Chávez: Feb. 4, 1992 coup marked the end of a shameless system

Vice-President Nicolás Maduro on Monday delivered a speech near the presidential palace of Miraflores, downtown Caracas, on the 21st anniversary of the uprising of February 4, 1992, led by Hugo Chávez.

Maduro showed a folder containing a letter, signed by President Hugo Chávez and sent from Cuba to the people of Venezuela, to commemorate the failed coup attempt of February 4, 1992. "This is the first time that our commander is not present in the celebration of F4," said Maduro.

"As we celebrate 21 years of the civil-military rebellion, I want to address this message fervently to the Bolivarian people and the Bolivarian National Armed Force, united into one," read Maduro.

"I am deeply sorry not to be in the homeland for the first time on this bright date, but it is required by this battle that I'm fighting for my full recovery in our sister Cuba. However, my spirit and my heart are among you this day," wrote Chávez.

"People back at that time gave their lives fighting in the streets against the savage neoliberalism that Washington wanted to impose," Maduro quoted.

In his letter, Chávez claimed that both El Caracazo (the violent riots that took place on February 27-28, 1989) and February 4, 1992 "marked both the end of a system that was drowning in shamelessness and the beginning of a new era."

"Today, 21 years after the military-civilian revolt, after that decision we made with the greatest love for Venezuela (...), we live in a real country that is truly free."