 Hearse carrying Hugo Chávez's remains | |
| Date | 5 March 2013; 12 years ago (2013-03-05) |
|---|---|
| Location | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Cause | Cancer |
| Burial | Cuartel de la Montaña (es) |
The death ofHugo Chávez,president of Venezuela, was announced by government officials to have been on 5 March 2013 at 16:25VET (20:55UTC) inCaracas, Venezuela, fromcancer at the age of 58. His death triggered apresidential election which was constitutionally required to be called within 30 days.
Chávez was first elected as president in1998 and was re-elected in2000,2006 and finally in2012. However, Chávez was unable to be sworn in for a fourth term after the 2012 election due to his illness.
.jpg)
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Venezuela's V.P. Announces Chavez's Death onThe Wall Street Journal |
Chávez was diagnosed with cancer following the discovery of a mass in his pelvic region in June 2011. He traveled toHavana, Cuba where he underwent a surgical operation to remove a malignant cancerous tissue mass 'about the size of a baseball' from his waist. He underwent a second surgical operation in Venezuela one month later. Over the next 12 months, he followed a cycle of chemotherapy. The type of cancer Chávez was diagnosed with was never made public, which fueled speculation over his condition (with speculations from beingprostate cancer tocolon cancer among others).
In the 2012 presidential election, Chávez was successfully re-elected to a fourth term. Upon returning to Cuba in late November 2012, however, Chávez learned that his cancer had returned and metastasised. He returned briefly to Venezuela in December 2012 to publicly announce his illness and returned to Cuba on 10 December for further cancer treatment, later returning to Venezuela and staying at a Caracas military hospital. Despite rumors by Venezuelan defectors that he died at the end of December, the government assured that Chávez was still alive and provided successive announcements of his return and updates of his health, which were criticised by the country's opposition as the population were unaware of the exact state of his health as well as his location. After the first lung infection (pneumonia) in the last stages of his life, Chávez was intubated nearing the end of December. His breathing worsened until his death in Caracas on 5 March 2013, almost two years after he was first diagnosed.
Vice PresidentNicolás Maduro announced Chávez's death on a mandatory televisioncadena (a decree forcing all broadcasters to relay state television programming).[1] In an emotional eulogy Maduro said: "Let there be no weakness, no violence. Let there be no hate. In our hearts there should only be one feeling: Love."[2] Maduro indicated that Chávez had died "after battling a tough illness for nearly two years."[1] He added that police and troops would be deployed across the country "to guarantee the peace." The head of the presidential guard said Chávez died of a massive heart attack after great suffering and had inaudibly mouthed his desire to live. In an interview to theAssociated Press, he said that Chávez could not speak but he said with his lips ... "I don't want to die. Please don't let me die".[3] TheBBC reported isolated incidents of violence following the announcement of Chávez's death. Although pro-Chávez supporters attacked and burned tents of students who had camped demanding more official information about Chávez's health, there were no reported injuries.[2] Vice President Maduro indicated he had "no doubt" of foul play by "the historical enemies of our fatherland" behind Chávez's illness and death.[1] Defence Minister Diego Morelo Bellavia[4] said that the "Bolivarian" armed forces would be loyal to the vice president and National Assembly and urged supporters and opposition to remain calm.[2]
After defecting from Venezuela, former bodyguard for Chávez,Leamsy Salazar, stated that he died in December 2012, nearly three months before the 5 March 2013 date was officially announced.[5]
In July 2018, former Attorney GeneralLuisa Ortega Díaz also said that Chávez had actually died in December 2012 and the announcement of his death was delayed for political reasons. In an interview cited by Venezuelan dailyEl Nacional, the former Chávez supporter said that the Venezuelan president died on 28 December 2012, but his closest allies decided to delay the announcement and never submitted the death certificate to the Office of the Attorney General.[6]
The supposed delay in announcing Chávez's death raised concerns that laws signed in his name during that period were forged for political purposes.[5]
Thousands of people flooded the streets of the capital Caracas. Many cried and hugged in public shows of emotion. Women were weeping atMiraflores Palace. With a mixture of joy and sadness Chávez supporters shared their impressions after him a last farewell: "That man emanates a force forward and his face says my people.".[7] People left work for the day upon hearing the news, shops and offices shut and cars and buses filled the streets.[8]
Opposition leader and opponent in the 2012 election,Henrique Capriles, called on the government to "act in strict accordance with itsconstitutional duties." He also added his condolences to Chávez's family saying "we were adversaries, but never enemies".[2] Acting President Nicolás Maduro said he believed Chávez was assassinated by Venezuela's "historical enemies" (widely assumed to mean the United States), and that a "scientific commission" would investigate this possibility. TheU.S. State Department denied any American involvement in Chávez's death, calling the claim "absurd".[9]
On the first anniversary of Chávez's death on 6 March 2014, tens of thousands of his supporters marched through cities across Venezuela. This was coupled with the2014 Venezuelan protests featuring pro and anti-government demonstrations.[10]
UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon's office issued a statement expressing condolences.[11]
Reactions within the Americas by citizens occurred outside Venezuela's embassies all throughout Latin America.[12][13]
Secretary General ofOrganization of American StatesJosé Miguel Insulza ordered the body's flags to be flown at half-mast and the convening of a special meeting of the Permanent Council in memory of Chávez.[14]
After announcing Hugo Chávez's death, Bolivian presidentEvo Morales broke down and cried on national television while paying tribute to Chávez;[15] Morales then decreed seven days of mourning in Bolivia after Chávez's death.[16] Brazilian presidentDilma Rousseff, who had cancelled a scheduled trip to Argentina to meet President Kirchner, led a minute of silence inBrasília.[17] Rousseff decreed three days of mourning.[17] Rousseff's predecessor,Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, also expressed grief.[18][19] Salvadorian presidentMauricio Funes and Chilean presidentSebastián Piñera both praised Chávez's strong character,[20] and the Chilean government declared three days of national mourning for Chávez.[21]
The Cuban Council of State decreed two days of official mourning, from 6 am on 6 March to midnight on 7 March, and a third day of national mourning on 8 March.[16][22][23] The presidents of Dominican Republic, Haiti,[24] Uruguay and Ecuador all decreed three days of mourning for Chávez.[23][25]
Nicaraguan presidentDaniel Ortega declared seven days of mourning.[26] Colombian presidentJuan Manuel Santos,[27] Mexican presidentEnrique Peña Nieto[citation needed] lamented the death of Chávez; The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release expressing condolences and "our feeling of fraternity".[28] Colombia ordered its 15 consulates in Venezuela temporarily closed to observe the days of mourning. Guyanese presidentDonald Ramotar and Guatemalan presidentOtto Pérez Molina regretted losing a "friend".[29][30] Ramotar and Honduran presidentPorfirio Lobo praised Chávez for his contribution to regional integration; theNational Congress of Honduras addressed a minute of silence.[31]
Trinidad and Tobago[32] and Jamaica said that special arrangements would be made for an official tribute to Chávez.[33] Uruguay announced that PresidentJosé Mujica was in Argentina for a summit when Chávez died, but that he would fly to Caracas with Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to attend the funeral.[34] Argentina declared three days of mourning.[34][35]
Canadian prime ministerStephen Harper offered his condolences;[36] former Prime MinisterJean Chrétien eulogised in a televised interview.[20]
Suggestions of American foul play,[1][37] implying that Chávez had been poisoned or somehow infected with cancer (arguing a plot reminiscent to theYasser Arafat death controversy and theattempts against Fidel Castro),[38][39][40] were vehemently denied by the U.S. Department of State as "absurd".[41]
In Miami, some Venezuelans[quantify] joyfully celebrated Chávez's death, and were cautiously optimistic of new elections for Chávez's successor; an estimated 189,219 Venezuelans live in the United States, most of whom are anti-Chávez.[42] United States PresidentBarack Obama reaffirmed the support of the U.S. for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government.[20] Former presidentJimmy Carter complimented Chávez's commitment to improving the lives of Venezuelans. According to a statement posted at theCarter Center website, Carter and his wifeRosalynn "came to know a man who expressed a vision to bring profound changes to his country to benefit especially those people who had felt neglected and marginalized."[43]
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chairperson of the African Union Commission, conveyed her condolences to the family, government and people of Venezuela.[44] The organisation observed a minute of silence at the A.U. headquarters on 8 March during the celebration of the International Women's Day.[45]
Algerian presidentAbdelaziz Bouteflika,[46] Gambian presidentYahya Jammeh,[47] Mauritanian presidentMohamed Ould Abdelaziz,[48] Sahrawi Republic presidentMohamed Abdelaziz,[49] South African presidentJacob Zuma,[50] Sudanese presidentOmar al-Bashir,[12] Tanzanian presidentJakaya Kikwete,[51] all expressed their sorrow and offered their "deepest condolences". Jammeh proclaimed two national prayer days at Gambian mosques and churches for Chávez, on 8 and 10 March 2013.[47] TheSahrawi government declared a day of national mourning.[52]
Afghanistan presidentHamid Karzai,[53] President of ArmeniaSerzh Sargsyan,[54] Azerbaijani presidentIlham Aliyev,[55] Chinese presidentHu Jintao andGeneral Secretary of the Chinese Communist PartyXi Jinping,[56] deputy director-general of theTaiwanese Foreign Ministry Calvin Ho,[57] and Indian prime ministerManmohan Singh issued statements of "heartfelt condolences".[58]
Pakistan presidentAsif Ali Zardari and Prime MinisterRaja Pervaiz Ashraf, President of the Palestinian National AuthorityMahmoud Abbas,[59] Turkmenistan presidentGurbanguly Berdimuhamedow,[60] as well as Vietnamese leaders – including Party general secretaryNguyễn Phú Trọng, Prime MinisterNguyễn Tấn Dũng, and National Assembly chairmanNguyễn Sinh Hùng – also expressed condolences; some lauded Chávez's achievements.[61] Memorial services were scheduled to be held inRamallah and other cities in theWest Bank and senior Palestinian officials paid their respects at the Venezuelan Embassy in Ramallah.[59] InGaza City streets were decorated with Venezuelan flags and posters of Chávez.[62]Hamas, leading thede facto government of the Gaza Strip, lauded Chávez as a "great leader";[62] theSyrian Arab News Agency paid homage to Chávez for taking "an honourable stance regarding the conspiracy against Syria".[63] Iran declared a day of national mourning.[64]
French presidentFrançois Hollande[65] and British foreign secretaryWilliam Hague were "saddened".[20] Irish presidentMichael D. Higgins sent condolences,[66] andSinn Féin leaderGerry Adams also paid tribute.[66] Italian presidentGiorgio Napolitano said he felt "painful".[67] TheSpanish government extended its condolences,[68] as didPortuguese presidentAníbal Cavaco Silva.[69]
Swedish Prime MinisterFredrik Reinfeldt stated that Chávez "undeniably affected his country and the entire region" and hoped for greater democracy and respect for human rights in Venezuela;[70] foreign ministerCarl Bildt criticized Chávez's policies,[citation needed] saying that he had "plunder[ed] the oil wealth of [his] country".[70]
President of RussiaVladimir Putin and prime ministerDmitry Medvedev expressed their "sincere condolences".[71][72] Russia would send a delegation consisting ofRosneft presidentIgor Sechin, Trade and Industry ministerDenis Manturov,Rostec CEOSergey Chemezov,Federation Council speakerValentina Matviyenko and foreign ministerSergei Lavrov.[73] Serbian presidentTomislav Nikolić and prime ministerIvica Dačić sent condolences and lamented the loss of "a friend". The Serbian cabinet also announced that Chávez would be posthumously honoured with theOrder of the Republic of Serbia.[74] Belarus declared three days of mourning.[75]
In the Vatican, a condolence letter was read during ameeting of Cardinals prior to thepapal conclave, during thesede vacante.
In the European Union, European Council PresidentHerman Van Rompuy and European Commission PresidentJosé Manuel Barroso said that they had received the news of Chávez's death with "sadness."[76]
Australian Foreign MinisterBob Carr[77] and New Zealand Prime MinisterJohn Key expressed condolences "to the Chávez family and the people of Venezuela".[78] However, Key, who was on a diplomatic trip to Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Brazil, did not attend the funeral although meetings had been postponed due to Latin American leaders attending, and was criticized by ex-Greens MPKeith Locke,Toby Manhire and others.[79]
Foreign ministerElías Jaua decreed seven days of mourning for Chávez.[80] Chávez's body was taken to the Military Academy in Caracas on 6 March 2013, accompanied by large numbers of supporters who joined the procession at the military parade grounds (the Heroes Avenue) and was left lying in state for the public to visit for three days. The state funeral was held in Caracas on 8 March 2013.[1][81][82] Acting President Nicolás Maduro originally stated that Chávez's body would be embalmed and permanently displayed after the state funeral in a transparent sarcophagus at a military museum in the former site of the Military Academy in La Planicie Barracks at the23 de Enero district west of the city proper.[83][84] However, due to difficulties in finding an expert and the uncertainties of plastination in which the weather plays a substantial part, Maduro announced that the body would not be embalmed in time.[85] Maduro extended national mourning from 4 to 11 days to coincide with the transportation of the body to the military museum (now Museum of the Revolution) at La Planicie Barracks, which was renamed Mountain Barracks as it was, not by accident, the place which Chávez captured and used as a command centre in the brief coup of 1992, and where he uttered his famous words "Por ahora" (For now) to the press.
For the final arrangements a funeral service was arranged, with the casket leaving the Military Academy grounds in Fort Tiuna on 17 March 2013 under full military honours including references to Ltn. Cnl. Chávez's home battalion (the Apure Braves 414th Armored Battalion) with the marching song "Patria Querida" (Fatherland Beloved) played in slow time, a21-gun salute, and a Military Aviation (formerly Venezuelan Air Force) flyover bySukhoi Su-30 fighters in amissing man formation. Government party militias in their light motorcycles followed the motorcade (itself surrounded by Army mounted guards) with a large following of (mostly poor) citizens, with final arrival honors paid upon arrival at the Mountain Barracks.[citation needed] Bolivian President Evo Morales, Maduro and Chávez's brother Adan and daughter Maria Gabiela each gave speeches before the flag folding and dedication ceremony. The national flag covering the casket was handed to Chávez's mother, Elena Frías de Chávez, on behalf of the armed forces and the nation.
The funeral was attended by 23 heads of state, 10 heads of government, a Crown Prince, 2 first ladies, 23 governmental representatives, 5 multilateral leaders, 4 foreign ministers and 4 former presidents. In total, 50 countries were represented at the event.
Argentinian presidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner was amongst the first heads of state to arrive in Venezuela on Tuesday 5 March. She visited the chapel at the military hospital to pay her final respects on Thursday before returning home,[106] citing health reasons.[107] Brazilian presidentDilma Rousseff attended awake on Thursday at the military academy before returning to Brazil on Friday morning.[107] Former PresidentLula da Silva accompanied President Rousseff and departed before the funeral service.
Former Canadian prime ministerJean Chrétien and his wifeAline attended the funeral,[108] along with former Colombian senatorPiedad Córdoba, former Honduran presidentManuel Zelaya, and former Paraguayan presidentFernando Lugo.
Other attendees included Former US congressmanWilliam Delahunt, President of the Russian Rosneft oil companyIgor Sechin and CEO ofRostecSergei Chemezov;[101]Nikolay Lukashenko, son of the Belarusian president;Alexis Tsipras, the leader ofSYRIZA in Greece (later Prime Minister of Greece); from Spain wereCayo Lara andWilly Meyer Pleite (MEP).[109]Formula One driverPastor Maldonado, American civil rights activistJesse Jackson and actorSean Penn also attended.[110][111][112]
Honour guards were provided by the cadets of the component service academies of the Venezuelan Bolivarian Military University and by personnel of thePresidential Honor Guard Brigade, among others.[citation needed] The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra led byGustavo Dudamel provided musical accompaniment during the state funeral services.
Echoing strong national sentiment the Government elevated a proposal to the National Assembly (Parliament) for a statute amendment that would allow placing the late president's body near that of Simón Bolívar (the Liberator and father of the country) in theNational Pantheon of Venezuela, a secular building housing the remains and/or cenotaphs to independence war heroes and former presidents. The statute (still unamended) requires that a number of years pass before any such moves. Chávez's remains were placed instead at a mausoleum (built in 99 days) at the now Revolution Museum (formerly Army Museum) at the Mountain Barracks (former site of the Military Academy in La Planicie Barracks). The mausoleum to Hugo Chávez consists of a granite sarcophagus atop a flat architectural composition of four leaves entitledFlower of the Four Elements by modernist architect 'Fruto' (Jose Fructoso) Vivas (1928–) (national Architecture Price and designer of the Venezuelan Pavilion at Hanover in 2000) and has a permanent ceremonial 4-man honour guard provided by the Presidential Honor Guard Brigade, which is changed every hour. A 19th century cannon is fired every afternoon from the Fort marking the time of his death by a National Militia gun crew. Both ceremonies are open to the public.
TheBBC quoted analysts as saying Chávez' death could alter the balance against the so-called "pink tide" in favour of centrist governments. It also suggested a possible economic impact to Venezuelan oil sales due to them being below market prices relative to some neighbouring countries, especially in the Caribbean.[2]Americas Quarterly editor Christopher Sabatini suggested that the "Chávez myth" would outlive his achievements.[113] Prior to his death, Venezuela'srecognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were also highlighted as dependent on Chávez.[114]
DECLARA EL CONSEJO DE ESTADO DUELO OFICIAL Y DUELO NACIONAL Con motivo del fallecimiento del compañero Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, el Consejo de Estado de la República de Cuba ha decretado lo siguiente: Primero: Declarar Duelo Oficial a partir de las 6:00 a.m. del día 6 de marzo, hasta las 12:00 de la noche del día 7 de marzo. Segundo: Declarar Duelo Nacional el día 8 de marzo. Mientras esté vigente el Duelo Oficial, la bandera nacional será izada a media asta en los edificios públicos y establecimientos militares. Durante la vigencia del Duelo Nacional, quedan suspendidos todos los espectáculos públicos y actividades festivas.
El presidente de Haití, Michel Martelly, decretó tres días de duelo nacional desde este miércoles tras la muerte de su colega venezolano Hugo Chávez, a quien calificó como "un hermano más que un amigo". "El presidente Hugo Chávez fue uno de los mayores partidarios que Haití haya tenido. Nunca perdió la oportunidad de recordar su amor por Haití. Era más que un amigo, un hermano", dijo Martelly desde el palacio presidencial, ante todo el gobierno y el embajador de Venezuela en Puerto Príncipe.
El Gobierno del Presidente Daniel Ortega y la Compañera Rosario Murillo, decretó siete días de Duelo Nacional por el fallecimiento en Caracas del líder bolivariano, Comandante Hugo Chávez Frías.
