www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Opposition negotiators are threatening to withdraw from the non-violence agreement that government and opposition negotiators agreed to last week, accusing President Hugo Chavez Frias of ignoring international conventions.

According to one of the negotiators, Timoteo Zambrano, the opposition will withdraw from the agreement if the international community continues to do nothing and if the government fails to comply.

"Chavez doesn't respect any international treaties or conventions," and he also questioned the role of the Organization of American States (OAS0 in the Venezuelan crisis.  The President told the international community not to interfere, but "when democracy is threatened in a country" the international community is obliged to take the necessary action."

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Colombian government spokesman Ricardo Galan has read a statement in which the Colombian government urgently calls for President Hugo Chavez Frias to collaborate in the Colombian government's fight against terrorism and guerilla groups. 

• According to the spokesman, the Colombian government still believes that rebel groups are using Venezuelan territory as a refuge where they run to to escape the Colombian army.

Venezuela's neighbor has made many similar pleas to President Chavez Frias and his government, but it appears they are now growing increasingly concerned by what they perceive as Venezuela's apparent inaction on the issue.

The Colombians are once again calling for joint coordination of activities in the clampdown against the guerillas from both sides of the border.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Senior Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) deputy Cilia Flores is questioning the decision of 49th control judge Gisela Hernandez to place Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez under house arrest, insisting the move is illegal.

However, Flores says he respects and at least partially accepts the court's decision as it charged Fernandez with treason, which if he is found guilty implies prison term of 12-24 years.

The court decided to have Fernandez placed under house arrest due to high blood pressure problems, however, according to Flores over 70% of Venezuelans suffer from hypertension, "therefore imagine how many criminals would be put under house arrest" if similar measures were applied.

Flores also called for several other opposition leaders to be arrested, including Leopoldo Lopez, Alfredo Pena Enrique Mendoza and Enrique Capriles, accusing them of continuing to conspire.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

After declaring force majeure in December which absolved Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) of its contractual obligations to export oil due to unforeseen circumstances, Energy & Mines (MEM) Minister Rafael Ramirez says the company is lifting force majeure on some crudes.

"Some force majeures on some specific crudes have been lifted." However, the minister did not comment on which types of crude were to resume normal export levels.

• Sources quoted by Reuters claim the crudes involved are of the light variety and from the eastern area of Venezuela.

Production levels in the east have been restored much more quickly than those in the west as they are newer and therefore less difficult to return to production.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

President Hugo Chavez Frias has been slammed by the US following recent comments which the US sees as "inflammatory" after a US State Department spokesman claimed that the President's aggressive rhetoric may possibly be contributing to violence between government and opposition supporters. "Inflammatory comments such as those being attributed to President Chavez are not helpful in advancing the dialogue between the government of Venezuela and the opposition ... we are concerned that heightened political rhetoric has contributed unnecessarily to some of the recent violence in Caracas."

"What we remain concerned about is the government's rhetoric and some of the actions that have been undermining the dialogue process ... we would note that according to the Venezuelan Constitution the judiciary, not the President, decides what charges to bring in criminal cases."

This follows comments by the President that there must be an offensive against the terrorists and that Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) and Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) presidents Carlos Fernandez and Carlos Ortega should be imprisoned for twenty years each.