Venezuela Court: Rebel Tanker Capt Committed No Crime -TV

yahoo.com ^ | Fri Dec 13, 4:58 PM ET | Dow Jones

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- A Venezuelan court freed the captain of a domestic fuel transport tanker that anchored last week in support of a strike against President Hugo Chavez's leadership, local Globovision television reported on its Web site Friday.

The judge said Atilio Bermudez had committed no crime when he stopped the Yavire, which was on its way to deliver a natural gas shipment, according to the report.

Bermudez couldn't be reached for comment.

As reported, Venezuelan navy personnel boarded the Yavire at gunpoint and took Bermudez into custody almost a week after the vessel had anchored.
Atilio Bermudez, captain of the oil tanker Yavire, is seen after being arrested by Navy officers and transported in a car to Navy headquarters in eastern Puerto la Cruz, about 186 miles (300 kilometers) from Caracas, Venezuela Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002. Venezuelan navy troops seized two oil tankers from strikers Wednesday as deeply divided Venezuelans took to the streets both to protest and to search for cash and food as a strike aimed at ousting President Hugo Chavez expands.(AP Photo/Juan Carlos Hernandez)

Officials were expected to replace Bermudez with the intention of putting the tanker back on its fuel delivery routes, but the vessel was still in place at the time of the report.

The Yavire is among several government-owned fuel transport vessels that joined the strike along with ground shippers and refinery workers, all of whom have contributed to the country's gasoline shortage that the government is trying to alleviate.

***The crew of oil tanker Pilin Leon raise their hands to the press in Maracaibo Lake in western Venezuela, Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, on the 12th day of a general strike seeking the ouster of President Hugo Chavez. The crew on the Pilin dropped anchor on Dec. 4 in support of the indefinite general nationwide strike in protest against Chavez. The captain of Pilin Leon, Daniel Alfaro, is sixth from the right in back. (AP Photo/David Nava)

President Hugo Chavez has said he'll replace striking workers with military personnel in a bid to get the country back to normal after the strike. In its 12th day Friday, the strike has paralyzed the vital oil industry, among many other critical sectors.

Opposition leaders launched the strike Dec. 2 to force the government into accepting an immediate nonbinding referendum on President Hugo Chavez's leadership. After three protesters were killed by gunmen at an opposition rally Friday, strike leaders demanded Chavez resign immediately and call elections.

Chavez has thus far maintained the constitution only requires him to accept the results of a possible recall referendum next August, the midpoint of his term. But his representatives have begun talking about elections the opposition wants by the first quarter of next year.

Chavez's critics blame his left-leaning policies for country's deepening economic crisis with a 6.4% contraction in the first nine months of this year, 17% unemployment, and 30% annualized inflation sparked by a nearly 50% devaluation of the bolivar ($1=VEB1294.50) earlier this year. The currency has strengthened a bit since then mostly due to central bank efforts.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

Opposition demonstratorsmarch through the city of Maracaibo in western Venezuela, Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, on the 12th day of a general strike seeking the ouster of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch)

Members of the opposition march in protest near of Petroleos de Venezuela SA offices building in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Dec. 13, 2002. Opposition protesters were back on the streets, the 12th day of the crippling general strike they launched in a bid to oust President Hugo Chavez. (AP Photo/Howard Yanes)

[Free the USA]

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[cocopuff]

Thanks for the post. I am Venezuelan and this is one of the very few honest judges-that Captain got lucky!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you for the information. When you can, add more details as this progresses.