s mother, known as Mamá Elena, arrived, wearing black. Weeping, she hugged a surprised visitor and said, “Keep him forever in your hearts.”
Edgar Chacín, 52, an electrician and farmer, who got up early to visit the tomb, said he had supported Mr. Chávez because “he told the capitalists what I wanted to say to them. He made me wake up.”Edgar Chacín, 52, an electrician and farmer, who got up early to visit the tomb, said he had supported Mr. Chávez because “he told the capitalists what I wanted to say to them. He made me wake up.”
Mr. Chacín insisted that the country’s economic problems were caused by enemies of Mr. Chávez’s revolution, which transformed the country after he swept into office in 1999. For instance, Mr. Chacín said that groceries were in short supply because supermarkets typically received the products on Monday but waited until Thursday to put them on the shelf — intentionally causing long lines to make people criticize the government.Mr. Chacín insisted that the country’s economic problems were caused by enemies of Mr. Chávez’s revolution, which transformed the country after he swept into office in 1999. For instance, Mr. Chacín said that groceries were in short supply because supermarkets typically received the products on Monday but waited until Thursday to put them on the shelf — intentionally causing long lines to make people criticize the government.
As for the protests that have spread across the country, they were fomented by the United States and by right-wing politicians in Colombia, Mr. Chacín said.As for the protests that have spread across the country, they were fomented by the United States and by right-wing politicians in Colombia, Mr. Chacín said.
Across town, in a middle-class neighborhood, a group of about 30 protesters guarded a barricade they had built from old appliances, tree branches and suitcases to block a busy street.Across town, in a middle-class neighborhood, a group of about 30 protesters guarded a barricade they had built from old appliances, tree branches and suitcases to block a busy street.
“For us he was a monster, a devil,” said Yyalu Mata, 49, a taxi driver, referring to Mr. Chávez. “He made war between the poor and the middle class.”“For us he was a monster, a devil,” said Yyalu Mata, 49, a taxi driver, referring to Mr. Chávez. “He made war between the poor and the middle class.”
She said the protesters were determined to maintain the barricade until Mr. Maduro was driven from office.She said the protesters were determined to maintain the barricade until Mr. Maduro was driven from office.
A block away, about 100 people stood in line at a pharmacy where a small shipment of staple goods had arrived: corn flour, rice and corn oil. Many had been at the barricade, and they chanted antigovernment slogans.A block away, about 100 people stood in line at a pharmacy where a small shipment of staple goods had arrived: corn flour, rice and corn oil. Many had been at the barricade, and they chanted antigovernment slogans.
In response to the protests, Mr. Maduro last week invited opposition political leaders and business executives to a series of televised meetings that he referred to as a peace conference.In response to the protests, Mr. Maduro last week invited opposition political leaders and business executives to a series of televised meetings that he referred to as a peace conference.
Some business leaders attended and spoke about the country’s economic problems and urged a rethinking of policy and a greater cooperation between the socialist government and the private sector. But most top opposition leaders boycotted the meetings, dismissing them as a photo opportunity.Some business leaders attended and spoke about the country’s economic problems and urged a rethinking of policy and a greater cooperation between the socialist government and the private sector. But most top opposition leaders boycotted the meetings, dismissing them as a photo opportunity.
The meetings also drew criticism from the left, demonstrating the difficulties that lie ahead for Mr. Maduro as he faces the most significant protests against the government in years. Many marches have been peaceful, but violent clashes with the police and some protesters have been common, and at least a dozen people have been killed.The meetings also drew criticism from the left, demonstrating the difficulties that lie ahead for Mr. Maduro as he faces the most significant protests against the government in years. Many marches have been peaceful, but violent clashes with the police and some protesters have been common, and at least a dozen people have been killed.
Heinz Dieterich, a leftist writer, wrote in a blog post that the peace conference amounted to a power-sharing agreement with the bourgeoisie and “represents the end of Chávez’s historic project.”Heinz Dieterich, a leftist writer, wrote in a blog post that the peace conference amounted to a power-sharing agreement with the bourgeoisie and “represents the end of Chávez’s historic project.”
Yet in a speech on Wednesday beside Mr. Chávez’s tomb, Mr. Maduro was more combative than conciliatory, denouncing the protesters as violent fascists intent on carrying out a coup. His audience included, aside from members of Mr. Chávez’s family, government ministers and close allies like the presidents of Bolivia and Nicaragua.Yet in a speech on Wednesday beside Mr. Chávez’s tomb, Mr. Maduro was more combative than conciliatory, denouncing the protesters as violent fascists intent on carrying out a coup. His audience included, aside from members of Mr. Chávez’s family, government ministers and close allies like the presidents of Bolivia and Nicaragua.
Mr. Maduro announced that he was cutting off diplomatic relations with Panama, which he accused of aiding the United States in conspiring against him.Mr. Maduro announced that he was cutting off diplomatic relations with Panama, which he accused of aiding the United States in conspiring against him.
“This is how you celebrate the first anniversary of the departure of the commander, in combat, in struggle,” Mr. Maduro said, using a military reference to Mr. Chávez, who was a former soldier.“This is how you celebrate the first anniversary of the departure of the commander, in combat, in struggle,” Mr. Maduro said, using a military reference to Mr. Chávez, who was a former soldier.
He also announced that security forces had broken up a plot to blow up 15 tunnels, as well as bridges, viaducts and highways around the country. He said some people had been arrested but gave no other details. Mr. Maduro frequently alludes to conspiracies in this manner, though officials seldom provide evidence and the accusations rarely if ever lead to trials.He also announced that security forces had broken up a plot to blow up 15 tunnels, as well as bridges, viaducts and highways around the country. He said some people had been arrested but gave no other details. Mr. Maduro frequently alludes to conspiracies in this manner, though officials seldom provide evidence and the accusations rarely if ever lead to trials.
The day’s events also included what was billed as the world premiere of a film about Mr. Chávez by the director Oliver Stone, called “My Friend Hugo.” It was shown Wednesday night in a national broadcast that all the television networks were required to broadcast.The day’s events also included what was billed as the world premiere of a film about Mr. Chávez by the director Oliver Stone, called “My Friend Hugo.” It was shown Wednesday night in a national broadcast that all the television networks were required to broadcast.