www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 10, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

President Hugo Chavez Frias has condemned Colombian guerilla activity and has called upon the neighboring country's several guerrilla organizations to respect Venezuelan sovereignty and the integrity of its terrain.

Speaking during his weekly "Alo Presidente" radio show, the Venezuelan leader recalled the massacre of Carabobo when Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) launched an attack on Venezuelan soil.

"We denounce the attacks made by the ELN, now and forever, because this is a Colombian problem and not a Venezuelan one."

Foreign (MRE) Minister Roy Chaderton Matos echoed the President's words, "Venezuela has no interest in playing a role in Colombia's war, and we don't want Colombia interfering in our domestic affairs either."

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 10, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) deputy Calixto Ortega, a member of the National Assembly Energy & Mines Committee is urging rebel Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) executive Juan Fernandez to turn himself in to the police and to end his current "cowardice."

An arrest warrant was issued for Fernandez last week for his role in the opposition's national work stoppage which brought Venezuela's petroleum production to a virtual standstill.

• Fernandez addressed an opposition rally in Caracas on Saturday, but was whisked away before security police could capture the fugitive.

Ortega also denied Fernandez' claims that he was being politically persecuted, "in Venezuela there is no political persecution.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 10, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Protests that had been planned by Venezuelan opposition groups based abroad were scheduled to take place in several cities across the globe, but many saw very low turnouts, while in other cities the marches failed to materialize.

The opposition had been hoping that the international demonstrations would draw extra attention to Venezuela's political plight, but only a few marches were able to start as expected.

Around 200 people demonstrated outside the White House and around half that number in Atlanta, while protests in many European cities never got underway.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 10, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

President Hugo Chavez Frias has slammed what we claims is an international campaign being orchestrated to discredit Venezuela and warned politicians in other countries not to make themselves look foolish by believing Venezuela's opposition's attempts to bad mouth his government.

The President's comments come several days after some Venezuelan newspapers published a letter signed by seven US congressmen, which called for President Chavez Frias to properly investigate the deaths of three soldiers and a civilian woman, as well as ending the political persecution of the opposition.

"They don't know anything about this country or anything about what is currently happening here. Some lobbyists go there and write them a letter and persuade them to tell lies which make them look foolish in front of rest of the world, but everybody is free to look foolish."

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 10, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Speaking during his weekly "Alo Presidente" radio show, President Hugo Chavez Frias has announced the creation of a national rural defense force that will help farmers to defend themselves.

The Venezuelan leader called on the National Armed Forces (FAN), the police and security forces to work together and coordinate the program and train farmers to defend themselves to avoid possible massacres.

"Together we will coordinate these forces with the aim of guaranteeing the lives of farming families and avoiding massacres."

"This revolution is peaceful, but it will not allow massacres, we have to use our weapons against terrorists and assassins ... to defend the interests of the Republic and the people."