www.reformer.com88621143873,00.html Article Last Updated: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 7:58:49 AM MST

By MICHAEL NEARY Reformer Staff

BRATTLEBORO -- Colombian union leader Hector Giraldo described a Colombia he said was invisible to the American media Tuesday night. He depicted a paramilitary that executes union workers at will -- even after they have already resigned. Giraldo, a member of Central Unitaria Trabajadores (CUT), spoke at the School for International Training.

Speaking through an interpreter, Giraldo said he began his union work in 1980, at a time when "there were still some protections for your right to unionize and organize." He said the situation degenerated in subsequent years, reaching a crisis stage in 1995 when current president Alvaro Uribe, as governor of Antioquia, cracked down on the labor movement.

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Giraldo said Uribe's "policy was to exterminate the unions and do away with collective bargaining." He said union members were ordered to resign and executed if they did not quit by an appointed time. One man, he said, was killed even after he stepped down because his letter of resignation was unacceptable to the paramilitary.

Contending that U.S. tax dollars funded such executions, Giraldo posited a connection between the military -- a recipient of U.S. money targeted to the "War on Drugs" -- and the paramilitary. He condemned "Plan Columbia," a program begun under the Clinton administration and continued under Bush that funds Colombian military exploits.

"If (U.S.) tax dollars go to Colombia," he said, "they should go for health care ... not helicopters and rifles."

Giraldo also described a U.S.-backed policy of fumigation, in which the Colombian government attempted to destroy 350,000 hectares (864,500 acres) of cocoa leaves -- integral to the manufacture of cocaine -- and ended up, he said, contaminating corn, bananas, water and other natural resources. He said that the exercise, conducted from the air, also seeped into school rooms and produced diarrhea, nausea, headaches and skin rashes among the students.

Giraldo praised what he called "sistering relationships" between community and labor groups in the United States and Cuba. He cited Jobs for Justice and Communication Workers for America as two such groups in the United States.

During the question-and-answer session, one member of the audience expanded the discussion to Venezuela, explaining that she was worried about the negative media coverage received by President Hugo Chavez in the United States. Giraldo laughed slightly and said, "You should be worried." Then he offered an explanation.

"This is a country and a people trying to capture their own identity," he said. "And any country that does not get down on its knees to the United States will be attacked -- and that's why Venezuela is being attacked right now."

Giraldo continually returned to American media portraits of Colombia, asserting that newspapers and television stations depicted the country only as a land of guerrillas and terrorists. Media coverage did not, he said, include analysis of governmental corruption, ethnic discrimination and unequal distribution of wealth.

He also painted the country as one of great natural riches, including oil, gold, coffee, flowers and a biodiverse ecology. His speech was received by a standing ovation from the audience, which filled one classroom and spilled into another.

Giraldo has been in New England since the fall. He will deliver several speeches in Vermont in the next few days -- a tour sponsored by Communication Workers of America District 1 and the AFL-CIO, Vermont Workers' Center and Action for Social and Ecological Justice.

Before Giraldo's speech, local union member Steve Ward and Action for Social and Ecological Justice member Brendan O'Neill placed Giraldo's struggle in a context that included Vermont, as they discussed job loss they attributed to NAFTA, along with resistance to unions in the state.

www.forbes.com Reuters, 01.29.03, 9:03 AM ET

DALLAS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Offshore oil and gas driller Ensco International Inc. (nyse: ESV - news - people) on Wednesday reported a quarterly loss after a charge for the impairment of its business in politically torn Venezuela.

Ensco also warned of lower-than-expected profit in the 2003 first quarter.

The company, based in Dallas, reported a fourth-quarter loss of $10.7 million, or 7 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $29.9 million, or 22 cents per diluted share, a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter revenue rose to $206.8 million from $179.1 million. The 2002 fourth quarter results include a $46.1 million non-cash after-tax charge for impairment of business in Venezuela. Excluding special charges, the company earned $35.4 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, in the quarter, in line with analysts' average estimate as compiled by Thomson First Call.

The company said soft drilling demand in the Gulf of Mexico, and possibly in the North Sea, along with scheduled shipyard downtime, would likely result in first-quarter earnings per share of 16 cents to 21 cents. Analysts polled by First Call on average expected 26 cents a share.

www.newswire.ca

Renowned Metallurgist and Project Builder Will Lead Development of Cristinas Project        

TORONTO, Jan. 29 /CNW/ --

Crystallex International Corporation (Amex: KRY; TSX) announced today that Ken Thomas has agreed to join the Company as its Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2003. Mr. Thomas will direct the Company's mining operations in Venezuela and Uruguay and will be instrumental in the development, construction and operation of the Company's Las Cristinas project located in Bolivar State in Venezuela.

"Ken Thomas is one of the best process engineers in the industry and Crystallex is very fortunate to add him to our management team," said Marc J. Oppenheimer, President and CEO of Crystallex. "Ken has been recognized throughout his career for his achievements in operations management, engineering and mining technology. He brings a complete knowledge to the engineering, construction, commissioning and management of gold processing facilities, and he will play an integral role in the development of the Las Cristinas project. His leadership and management skills will be invaluable during a period of critical growth in our Company."

Mr. Thomas' mining and metallurgical skills have been recognized with a number of industry awards including the Selwyn G. Blaylock Medal, for his many achievements in the mining industry internationally and the "Mill Man of the Year" award from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. Mr. Thomas served for many years as a senior officer at Barrick Gold Corporation. From 1990-1995, he was Barrick's Senior Vice President, Metallurgy & Construction, and from 1995 until his departure from Barrick in 2001, he served as Senior Vice President, Technical Services. In April of 2001, Mr. Thomas joined Hatch and served as Global Managing Director, Mining and Mineral Processing. He is currently Managing Director for Hatch in Western Australia. Prior to joining Barrick Gold Corporation in 1987, Mr. Thomas spent ten years managing gold and copper projects for Anglo American Corporation and five years as a Design, Engineering and Commission Process Engineer with Kilborn Limited. Mr. Thomas is a professional engineer and obtained his doctorate in Technical Sciences from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. He holds numerous related degrees and accreditations.

"Ken's experience in building operations and his particular expertise in processing gold in the presence of copper are ideally suited to the Crystallex operations, both existing and planned, in Venezuela. During his tenure at Barrick, he was extensively involved in new projects in South America. He was directly responsible for the process research, engineering, construction and commissioning of the Pierina Project in Peru, upgrading of the El Indio Project in Chile and studies for the Pascua-Lama/Valedero district that straddles the Chile/Argentina border. Mr. Thomas was also extensively involved in the Goldstrike autoclave and roaster projects in Nevada," added Mr. Oppenheimer. "His addition to senior management reflects our continuing commitment to build a skilled and experienced management team at Crystallex and lay a solid foundation for our future growth."

About Crystallex
Crystallex International Corporation is a Canadian based gold producer with operations and exploration properties in Venezuela and Uruguay. Crystallex shares are traded on the TSX and AMEX Exchanges and Crystallex is part of the S&P/TSX Composite Index, the most widely followed benchmark index in Canada. Crystallex has been focused on strategic growth in South America and recently signed a definitive agreement with respect to the Las Cristinas mining properties in Venezuela and has taken possession of those properties. Crystallex is currently reviewing drill data and studies previously completed in preparation for the completion of a feasibility study to support its development plans for the properties.

To receive previous Company releases:  (800) 758-5804  ext.114620
Visit us on the Internet:  http://www.crystallex.com

Note: This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of Crystallex, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed from time to time with The Toronto Stock Exchange, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed this release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

news.ft.com By Nerma Jelacic in London Published: January 29 2003 13:16 | Last Updated: January 29 2003 14:07

Investors in gold and oil on Wednesday reacted cautiously to the overnight State of the Union address by George W Bush in which the US President continued to beat the war drum.

Mr Bush put US troops on standby in his State of the Union speech. The president of the United States accussed Saddam Hussein of showing "utter contempt" for the UN and international public opinion.

"We will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding - if Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him," Mr Bush said.

He added that his Secretary of State Colin Powell would reveal information on Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction to the UN Security Council on February 5.

"This suggests that the decision to wage war has been taken and the case is now being made," said Lawrence Eagles an analyst at GNI commodities brokerage.

Stock markets tumbled on Wednesday morning while the dollar came under further pressure with major commodites also dipping as investors waited for the US to present its case against Mr Hussein to the UN Security Council.

By midday on Wednesday the IPE Brent contract for March delivery was 34 cents lower at $29.93 a barrel, off a close of $30.27 a barrel on Tuesday.

"While we continue to feel that the US will build its case for war against Iraq over the coming weeks, the fact that Powell will present evidence on February 5 could leave the market with little more than conjecture until then," said Mr Eagles.

Investors also kept their eye on the developments in Venezuela where the general strike showed signs of ending.

But Mr Eagles said traders seemed bored with the Venezuelan issue although it seemed increasingly likely that either a deal would be reached to end the strike or production would increase further.

"Outside of Iraq the news is clearly negative, so we look for prices to decline, but do not expect a complete rout," he added.

Gold also showed a guarded reaction to developments in Iraq on Wednesday. Spot gold was trading at $369.50 an ounce in London, unchanged from the late New York fix recorded some hours before Mr Bush's speech.

"Talk of war, especially if supported by fresh intelligence on weapons of mass destruction will keep the gold price supported although the uncertainty of the timetable for military action may delay any move higher for now," said John Reade, precious metals analyst at UBS Warburg

James Moore of the BullionDesk.com said the market was looking over-bought and expected to see some consolidation.

"I think we could fall back to $364 but with the weekend aproaching I wouldn't be surprised if the highs get pushed up to $375-$380," Mr Moore said.

Earlier in the week bullion hit $372.55, its highest level for six years.

abcnews.go.com

The Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela Jan. 29 —

In 58-Day-Old Venezuela Strike, Chavez Gets Oil Production Beyond 1 Million Barrels a Day

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) President Hugo Chavez is winning the battle for control of Venezuela's oil industry, overcoming efforts by workers at the state oil company to strangle it with a 58-day-old strike.

But even as the Chavez government boosts production beyond the million-barrel benchmark, the work stoppage that also affects other industries is still having devastating effects on his the country's recession-ridden economy.

Production reached 1 million barrels per day Tuesday one-third of pre-strike levels, according to striking executives at state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. It had slipped as low as 200,000 barrels per day in December.

Output is rising because the government is focusing on newer oil fields, where crude is easier to extract. But the recovery should slow when the government is forced to reactivate old wells that have sat idle for nearly two months, making their crude sticky and difficult to pump.

"They are going for the lowest hanging fruit on the tree, the easiest to grab," said Ed Silliere, vice president of risk management at Energy Merchant LLC in New York. "In a few weeks, it is going to be a struggle."

Silliere said he expects difficulties to begin when output reaches 1.2 million to 1.4 million barrels per day.

In an effort to regain control of the oil monopoly, Chavez has sacked more than 5,000 of its 40,000 workers. State oil company executives warn the firings will make it even more difficult to reach full production capacity.

"That's what happens when unprepared personnel are put to work," Juan Fernandez, the leading spokesmen for dissident state oil workers, told a press conference.

Opposition leaders insist the strike will continue. But a public backlash over food, gasoline and medicine shortages has prompted some workers to consider easing the stoppage in certain areas.

Shopping malls, restaurants and schools may reopen next week, at least part-time, said Julio Brazon, president of the Consecomercio business chamber. Some small businesses have reopened, and others never closed.

"The lifting of the strike is not being proposed now," said Carlos Ortega, president of the nation's largest labor union. "What is being proposed are some strategies that correspond to sectors involved in the strike." He did not elaborate.

Venezuelans must wait for hours in miles-long lines outside service stations. To ease the inconvenience, the government will impose limits on daily gas sales, said Luis Vierma, director of hydrocarbons at the Energy and Mines Ministry.

Although Chavez has had some success in reviving oil production, which provides half of Venezuela's government revenue and 70 percent of export earnings, he faces a daunting task in recuperating the country's economy.

Capital flight, stalled investment and strike damage led Santander Central Hispano investment bank to forecast a 40 percent contraction in the first quarter of 2003. Unemployment stands at 17 percent.

A freeze on foreign currency sales to protect the bolivar, which has lost 25 percent of its value this year, was extended Tuesday. The bolivar traded at 2,300 to the dollar Tuesday in secondary markets between private parties, bankers said. It was 1,853 to the dollar before the suspension started last week.

Limits on the amount of foreign currency Venezuelans can buy go into effect next week. The measure has been severely criticized by executives who say it could hurt businesses that depend on U.S. dollars to import goods.

"Chavez many have the initial advantage, but over the long term, he's going to have a much more difficult path," said Steve Johnson, senior policy analyst for Latin America at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation.