Venezuela Issues Arrest Warrant for Former President Carlos Andrés Peréz

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Venezuela Issues Arrest Warrant for Former President Carlos Andrés Peréz

Caracas, Venezuela, February 25, 2004—Venezuelan State Prosecutor Indira Josefina Mora issued an arrest warrant for former President Carlos Andrés Peréz yesterday. According to Mora’s statement announcing the arrest warrant for the former President, Peréz is being investigated for his “responsibility in the instruction and implementation of ‘Plan Avila,’ during the events of the Caracazo that occurred in 1989, in which hundreds of people lost their lives.”

Peréz was President of Venezuela from 1974-79, and 1989-93. He has been living outside of Venezuela in various locations since 1993 when he was impeached on corruption charges, though he has continued to play a peripheral role in Venezuelan politics.

On February 27th, 1989 Peréz announced the “Great Turnaround”, a harsh structural adjustment package increasing prices for basic necessities and gasoline, sparking spontaneous protests and riots. Though the angry crowds were compared to ‘one of the less civilized tribes of Africa,’ by one pro-government legislator for the widespread destruction of private property, looters reportedly also distributed basic necessities to elderly barrio residents and single-mothers.

‘Plan Avila,’ was implemented by the National Guard and various police agencies to restore order, and resulted in an official toll of 327 dead and 1,831 wounded. Independent estimates, however, have placed the death toll as high as 2,000, including the many who remain disappeared.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1522

It's worth remembering that Colin Powell held at least one meeting with the exiled Carmona in Bogota in December of 2002.