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Thousands of Venezuelans are commemorating the 26th anniversary of the civic-military rebellion of Feb. 2, 1992, led by former President Hugo Chavez, against the neoliberal austerity policies of former President Carlos Andres Perez's government.
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After years of economic crisis ignited by Venezuela’s large debt, Perez’s government applied an International Monetary Fund-backed structural adjustment program, which included gasoline, food and transportation price hikes, deepening rampant poverty and unemployment.
Previous economic measures and their adverse effects on Venezuela’s most economically-vulnerable population led to a series of protests in 1989 known as the “Caracazo,” named in reference to Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas. State repression of these protests led to hundreds of civilian deaths, according to official reports. However, unofficial reports claim that in addition to these deaths, there were 3,000 disappearances.
In this context, the 1992 rebellion was planned and executed.
Sunday’s commemorative march began at 9:00 a.m. local time and will reach the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, were thousands of Venezuelans will continue celebrating the Day of National Dignity.
Bolivian President Evo Morales celebrated the day via Twitter.
“Greetings to Venezuela, especially to our brother Nicolas Maduro, in the Day of National Dignity. Today, we remember our brother Hugo Chavez’s insurrection in 1992. His legacy is the dignity of the Patria Grande (Great Fatherland) and today, more than ever, we will defend the sovereignty of our people.”
Nuestro saludo a Venezuela, en especial al hermano Nicolás Maduro, en el Día de la Dignidad Nacional. Hoy recordamos la insurrección del hermano Hugo Chávez en 1992. Su legado fue la dignidad de la Patria Grande, y hoy, más que nunca, defenderemos la soberanía de nuestros pueblos pic.twitter.com/0cjsr5rFQy
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) February 4, 2018
The 1992 insurrection led by Chavez resulted in his and other leaders' two-year imprisonment.
In 1994, Chavez founded the Fifth Republic Movement political party. Between 1995 and 1997, he traveled throughout the country talking about his political project and the need to convene a National Constituent Assembly to “refund the Republic.”
On Dec. 6, 1998, Chavez won the presidential elections with 56 percent of the vote.
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