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Protests Becoming Violent in Venezuela

Aired January 03, 2003 - 13:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Moving on to another story we've been following as we've just been getting these pictures in from Caracas, Venezuela. Thousands of demonstrators, we are told, are now pouring into the streets to urge the army to support the oil workers' strike.
Our CNN producer Ingrid Arnesen, right there in the middle of the video you're looking at right now -- Ingrid, can you sort of set the scene for us and tell us about the demonstrations going on?

INGRID ARNESEN, CNN PRODUCER: Kyra, there's been basically a standoff here between opposition troops -- I'm sorry, opposition demonstrators and pro-Chavez demonstrators. What initially started as a march by the opposition to culminate in front of one of the major military installations turned into confrontation this morning when pro-Chavez protesters arrived on the scene. It turned into a standoff and then into a certain confrontation.

Called in the army, the national guard, and the police. This is quite a clear indication of what is going on (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with both sides started the new year repeating, clearly (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that they are not going to budge. The opposition wanting Chavez to step down and call for elections. The government saying that is unconstitutional, and that elections would not be considered until a referendum in August.

Both sides have remained quite steadfast about not caving in, and right here, this demonstration which is now turning very violent. There is lots of confusion right now. Pro-Chavez forces have tried to come down the bridge...

PHILLIPS: Ingrid, can you still...

ARNESEN: ... quite a lot of tear gas. It is pretty difficult to talk to you. People are running away at this moment. This is about the most violent I have seen of the demonstrators' demonstrations until now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ingrid, negotiations were supposed to begin yesterday. We can hear -- I mean, we can even barely hear you. Obviously, things are really heating up. We're looking at these pictures via Venezuela. Thousands of people. I mean, it looks chaotic. I mean, No. 1, are these negotiations being taken seriously, and do you see things just completely coming to a head here, and things could just get completely out of control?

ARNESEN: On the streets it does look like it's going out of control. This is -- the strike is starting its second month, and the situation is very stressed and stretched here on the ground.

People say they can't take much more of this. However, the negotiations, the organization of American states, Secretary-General (UNINTELLIGIBLE) jump start the talks, and to focus on a 24-point document which contained, basically, demands from both sides. As far as we know, we were told that President Chavez -- we were in his palace earlier today. We do not know the outcome of those talks, do not know if they are still ongoing. However, there was a very serious effort to try to bring both sides to the negotiating table and find a peaceful solution out of this conflict -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Our Ingrid Arnesen there, right in the middle of the demonstrations taking place in Caracas, Venezuela. Opposition leaders saying that there is just no way that the world's fifth largest oil exporting country here is going to return to this pre-strike production levels. Ingrid continuing to follow those demonstrations. We'll bring you as much information as we can as we get more on what takes place here on the streets of Caracas.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 3, 2003 - 13:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Moving on to another story we've been following as we've just been getting these pictures in from Caracas, Venezuela. Thousands of demonstrators, we are told, are now pouring into the streets to urge the army to support the oil workers' strike.
Our CNN producer Ingrid Arnesen, right there in the middle of the video you're looking at right now -- Ingrid, can you sort of set the scene for us and tell us about the demonstrations going on?

INGRID ARNESEN, CNN PRODUCER: Kyra, there's been basically a standoff here between opposition troops -- I'm sorry, opposition demonstrators and pro-Chavez demonstrators. What initially started as a march by the opposition to culminate in front of one of the major military installations turned into confrontation this morning when pro-Chavez protesters arrived on the scene. It turned into a standoff and then into a certain confrontation.

Called in the army, the national guard, and the police. This is quite a clear indication of what is going on (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with both sides started the new year repeating, clearly (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that they are not going to budge. The opposition wanting Chavez to step down and call for elections. The government saying that is unconstitutional, and that elections would not be considered until a referendum in August.

Both sides have remained quite steadfast about not caving in, and right here, this demonstration which is now turning very violent. There is lots of confusion right now. Pro-Chavez forces have tried to come down the bridge...

PHILLIPS: Ingrid, can you still...

ARNESEN: ... quite a lot of tear gas. It is pretty difficult to talk to you. People are running away at this moment. This is about the most violent I have seen of the demonstrators' demonstrations until now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ingrid, negotiations were supposed to begin yesterday. We can hear -- I mean, we can even barely hear you. Obviously, things are really heating up. We're looking at these pictures via Venezuela. Thousands of people. I mean, it looks chaotic. I mean, No. 1, are these negotiations being taken seriously, and do you see things just completely coming to a head here, and things could just get completely out of control?

ARNESEN: On the streets it does look like it's going out of control. This is -- the strike is starting its second month, and the situation is very stressed and stretched here on the ground.

People say they can't take much more of this. However, the negotiations, the organization of American states, Secretary-General (UNINTELLIGIBLE) jump start the talks, and to focus on a 24-point document which contained, basically, demands from both sides. As far as we know, we were told that President Chavez -- we were in his palace earlier today. We do not know the outcome of those talks, do not know if they are still ongoing. However, there was a very serious effort to try to bring both sides to the negotiating table and find a peaceful solution out of this conflict -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Our Ingrid Arnesen there, right in the middle of the demonstrations taking place in Caracas, Venezuela. Opposition leaders saying that there is just no way that the world's fifth largest oil exporting country here is going to return to this pre-strike production levels. Ingrid continuing to follow those demonstrations. We'll bring you as much information as we can as we get more on what takes place here on the streets of Caracas.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com