Today, April 11, marks five years since there was a short lived coup ousting Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez.

Pedro Carmona Estanga, former president of Venezuela’s main chamber of commerce, Fedecámaras, took power as the President of Venezuela during the 47-hour coup that began April 11th, 2002, in which Hugo Chávez was taken prisoner by military officials. During this time, Carmona’s interim government dissolved the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, and annulled the Venezuelan constitution.In the early morning hours of April 12th, 2002, President Chávez was taken prisoner after high military officers had threatened to bomb the presidential palace if he did not step down. Chávez was then taken to the Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas and later to Orchila Island in the Caribbean. It is not known what plans the coup organizers had for Chávez, but officials loyal to Chávez sent soldiers to the island shortly after to free the president from captivity.

Chavez was returned to power following massive street protests.

After Chavez’s return to power, Pedro Carmona Estanga was given refuge in Colombia by then President Andrés Pastrana. Today the Venezuelan Supreme Court approved a request for Carmona Estranga’s extradition to face charges stemming from the coup.

Chavez and those in his cabinet have always pointed the finger at the US for playing a role in the coup. In a speech yesterday Hugo Chavez said:

“I have evidence showing that one US submarine, one US aircraft carrier and a number of US military choppers were off Venezuelan coasts. But they had to leave, and the next time they come they will have to leave too; they will be defeated by this nationalist passion, this revolution.”

Via / Venezuela Analysis and El Universal