-Caveat Lector- URL: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/22/1040510964488.html
Print this article | Close this window Australians join exodus from tense Venezuela December 23 2002 Fearing an outbreak of violence over dwindling petrol supplies in strike-hit Venezuela, Britain has evacuated non-essential embassy staff and Australian nationals have been warned to leave as an opposition shutdown cripples the nation's oil industry. The United States, Canada and Germany have already pulled out embassy staff. Dependents of Australian embassy staff have been authorised to leave as Venezuela's opposition presses on with the 20-day-old strike to force the leftist President, Hugo Chavez, to resign and call elections in the world's fifth-biggest oil exporting nation. Frustrations are growing three weeks into the strike, with efforts by international mediators failing to break the stalemate over Mr Chavez's rule. Hundreds of cars, buses and trucks lined up outside service stations over the weekend as drivers hunted for increasingly scarce petrol supplies. Panicky shoppers packed supermarkets to stock up on food and other basic supplies. Huge political protests, rallies and street clashes have kept tensions in Venezuela running high since April, when Mr Chavez survived a brief coup by rebel military officers. More than 60 people died in the uprising. But the strike has further stoked fears of turmoil. Opposition leaders, including political parties, unions and dissident executives at PDVSA, the state oil company, have vowed to maintain the shutdown until Mr Chavez agrees to an early vote. But the President, a former paratrooper, says the constitution allows for a referendum on his rule only in August. With political negotiations at a stalemate, the strike has essentially become a gruelling war of attrition over the oil industry, which accounts for half of government revenues. Mr Chavez has sent in troops to control petrol plants, refineries and oil tankers. But strikers have dismissed his efforts and ignored a temporary Supreme Court ruling ordering them back to work. Australian Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Agencies This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/22/ 1040510964488.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; everything sent has to stand on its own merits, not on my recommendation. Some are true, some are absurd. It's up to you to decide which is which. Yet, some truths become absurd; some adsurdities turn out to be true, unbelievably so. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." --- Ernest Hemingway <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
