www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Chavez Frias says the arrest of Carlos Fernandez shows that nobody in Venezuela is above the law … “the oligarchs think they are untouchable here in Venezuela but a criminal is a criminal whatever his name may be … we are all equal before God and the law.”

Speaking to supporters in Trujillo, Chavez Frias let loose on the opposition media … “they claim the gentleman was taken hostage … No, sir, he’s in prison … some are now telling us that his human rights are being violated ... they are violating the People’s human rights … justice has to reign in Venezuela.”

Fernandez and Ortega are criminals, Chavez Frias told the crowd, and should get 20 years imprisonment for the damage they caused the National … "the April 11 coup, oil sabotage, damage against Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and all the terror they have unleashed on Venezuela.”

“They say they are innocent, well, let them defend themselves, and go and tell a judge how they called on people thousands of times to commit crime, why they ordered the sabotage of the oil company, why they ordered the blockade of highways … they have all their rights intact and the right to defense.”

President Chavez Frias has reiterated that there will be no more privileges for businessmen … “those were other times when well-heeled rich men could do what they liked against the poor, peasants and nobody could mess with them … it’s over for ever!”

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Former Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) leader and current Union Party president, Hugo D’Paola says the message that the opposition must spread abroad is that Venezuela is "living a dictatorship."

Reacting to the arrest of Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president, Carlos Fernandez, D’Paola has hit out against Union Party founder, Lt. Colonel (ret.) Francisco Arias Cardenas and suggests that he may not be allowed back into the party.

“His attitudes have damaged the opposition because he has constantly criticized opposition groups for the current situation in the country.”

D’Paola says President Chavez Frias' former comrade-in-arms has not been attending party duties because of medical permission and may not be allowed back … “he must assume a more active and aggressive position against the administration if he wants in.”

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) president Monsignor Baltazar Porras says Venezuela’s legal organs have been taken hostage to serve very concrete instances. Obviously referring to the arrest of leading opposition figure, Carlos Fernandez, Porras maintains that Venezuela’s institutionality is deteriorating rapidly and the government is becoming more arbitrary in legal procedures.

• Porras accuses the Attorney General and Ombudsman's Offices of covering up for the government.

The prelate attacks the government for rushing on this case, despite the accumulation of piles of pending cases that have been gathjering dust.

"The current climate in Venezuela will deepen the conflict and the separation of political actors … democracy cannot be built excluding others … what it’s doing is speeding up the process of institutional deterioration.”

The Archbishop questions the President’s language, which, he insists, seeks confrontation and warns that the arrest has turned the government-opposition negotiating non-aggression pact into a cartoon.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Socialist Causa R chief, Andres Velasquez has come out in defense of Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez issuing his now famous phrase … “something must done!”  Former Sutiss union leader, Velasquez calls the arrest a sign of “impunity that reigns in Venezuela, an outrage, abuse of authority and arbitrary.”

“Workers, housewives and the unemployed must take to the streets to fight for liberty, democracy and the rule of law … print & broadcast media must maintain the same editorial line.”

Although the Control judge for Fernandez' trial has been changed, the angry Assemblyman accuses the government of trying to hoodwink the system by placing a ”complacent” judge as prosecutor, the same judge who acted as the defense council for Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) gunmen accused of shooting civilians on April 11.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

An attack on Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA-West) HQ (Zulia) at 3.00 a.m. has left 2 wounded after unknown assailants lobbed a hand grenade and fired shots against the building from a passing car.

• Richard Ramos (34) was hit in the leg and Enio Colina rushed to the emergency room with a bullet in the neck.

First reports indicated that surgeons were unable to remove the bullet.

The two men are described as "volunteers," who joined the company two months ago during the national stoppage.

The National Guard (GN) is currently guarding the installations, while the Police Detective Branch (CICPC) experts examine the 11 bullet impacts on the building and offices and attempt to identify the attackers.