Children Posing with Assault Rifles to Support Chavez Sparks Outrage

It was a group of children, ages 3 to 7, celebrating Democracy Day in
a Venezuelan school. They sang song of the revolution, pledged support
for President Hugo Chavez and posed for photos.


But what has sparked outrage in this South American country is how
they were photographed: the baby-faced children were brandishing assault
rifles, their faced covered in revolutionary scarves. Behind them was a
mural of Jesus Christ armed with an AK-47.


The shocking pictures were posted anonymously on facebook and twitter by a group in the slum town, La Piedrita of 23 de Enero, a stronghold
of Chavez. "La Piedrita," a radical group west of Caracas, has said it
would take up arms if anyone tried to remove the president from office.
“Instead of guns, these children should have a computer, a book, a bat, a
ball a glove or a musical instrument,” said Pablo Pérez, who may run as
an opposition candidate to Chavez in October’s election, during a
campaign stop.
Even Chavez sympathizers have reacted strongly.


Tarek El-Aissami, the Venezuelan Minister of Interior and Justice who
is one of the key figures in Chavez's government, said on Venezuelan
television that the photos are “abominable and morally unacceptable.” He
has called for an investigation into the veracity of the images and
identify those who are responsible.


The Attorney General has appointed two prosecutors to look into the matter.


El Aissami said the government trying to disarm the population and make the country peaceful.
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