Yesterday the streets of downtown Caracas were teeming with protesters united by one word: NO. 100,000 people manifested their opposition to the constitutional amendment which would allow for President Hugo Chavez to lead their country ad nauseum a la Fidel:

Blowing whistles, waving placards and shouting “Not like this!” the marchers carried Venezuelan flags and dressed in blue — the chosen color of the opposition — as they streamed along Bolivar Avenue.

“This is a movement by those of us who oppose a change to this country’s way of life, because what (the referendum) aims to do is impose totalitarianism,” said former lawmaker Elias Matta. “There can’t be a communist Venezuela, and that’s why our society is reacting this way.”

Is it just me or is this starting to look scary? I mean we speak in jest about Chavez on this blog, but as the possibility of him being able to govern for the rest of his days approaches, I’m getting a little worried. And I don’t mean for U.S. concerns but for the Venezuelan people. It seems that the country is at odds with itself over this president, which is, in my humble opinion, a recipe for disaster. Chavez’s ex-wife had something to say about that same topic:

Chavez’s ex-wife, a critic of his administration, said the political strife in Venezuela has turned it in to “time-bomb,” given the polarization and the amount of guns on the streets.

“The gun powder is spread, and all it needs is a detonator,” said Marisabel Rodriguez in comments to Colombia’s Caracol Radio, who worried that any “nonsense” by the opposition or the government could set off a wave of violence.

And to any normal person, why would having someone in power “indefinitely” seem like a good idea? I’m not talking about Chavez in particular (I trust Venezuelans know what’s good for their own country) but just anybody. We can barely deal with 4 years here and in Mexico 6 years seems like an eternity when you get a bad egg. But the idea has its supporters. In fact, as I write this, thousands of Chavez supporters are gathered in Caracas’ Avenida Bolivar in a counter-protest which they say will outnumber yesterday’s gathering.

Check out photos of both gatherings on Flickr.

Via / LA Times and El Universal