Opposition leaders accuse Chavez of inciting violence against opponents

CARACAS, Venezuela - Opponents of President Hugo Chavez accused the embattled leader of promoting political violence after opposition-led marches in several cities were attacked by radical government supporters.

"It's the leader of the country who is provoking this violence," said Carlos Ortega, president of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, the nation's largest and most powerful trade union.

"If we live in democracy, why don't you allow the public to march peacefully?" added Ortega.

Government supporters attacked anti-Chavez marchers in Caracas and outside oil facilities around the country, the latest incidents of political violence in this crisis-stricken South American country of 24 million.

"Chavistas," as the president's backers are called, attacked a rally outside a refinery in Cardon, 270 miles (434 kilometers) east of Caracas, wounding a 40-year-old worker and a 28-year-old demonstrator, said Luis Arends, a civil defense worker.

In Caracas, gunmen fired several shots and threw tear gas at an opposition rally. No one was hurt, and the rally resumed. There were no arrests.

Chavez supporters armed with machetes and sticks also prevented a demonstration at an oil facility in central Carabobo state, Globovision television reported. A minor clash occurred at a plant in Barinas state.

Chavez, a leftist former paratroop commander who was elected in 1998 and re-elected two years later, denies he is fomenting escalating violence. Chavez opponents claim the president's fiery rhetoric incites violent reactions from his most radical backers.

In January 2002, four supporters of Chavez's ruling party were slain in western Zulia state. Nineteen died last year on April 11, when rival marches clashed in downtown Caracas. The bloodshed spurred a coup and Chavez's brief ouster. Loyalists in the military returned him to power on April 14.

Three more citizens were killed, presumably by a lone gunman, at an opposition rallying point on Nov. 6, and two government supporters died of gunshot wounds at a street march last Friday.

Thursday's aggressions occurred as thousands of Venezuelan bank workers stayed home to support a nationwide strike seeking new presidential elections, further weakening the currency as analysts speculate that Chavez's government is running out of money.

The nationwide strike that began Dec. 2 has shut thousands of businesses and brought Venezuela's vital oil industry — once the world's fifth-largest exporter — to a virtual halt. Gas has been imported.

Amid fears of a banking crisis, Venezuelans bought U.S. dollars and sent the bolivar currency to a record low of 1,593 to the dollar — 5 percent weaker than Wednesday and down 12 percent for the year.

Analysts speculated Chavez's government may have to devalue the bolivar to balance its budget. Most government income is in dollars and a weaker bolivar would increase its domestic spending power.

Spokesmen at three of Venezuela's largest banks — Banco de Venezuela, Banco Provincial and Banesco — said 80 percent of the country's nearly 60,000 bank employees stayed home Thursday.

Jose Torres, president of the opposition-aligned Fetrabanca workers union, urged employees to provide only minimal services — such as processing payments for medical emergencies — Thursday and Friday.

But Luis Boris, secretary general of the pro-government bank workers union Sutrabanca, accused bank owners of closing doors without consulting workers.

A nonbinding referendum on Chavez's rule is scheduled for Feb. 2. Chavez insists the constitution only requires him to respect a possible recall referendum in August, the midpoint of his six-year term.

Strike organizers — including leaders of the nation's largest trade union, its business chamber and the state-run oil company — claim their protest is as strong as ever. Many factories, industrial parks and supermarkets remained closed.

But there were signs many are tiring of the strike. There was more traffic on streets and sidewalks and in shops, restaurants and markets.

Efforts by Chavez to jump-start operations at Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., or PDVSA, have been partially successful.

Crude output is estimated at about 400,000 barrels a day, compared with the pre-strike level of 3 million barrels. Exports, normally 2.5 million barrels a day, are at 500,000 barrels a day.

Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez claimed PDVSA will produce 1.5 million barrels a day by next week and will reach full capacity next month. Dissident PDVSA workers doubt production can reach those levels so soon.

Houston Chronicle 01-10-03 - Pump prices poised to head higher - Normal oil flow months away*** The Energy Department in a report forecast that gasoline prices nationwide would increase to an average of $1.54 a gallon this spring, about 10 cents a gallon higher than this week's average, because of rising crude prices and the disruption of oil exports from Venezuela.

In Houston on Thursday, the average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline was $1.427, according to AAA. The price a month ago was $1.330, and a year ago it was $1.041. The highest recorded price in Houston came on May 12, 2001, at $1.639.

The forecast also said steeper price spikes are likely in some areas because of the supply cuts from Venezuela, where oil production has been virtually shut down for a month. The Energy Information Administration report said Venezuelan production almost certainly will continue to be below normal levels into late spring, even if the country's political crisis is resolved in the next few months. It would likely take four months to return to full production after the turmoil subsides, the analysis said. Last year, Venezuela shipped about 1.5 million barrels a day of crude and refined gasoline into the United States, about 13 percent of U.S. imports. Its refineries, now largely shut down, also are a major source of U.S. gasoline imports.***

A volunteer changes the number of the countdown to the nonbinding referendum on a billboard in a highway in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan 9, 2003. Strike leaders are calling for a Feb. 2 nonbinding referendum on President Hugo Chavez's rule and want him to schedule elections in 30 days if he loses the referendum.At the white banner reads 'Binding and definite referendum'.(AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

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This came in last night from one contact there at http://www.militaresdemocraticos.com

"Chavez supporters ransack opponents' houses under complacent eye of Nat'l Guard. Right now (8:30 pm local time) in Campo Verde, a company-town style community of PDVSA owned housing has been invaded by Chavez supporters from Maracaibo; not oil workers and not Campo Verde residents. They are currently in the process of looting these midlevel managers' houses. Guardia Nacional is present, but is not acting. This is happening under the complacent eyes of the Guardia Nacional. We have received calls in the Plaza Altamira urging us to have our followers in Maracaibo act, but we are not prepared to do so, as it would mean an escalation into armed conflict. Earlier today, the medical clinic in Tijuana was destroyed in its entirety, and the wounded from today's marches could not be treated but had to be taken to Maracaibo, Zulia for first aid and emergency room treatment."

AP coverage: Chavez threatens to seize food production plants, fires oil workers*** Chavez also threatened to maintain a military seizure of the independent Caracas police force — even though the Supreme Court ordered the government last month to restore the department's autonomy. Troops seized the force in November. Chavez accuses police — who report to an opposition mayor — of brutally repressing his supporters during protests and allegedly killing two supporters Jan. 3. Police say Chavez street thugs instigate the violence. The police "will stay under (military) seizure," Chavez said, "because there are groups of assassins — truly subversive groups — that break the law with a police uniform and weapons. That must not be allowed."

He spoke as thousands of opponents staged protests across the country in support of a bank strike that prompted authorities to suspend dollar auctions for a second straight day after Venezuela's currency fell. On the Caribbean island of Margarita, police used tear gas to disperse protesters demanding that local businesses close. Several children at a nearby daycare were hospitalized for asphyxiation. Police told the state news agency, Venpres, that they used the gas to prevent marchers from colliding with pro-government protesters.***

Venezuela marches continue as street conflicts persist***On Thursday, government supporters attacked anti-Chavez marches in Caracas and outside oil facilities around the country, the latest incidents of political violence in this crisis-stricken South American country of 24 million. "Chavistas," as the president's backers are called, attacked a rally outside a refinery in Cardon, 270 miles (435 kilometers) east of Caracas, wounding a 40-year-old worker and a 28-year-old demonstrator, said Luis Arends, a civil defense worker.

In Caracas, gunfire erupted at an opposition rally. No one was hurt, and the rally resumed. There were no arrests. Chavez supporters armed with machetes and sticks also prevented a demonstration at an oil facility in central Carabobo state, Globovision television reported. A minor clash occurred at a plant in Barinas state. Chavez opponents claim the president's fiery rhetoric incites violent reactions from his most radical backers.***

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