Pedro Carmona

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Pedro Carmona
Pedro Carmona
Born 1941
Barquisimeto
Alma mater Universidad Católica Andrés Bello
Profession business

Pedro Francisco Carmona Estanga (born 1941 in Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela) is a former Venezuelan trade organization leader who was briefly declared President of Venezuela during an abortive 2002 military coup against Hugo Chávez. He occupied the office of President from April 12 to April 13.[1] After the coup failed, Carmona, wanted by the authorities for illegal usurpation of power[2], escaped house arrest, fled to Colombia, and later surfaced in Miami, Florida.

During violent clashes between pro- and anti-Chávez supporters on April 11, 2002, Lucas Rincón, commander-in-chief of the Venezuelan armed forces, announced in a broadcast to a nationwide audience that Chávez had tendered his resignation from the presidency [3]. While Chávez was brought to a military base and held there, military leaders appointed Carmona as the transitional President of Venezuela, following mass protests and a general strike by his opponents.[4]

In the face of crowds of Chávez supporters taking to the streets and under pressure from some quarters of the military,[5] Carmona was removed by civil authorities and Chávez was restored to office. During Carmona's 36-hour government, military officers held Chávez and attempted to force his exile. Additionally, security forces conducted raids without warrants and took some Chávez supporters into custody illegally, including National Assembly deputy Tarek William Saab, a member of the Chávez-aligned MVR, who was taken into protective custody by security forces after a large crowd had gathered around his home, threatening him and his family. He was held incommunicado for several hours.[6]

Prior to the overthrow and his subsequent exile, Carmona was president of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Fedecámaras), Venezuela's largest business owners' association.

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[edit] References

  1. ^ news.bbc.co.uk: Intermin president sworn in. URL last accessed August 13, 2006.
  2. ^ http://english.people.com.cn/200205/30/eng20020530_96783.shtml
  3. ^ Nuevo gobierno en Venezuela. BBC (2002-04-12). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.(Spanish)
  4. ^ ww.pgs.org. URL last accessed October 29, 2006.
  5. ^ news.bbc.co.uk: Analysis: After the would-be coup. URL last accessed October 29, 2006.
  6. ^ United States Department. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002; released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Dated: March 31, 2003. URL last accessed August 13, 2006.

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