Sigh, it's the old Reichstag fire gambit again

A plot to kill? Chávez raises stakes, suspicion over conspiracy

The many bizarre aspects of the recent arrests of some 80 alleged Colombian mercenaries accused of plotting to kill President Hugo Chávez have sparked deep skepticism and worry among many Venezuelans and foreign diplomats.
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The conspiracy, according to Venezuela's ambassador to the Organization of American States, Jorge Valero, was breathtaking in its dimensions.

Not only did the plotters plan to kill Chávez, said Valero, they proposed to hijack air force jets to bomb the presidential palace ``in support of a military operation which would include an air and sea blockade of Venezuela, with the participation of international forces.''
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The concern is that the leftist Chávez will use the case as an excuse to crack down on his nonviolent opponents or block an ongoing attempt to force a recall referendum on his rule.

''I have no doubt at all that this is an invention of the government,'' said former Foreign Minister Simón Alberto Consalvi, part of the opposition that accuses Chávez of leading the nation into economic ruin and political crisis.

''Nobody believes Chávez. . . . But it's no good just calling him crazy,'' said a foreign diplomat who asked for anonymity. ``You have to pay attention. Everything seems to indicate an imminent curtailing of civil rights.''

By Friday, the number of arrests in the case had risen to 114 and Chávez had turned it into an international brouhaha, accusing Washington, the military in neighboring Colombia, Venezuelan exiles in Miami and opponents at home of plotting against his democratically elected government.

But there's a small problem with the "mercenaries":

No weapons other than the 9mm pistol have been found anywhere. Nor has the government presented any evidence of links between the Colombians and any opposition leaders, although 12 active and retired Venezuelan military officers have been detained.
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Reports in the Colombian media have quoted relatives in the border town of Cúcuta as saying their sons and brothers were simply peasants or unskilled workers who were offered jobs in Venezuela.

One of the detainees who gave his name as Claudio told reporters Thursday that the men were ''all peasants, and we were offered agricultural and textile jobs'' in Venezuela.

''The commanders told us we'd get identity documents to vote for Chávez,'' he said during a hasty chat after he surrendered to police.

It would be a comic opera, if it were funny.