Venezuelan Student Leaders to Hold National Debate on Saturday

CARACAS.— Students from across Venezuela are holding a national debate on February 6 at the Universidad Experimental de la Fuerza Armada (UNEFA) in the city of Chuao with the participation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

The national leader of the youth wing of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (JPSUV), Héctor Rodríguez, said that the meeting will include the participation of 300 high school level student leaders, 300 student leaders from technical institutes and colleges, 300 student leaders from experimental universities, and 300 from the autonomous universities.

Rodríguez also announced that on Sunday students will take the streets nationwide as part of the campaign to change incandescent bulbs for energy saving ones.

The student gathering comes as an alternative to the recent violence promulgated by students at the private universities and high schools, and prior to the celebration of the National Youth Day, next week.

On Thursday, thousands of young students joined farmers and workers in a march to celebrate the February 4, 1992 civil-military rebellion, now known as National Dignity day.

Hugo Chávez addressed the masses speaking about recent violent demonstrations in Caracas staged by the empire to try to topple the Revolutionary Government and led by opposition groups at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and other private schools.