00:48Venezuela: Chavez pilgrims flock to Caracas shrine
Venezuela: Chavez pilgrims flock to Caracas shrine
Crowds of dedicated supporters of Hugo Chavez have descended on a Caracas military fort where the late Venezuelan President's sarcophagus lies, transforming the military barracks into a pilgrimage site. Every day over 1,000 pilgrims trek to a shrine inside the 4F fort where Chavez lay in state for 10 days following his death.
Located atop a hill overlooking the '23 de Enero' neighbourhood, the barracks, which already housed a museum for Chavez's failed 1992 coup, serve as a shrine for the former Venezuelan president who died on March 5. The name 4F refers to the starting date of the 1992 attempted coup, February 4, which saw Chavez imprisoned until March 26, 1994.
The '23 de Enero' neighbourhood is a well-known Caracas stronghold of Chavez support. It is the base of several autonomous revolutionary groups known as colectivos. The groups have repeatedly stated that they pledge to defend the continued Bolivarian Revolution.
Socialist presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro has likened Chavez to Jesus Christ the Redeemer on several occasions, calling on Chavistas to pray to the late leader. Maduro refers to himself as an apostle of Chavez, and recently told supports that he has been blessed by Chavez's spirit in the form of a small bird.
Formerly a bus driver, 50-year-old Maduro was named as Chavez's heir in December of 2012, ahead of his death on March 5, 2013. Maduro held the Foreign Minister and Vice-Presidential positions during Chavez's time in power.
Maduro is in the lead against rival Henrique Capriles according to opinion polls released Monday by private group Datanalisis. 50.2% of those polled say they would vote for acting President Maduro in upcoming elections on April 14, compared to 32.4% for Capriles.
00:48NONE
Venezuela: Chavez pilgrims flock to Caracas shrine
Crowds of dedicated supporters of Hugo Chavez have descended on a Caracas military fort where the late Venezuelan President's sarcophagus lies, transforming the military barracks into a pilgrimage site. Every day over 1,000 pilgrims trek to a shrine inside the 4F fort where Chavez lay in state for 10 days following his death.
Located atop a hill overlooking the '23 de Enero' neighbourhood, the barracks, which already housed a museum for Chavez's failed 1992 coup, serve as a shrine for the former Venezuelan president who died on March 5. The name 4F refers to the starting date of the 1992 attempted coup, February 4, which saw Chavez imprisoned until March 26, 1994.
The '23 de Enero' neighbourhood is a well-known Caracas stronghold of Chavez support. It is the base of several autonomous revolutionary groups known as colectivos. The groups have repeatedly stated that they pledge to defend the continued Bolivarian Revolution.
Socialist presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro has likened Chavez to Jesus Christ the Redeemer on several occasions, calling on Chavistas to pray to the late leader. Maduro refers to himself as an apostle of Chavez, and recently told supports that he has been blessed by Chavez's spirit in the form of a small bird.
Formerly a bus driver, 50-year-old Maduro was named as Chavez's heir in December of 2012, ahead of his death on March 5, 2013. Maduro held the Foreign Minister and Vice-Presidential positions during Chavez's time in power.
Maduro is in the lead against rival Henrique Capriles according to opinion polls released Monday by private group Datanalisis. 50.2% of those polled say they would vote for acting President Maduro in upcoming elections on April 14, compared to 32.4% for Capriles.