www.alertnet.org 19 Mar 2003 21:36

CARACAS, Venezuela, March 19 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Venezuelan Catholics are flocking to a small chapel in Caracas where they say a Virgin Mary statue has been weeping tears of blood as a peaceful message against a looming U.S.-led war with Iraq.

Worshipers have lined up to catch a glimpse of the small Mary Mystic Rose statue at Belen College in eastern Caracas. Tracks of red stains mark the cheeks of the blue-eyed statue, which resides in an ornate wood-and-glass case inside the school's chapel.

Workers at the school run by nuns said the statue had bled from its eyes since Monday morning and again more heavily Wednesday in what they saw as a message of peace.

"They started oozing blood all at once. It was really an amazing sight," said Sister Maritza, who is a member of the Servants of Jesus religious order at the college. "We cannot guess at the plans of God, but obviously it is a call to avoid a war."

She said the statue had arrived in Venezuela from Germany about three years ago and had been carried in processions throughout the predominantly Catholic South American nation.

Political notes Wednesday, March 19, 2003

..................................

Frank criticizes Venezuelan government

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., released a letter from seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez concerning recent events in Venezuela that seem to threaten the democratic rights of the president's opponents.

In their letter, the lawmakers told Chavez that, although they had written to President Bush last year objecting to the U.S. administration's reticence when the democratically-elected government of Venezuela was threatened by a coup, they are now concerned over undemocratic actions by the Chavez government.

The letter states, in part, "Our objection to any American action that would ignore the results of the last Venezuelan election should not be construed in any way as indifference to the importance in a democracy of respect for the untrammeled rights of a vigorous opposition, and we must tell you that we are concerned that recent events in Venezuela call into question that respect."........................

www.belleville.com Posted on Wed, Mar. 19, 2003
CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez is using currency controls to limit press freedom by denying Venezuelan newspapers the dollars needed to import newsprint, a newspaper director said Wednesday.

Nationwide newsprint stocks are down to one month's supply, said Miguel Otero, director of Caracas' El Nacional.

"Nobody knows how the newspapers are going to operate after April," Otero said. "The government wants to silence us."

Chavez accuses Venezuela's news media of conspiring to overthrow his leftist government. Many newspapers endorsed a recent, failed two-month general strike to demand early presidential elections. Chavez's term ends in 2007.

Chavez suspended dollar sales to businesses and citizens Jan. 22 to stem a rapid devaluation of the bolivar currency and capital flight.

The government published a list this week of 6,000 imported items, such as medicine and food, that will be eligible for private dollar purchases at a date to be announced. Newsprint is not on the list, although the government says it may be in the future.

"This is undoubtedly an attempt against freedom of expression. It's becoming a government policy," Otero said.

The bolivar lost a quarter of its value against the dollar this year before currency sales were halted.

ON THE NET Venezuelan Currency Administration Committee: www.cadivi.gov.ve