Pedro Carmona

Infobox Politician (general)
name = Pedro Carmona


birth_date = 1941
birth_place = Barquisimeto
residence =
death_date =
death_place =
April 12 to April 13, 2002
party =
religion =
spouse =
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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1927322.stm news.bbc.co.uk] : "Intermin president sworn in". URL last accessed August 13, 2006.] After the coup failed, Carmona, wanted by the authorities for illegal usurpation of power [http://english.people.com.cn/200205/30/eng20020530_96783.shtml] , 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 Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_1925000/1925476.stm|title=Nuevo gobierno en Venezuela|accessdate=2008-02-23|publisher=BBC|year=2002-04-12es icon] . 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. [ [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/latin_america/jan-june02/venezuela_4-12.html ww.pgs.org] . URL last accessed October 29, 2006.]

In the face of crowds of Chávez supporters taking to the streets and under pressure from some quarters of the military, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1929498.stm news.bbc.co.uk] : "Analysis: After the would-be coup". URL last accessed October 29, 2006.] 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. [ [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18348.htm 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.]

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.

ee also

*Carmona Decree

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2009000/2009907.stm BBC: Venezuelan coup leader given asylum]
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/29/world/main510491.shtml CBS: Venezuelan Coup Leader Exits]
* [http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/reports/reports/carmona.htm Latin Business Chronicle: Pedro Carmona: Actions, Not Words]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/news/newsid_1925000/1925832.stm BBC Mundo: Pedro Carmona, presidente por un día] es icon
* [http://english.eluniversal.com/2006/04/24/en_pol_art_24A698197.shtml Venezuela's Attorney General Office requests formal charges of civilian rebellion against Pedro Carmona Estanga]