The Silence and the Scorpion: The Coup Against Chavez and the Making of Modern Venezuela

About this book

On April 11 2002 nearly a million Venezuelans marched on the presidential palace to demand the resignation of President Hugo Chavez. Led by Pedro Carmona and Carlos Ortega the opposition represented a cross-section of society furious with Chavezs economic policies specifically his mishandling of the Venezuelan oil industry. But as the day progressed the march turned violent sparking a military revolt that led to the temporary ousting of Chavez. Over the ensuing turbulent seventy-two hours Venezuelans would confront the deep divisions within their society and ultimately decide the best course for their country and its oilin the new century. An exemplary piece of narrative journalism The Silence and the Scorpion provides rich insight into the complexities of modern Venezuela.