EL UNIVERSAL

After a long walk across the streets of the capital city, a delegation of 10 university students succeeded in making an appeal at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) to postpone a constitutional referendum scheduled for December 2nd.

Student Yon Goicoechea, of Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB), a member of the delegation, told reporters that in this way a formal request has been made to defer the referendum. They consider that people have lacked enough time to delve into the proposed changes to the Constitution.

The appeal filed at TSJ contains a petition to secure the rights of information and political participation. Students think that Venezuelans have not taken part accordingly in the discussion. "The true participation is the equal one," they noted.

Goicoechea added that they think that the draft amendment to article 337 infringes freedom of speech and it restricts the right to information in state of emergency.

For his part, student Stalin González, of Central University of Venezuela (UCV), explained that they were asking to postpone the referendum based on a decree issued in 2000 by TSJ in the case of the "mega-elections." Therefore, they would like the high court to use the same grounds as on that occasion.

The leader considered that discussions on the proposed changes should be held by all Venezuelans, instead of a small group of deputies. He noted that during the public consultation held by the National Assembly the floor had been given in advance.