http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gpFA96AAdbaaeuduIgMvYvSUupnQChavez threatens to seize firms from antagonistic business leaders2 hours ago
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez warned Monday that he could to strip members of the country's largest business chamber of their assets if they continue to rally Venezuelans against his pending constitutional reform.
Fedecamaras, which counts thousands of large and small businesses among its members, rejected Chavez's constitutional overhaul as an "illegal act" in mid-November, and has since called on Venezuelans to oppose its passage in a Dec. 2 referendum "by every possible legal means."
"When I saw and heard the president of Fedecamaras practically threatening us, that they'd do everything they have to do to avoid the reform's approval - well buddy, if you want to, go ahead, because I'm going to take away every business you have," Chavez said in a televised speech.
Chavez accuses the business chamber of helping to orchestrate a 2002 coup that ousted him from office for two days - during which time Fedecamaras' then-president Pedro Carmona headed the country's interim government.
"I want to remind everyone that the Hugo Chavez of 2002 is history," Chavez said. "I'm not going to permit what happened then to happen again, so if Fedecamaras wants to challenge the country, go ahead."
Chavez is campaigning to change 69 articles of the country's 1999 constitution, to allow for his indefinite re-election and create new classes of communal property, among other things.
Human rights groups, the Catholic Church and other opponents warn the revisions will concentrate power in Chavez's hands - charges that government allies dismiss as rhetoric from an economic elite afraid to lose privileges as the country moves toward socialism.
It was unclear how Chavez's threats might play out. Fedecamaras' leaders are among critics who say they fear private property rights could suffer under the constitutional changes. Chavez says private property and private enterprise would be respected.
