Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Pan American Health Organization and the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) place Venezuela among the top three places in its Latin America crime ratings table.

Venezuela is singled out this year not just because of the notable hike in crime rates but more so for the government’s passivity in setting up crime prevention policies. The report contrasts Venezuela with the efforts other countries have put into prevention measures aimed at lowering or controlling their crime rates.

Peru, for example has adopted a street and abandoned children policy, Colombia has its Carrot Plan cutting down on opening and closing times of nightclubs and bars. Venezuela has had 5 Interior & Justice Ministers in two years, more than 9,000 citizens were murdered last year and the authorities prefer to keep the matter of crime prevention under wraps.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Former Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) managers have held another protest outside an Embassy, this time the US Embassy where they had earlier met embassy economic adviser, Louis Anderson and handed him a document in which the group warned the USA that President Hugo Chavez Frias could not guarantee oil supplies to the USA.

Spokesman Alfredo Gomez says supplies to the USA were no problem in the past.

“The situation in PDVSA isn’t the picture the government paints … it’s not producing 3 million bpd, but more like 2.3 million and less than 100,000 bpd of gasoline … it’s not sustainable for the USA.”

The group continues to argue that inexpert workers have replaced the 16,000 dismissed employees and workers adding to the lack of guarantees of supplies.

Gomez says the group will hold similar protests outside the embassies of the Group of Friends (USA, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Spain and Portugal).

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Andres Bello Catholic University (UCAB) Electoral Observers Network (Red de Veedores) president, Ruth Capriles complains that her organization has been pushed out of the National Electoral College (CNE) applications process.

Capriles has told Globovision that the House norm does not mean that all the applications committee sessions must be behind closed doors. The rabid anti-Chavist says the National Assembly (AN) had authorized the network's participation on March 6, 2003 but has since declared house sessions private.

Ms. Capriles and her organization’s credentials as independent electoral observers have been placed in serious doubt after her public and partisan appearances at anti-government marches over the past two years.

Meanwhile, the AN applications committee has announced that it will whittle down 400 applications to 60 to avoid delaying the process further.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Ambassador Jorge Rondon left Iraq Monday evening on instructions from the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry and will remain in diplomatic service in Jordan.

Political Sciences professor and anti-government columnis, Anibal Romero claims that the attack on Iraq will affect Venezuela. Firstly, Romero contends, the USA will be seeking out outbreaks of terrorism and divert money from development projects to intelligence gathering and military objectives.

After the war oil prices will probably drop as Iraqi oil flows on to the market … “Venezuela will lose markets as other countries turn to Iraq for supplies … very ironic for Venezuela ... Chavez Frias will not to antagonize the USA since he finds himself in a weak position.”

Romero has harsh words for the French and their attitude towards the war ... “the French imperialists received Zimbabwe’s Mugabe, do business with Chavez Frias and other third world dictators … they are the principle investors in the Iraqi oil industry.”

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) general secretary, Manuel Cova, currently in Geneva at the International Labor Organization (ILO) HQ to seek support for the CTV and secure a public condemnation of the Venezuelan government, has told Union Radio that he has been exchanging views with ILO general director, Juan Somabia about the labor situation in Venezuela.”

“The general director has promised to continue supporting our struggle to make the government respect international agreements. “

Cova says he hopes the ILO will issue a statement calling on the government to reinstate dismissed oil sector workers.

As a former Construction Trade Union leader, Cova has clinched support from the International Federation of Construction & Timber Workers in the form of a resolution and a visit to Venezuela by the Federation president.

Commenting on reactions to CTV president Carlos Ortega’s asylum, Cova says there is widespread support at the ILO and people realize that it is a political ploy … “the government wants to use the Judiciary to persecute political opponents.”

In a revealing statement, Cova says many people at ILO who questioned the tight bond between the CTV and the Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) now understand things better.