AFP and Reuters. 2 February 2003. Venezuelan opposition officially ends general strike; Venezuela's Chavez Says Strike Dead.
CARACAS -- The Venezuelan opposition late Sunday officially declared an end to a 63-day general strike that has paralyzed the country's economy and reduced its oil exports to a trickle. But the opposition pointed out that its struggle against the government of populist President Hugo Chavez was just entering a "new phase." "The Democratic Coordinating Committee announced that tonight we are entering a long-expected and more trying new phase in our struggle," said opposition spokesman Timoteo Zambrano. He said although the strike was ending, the protesters will not abandon thousands of employees of Petroleos de Venezuela, the state-run oil company, who have been dismissed by the Chavez government. "Our struggle will now assume new forms, and we will pursue our goals at the negotiation table," Zambrano pointed out. Chavez earlier declared victory and demanded punishment for its organizers. Although state oil firm employees are maintaining their stoppage in the vital petroleum industry, a confident Chavez announced that oil production was fast approaching 2 million barrels per day (bpd), around two thirds of pre-strike levels. "There is no strike here. We faced a terrorist coup plan and we've already defeated it," left-wing former paratrooper Chavez said in a broadcast on state radio and television. Nine weeks into the grueling strike that has battered the economy but failed to budge him, Chavez called on opposition leaders to abandon their efforts to oust him. "You've been defeated, recognize it," he said. The president said his government had scored a "popular victory" over his opponents, whom he called "terrorists." "I demand in the name of the people the application of implacable justice against the traitors of the nation," he said, speaking on his weekly radio and television show, "Hello President." The outspoken president condemns his striking foes as a rich, resentful elite trying to topple him because their privileges are threatened. ------------------------------------------- Macdonald Stainsby http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international -- In the contradiction lies the hope. --Bertholt Brecht _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
