www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuela has fulfilled its role in the US Navy sponsored annual “Unitas” exercises.

According to news reports, the Caribbean phase of the joint exercises was carried out between the islands of Puerto Rico and Santa Lucia.

For Venezuela, Navy Ship Captain William Hernandez directed 145 seamen using two remodeled frigates, a transporter and 2 helicopters.

Most of the crews consisted of the Navy elite Francisco de Miranda Special Operations Command.

Among other countries joining the exercises were Colombia, Peru, the Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico and Argentina.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Government negotiators have sent their opposition counterparts a document proposing that President Hugo Chavez be allowed to take part in the next presidential elections should he lose the recall referendum.

• The government side claims that there is no constitutional disposition prohibiting the proposal.

First reactions have come from opposition negotiating team legal adviser, Juan Manuel Rafalli, who says the proposal contradicts popular will and the spirit of the Constituent Assembly that discussed and voted in the Constitution.

“The Constitution talks clearly in Article 233 about a new President completing the recall period and discards the possibility of the President seeking a second term.”

Opposition constitutional lawyer, Gerard Blyde contends that if the President loses the recall referendum, the Executive Vice president will take over and a new election must be called within 30 days.

Former Supreme Court of Justice (CSE) magistrate, Hildegard Rondon de Sanso says President Chavez could run for President in the 2006-2012 period but not before.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) National Assemblywoman, Marelys Perez says the government bench decided not to discuss the women’s equality draft bill yesterday in order to give the bill wider coverage and enter into a national consultation process.

“We will be discussing the draft law with women’s groups, churches, specialists, Medical Doctors Association (FMV) and Federation of Lawyers to get their views and feedback.”

Commenting that opposition Accion Democratica (AD) women have approved the draft, Perez says the idea is get the law passed at the first sitting with the widest consensus possible.

“We plan to introduce discussion of the bill at a plenary session towards the end of March.”

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

In another apparent rift in the once solid Coordinadora Democratica (CD), attention-seeking former Merida State Governor William Davila has started his very own “participative project” called La Nueva Voz de la Provincia (New Voice of the Provinces).

Davila has teamed up with another provincial kingpin, former Tachira State Governor Sergio Omar Calderon, who will be the organization’s deputy president.

Former Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president, Vicente Brito is general coordinator.

Davila says the new organization will defend and reflect the reality and problems of provincial states, even though 12 of the 24 strong board of director hail from Caracas. “We are fighting against the centralist mentality in general and not just in the Chavist structure … we want to promote participative federalism and change the existing political structure.”

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Assemblyman Alberto Jordan Hernandez has asked the House Science, Technology and Media Committee to open an investigation to find out why top bracket opposition journalist, Ibeyisse Pacheco was harassed by security forces and threatened with arrest at her work place.

“There has been no explication whatsoever … they wanted to treat her as a common criminal … the intervention of the civil sector prevented her arrest.”

Committee president and Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) leader, Juan Barreto has apparently agreed to a subcommittee investigating abuses against journalists.

“My friend and colleague, Ibeyise Pacheco has 16 charges against her in several courts for alleged professional faults, libel, altering news items … there’s an arrest warrant on her because she has failed to turn up for a court hearing.”

Barreto contends that Pacheco has abused her profession by placing herself above the law and adds that he will hand the subcommittee a report alleging that an sound explosive device that went off last year at the entrance of El Nacional broadsheet where Pacheco works was thrown from the inside. “However, that does not incriminate Pacheco but if she has nothing to hide, she shouldn’t be afraid.”