AP Wire Posted on Thu, Mar. 27, 2003 CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - An opposition leader charged with treason for directing a two-month strike against President Hugo Chavez left Thursday for exile in Costa Rica.

Carlos Ortega, head of the Venezuelan Labor Confederation, was being escorted by federal police from the Costa Rican Embassy to Caracas' international airport for a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Chavez's government granted Ortega safe passage Wednesday, allowing the head of the 1 million-member federation to take advantage of a Costa Rican offer of humanitarian asylum.

Ortega, who called the strike in December trying to force Chavez's resignation and early elections, slipped into the embassy March 14 and requested political asylum after being charged with rebellion and treason. Those charges carry prison terms of up to 20 years each.

A handful of government adversaries waving Venezuelan and Costa Rican flags bid farewell to the burly, tough-talking opposition leader, one of Chavez's most outspoken critics. Ortega briefly raised his fists in a victory gesture before entering a car that sped him to the airport.

Costa Rica granted Ortega diplomatic asylum for humanitarian reasons after the labor boss expressed fears for his life.

Strike co-leader Carlos Fernandez, head of Venezuela's largest business confederation, also was charged with treason after the strike ended in February. He was placed under house arrest, but a court last week said there was insufficient evidence and ordered him freed.

Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez appealed.

The nationwide strike briefly paralyzed Venezuela's crucial oil industry, caused food and fuel shortages and cost the struggling economy at least $6 billion.

In nightly press conferences, Ortega and Fernandez demanded Chavez's resignation, saying his days in office were numbered. Chavez, elected to his current six-year term in 2000, ignored their demands to quit or call a referendum on his presidency.

Chavez's opponents accuse him of riding roughshod over the country's democratic institutions in his self-described "revolution" to help Venezuela's poor.

Chavez in turn accuses the opposition of incessantly conspiring to overthrow his elected government.

Despite dozens of marches, highway blockades, and an ambitious petition drive demanding an early vote, the strike fizzled last month.

Last week, seven former executives of the state oil monopoly emerged from hiding after a judge revoked warrants for their arrest on charges of interrupting the country's fuel supply. They were among 15,000 workers - almost half the work force at Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. - fired for striking.

The Organization of American States has mediated talks since November to find an electoral solution to the political standoff.

<a href=www.sfgate.com>Reference MARIANELA JIMENEZ, Associated Press Writer Thursday, March 27, 2003
(03-27) 19:12 PST SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) --

An opposition leader charged with treason for directing a two-month strike against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived here Thursday after being granted asylum.

Carlos Ortega immediately left for a meeting with Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar at the Foreign Ministry where he later told reporters he was "glad to be in Costa Rica" but that his exile "doesn't mean the democratic movements in Venezuela will come to an end."

Ortega, president of the million-member Venezuelan Workers Confederation, had taken refuge in the Costa Rican embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to avoid arrest stemming from his role in leading a crippling nationwide strike.

Venezuelan authorities, however, agreed Wednesday to grant Ortega safe passage out of the country.

Waving Venezuelan and Costa Rican flags, a handful of government opponents gathered outside the embassy to bid farewell to the burly, tough-talking labor boss, who raised his fists in a victory gesture before leaving for the airport escorted by heavily armed federal police.

The general strike was aimed at forcing Chavez to resign or call early elections.

Chavez has demanded 20-year prison sentences for Ortega and co-strike leader Carlos Fernandez, saying that they must be punished because the work stoppage cost Venezuela an estimated $6 billion, caused fuel and food shortages and suffering among the nation's poor majority.

Costa Rica granted Ortega asylum after he expressed fears that his life could be in danger. Tovar said his country granted Ortega asylum as "a courtesy," adding that "with this Costa Rica again meets its humanitarian obligations."

Last week, a Venezuelan appeals court ordered the release of Fernandez, who escaped charges of rebellion. Fernandez was previously held under house arrest.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

 The Finance Ministry has agreed to release 22 billion bolivares from the Macro-Economic Stabilization Fund (Fiem) to the Metropolitan Mayor's Office. 

At a meeting with Metropolitan Municipal authorities, public sector trade union, firefighters, health worker and Metropolitan Police (PM) representatives, a Ministry negotiator also promised to release (as of April 2003) resources corresponding as due to the municipality from the yearly Constitutional Situation Fund, which will go towards normalizing fortnightly salaries and other commitments to workers. 

The resources released will pay help pay two of three backlog salaries owed municipal workers. Municipal pensioners, who have not been paid since December, were unlucky and will have to wait until the Ministry issues a payment order.  Part of the 22 billion must be set aside to build up depleted hospital supplies and stock until the situation returns to normal.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The US Energy Department says Venezuelan oil imports to the USA seem to have returned to normal ... The American Petroleum Institute, on the other hand,  reports market brokers claiming that stocks have fallen from 402,000 to 271,78 Mbs, contradicting an Energy Department estimate of a 3.7 million rise to 273.9 Mbs. 

The US Energy Department report indicates that imports from Venezuela have normalized for the first time since December 6, 2002 when Petroleos de Venezuela(PDVSA) executives & managers decided to use oil production and exports as a political tool to oustthe Chavez Frias administration. 

Venezuela is currently the USA's fifth biggest supplier, moving down two places from third position which it conquered at the beginning of 2002. Imports to the USA are said to be increasing 1 million bpd (9.7 Mbs).

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

5 of 13 Venezuelan merchant navy (PDV-Marina) tankers are out of circulation ... and tankers, "Paria" and "Caura" have already lost their international classification because of lack of maintenance. 

The tanker "Inicairte" has a split in one of its cargo tanks and must be repaired before the next inspection or lose its certificate.

The "Ambrosio" also reports problems in the tanks as well as loading and unloading tubes. 

The "Moruy" has problems in its main engine preventing it from moving anchor and the "Pilin Leon" tanker, which led the merchant navy's revolt against the Venezulan government, has remained anchored for the very same reason.

All in all, it means that only 6 of 13 tankers are in any normal state for carrying cargoes of gasoline and petroleum.