Chavez, Meet the Students

Chavez rules Venezuela’s congress, courts and army, but students like Stalin are blocking his way. That would be Ivan Stalin González—an undergrad who helped corral thousands to march against Chavez in recent weeks. Chavez has labeled the kids “terrorists,” but Stalin, as he likes to be called, says he's just another scruffy lefty student who slams Chavez's socialism.

The prez has reason to worry, the Wall Street Journal reports. Students have long rocked Latin American politics, and recently showed their ire by tossing bombs and trading gunfire over Chavez policies. They oppose the prez for clamping down on freedoms, they say. "Historically, students have represented the hope and conscience of Venezuela," young Stalin said. (More Hugo Chavez stories.)