Some Chavez foes boycott process

[Judi Lynn]

Some Chavez foes boycott process
By Christopher Toothaker
ASSOCIATED PRESS

3:23 p.m. August 2, 2006

CARACAS, Venezuela – Before any opposition candidate can challenge Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the ballot box in December, they must overcome a common obstacle: each other.

Eight opposition contenders plan to participate in an Aug. 13 primary election, convinced that Chavez can be beaten only if they unite behind a single candidate.
But at least three other Chavez opponents are sitting out the primary – the latest sign of disunity in a political opposition plagued with divisions.

One of the main candidates, Teodoro Petkoff, has said he'll boycott the primary because he disapproves of the “authoritarian” way the organizing group Sumate gave candidates an “ultimatum” to participate or not.
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060802-1523-venezuela-problematicprimary.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Sumate: dissenting candidates did sign primaries agreement

Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Bylined to: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Sumate: dissenting candidates did sign primaries agreement

VHeadline.com News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue writes: Venezuela's shadow electoral council, Sumate has announced that it will start preparing for opposition primaries to choose a unitary candidate as soon as this week.

Sumate, whose ultimatum last week rocked the opposition forcing candidates to take a stand for or against the process, says it is talking to candidates who have enrolled in the process to clear up PR details before take-off.

Sumate's Roberto Abdul has attacked candidates who have dropped out of the primaries process ... "we cannot force anyone to withdraw ... I believe that those who have decided for another method of reaching consensus must explain their reasons to the country."
Abdul recalls that all the candidates, including the Big Three (Teodoro Petkoff, Manuel Rosales and Julio Borges), had signed an agreement with Sumate and made a commitment to take part in the process.
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http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=63201

[David__77]

2. SUMATE is a criminal organization.

It illegally is funded from abroad. It should be dissolved immediately.