Chavez flies to Brazil for talks; defends raids on bottling plants

www.cbc.ca 05:53 PM EST Jan 18

CARACAS (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez justified military raids on two bottling plants to seize beverages to stave off shortages caused by the weeks-old general strike, saying Saturday the companies were depriving citizens of basic necessities. "Those that are hoarding food will have to be raided," Chavez said in a telephone interview from Brazil broadcast on Venezuelan state television. "The private companies  . . . are violating Venezuelans' rights."

Chavez arrived in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, early Saturday to discuss the Group of Friends of Venezuela initiative with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Brazil, United States, Mexico, Chile, Portugal and Spain form part of the group set up to help solve Venezuela's ongoing political crisis.

Chavez favours also including France, China and Russia in the group.

The strike, called Dec. 2 by opposition groups to force Chavez from office, has caused severe food and fuel shortages throughout this oil-rich yet poverty-stricken country of 24 million.

Fighting their way through protesters, Venezuelan troops raided a Coca-Cola bottling plant Friday and seized soda, bottled water and other drinks.

"Taking into account that collective rights preside over personal rights, we are proceeding to distribute these products to the population," said National Guard Gen. Felipe Acosta, a close ally of Chavez.

"It's for the people," Acosta said, and grabbed a malt drink. He drank it and belched loudly in front of television cameras.

The National Guard used tear gas to push through protesters who grappled with soldiers outside the plant.

One soldier grabbed a woman by the hair and threw her backward onto the street. Another protester grabbed a National Guardsman by the lapels as other soldiers tried to pull her away.

Troops cut through chains at the gate and drove away Coca-Cola trucks filled with drinks as a protester shouted, "Thieves! Thieves!"

The soldiers also raided a plant owned by Polar, the country's largest brewer and food producer. Both plants are in Valencia, 105 kilometres west of Caracas.

The action outraged business owners and the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or VenAmCham.

"VenAmCham denounces the abuse of power  . . . violation of (the company's) property, intimidation of its employees, and removal of its goods without due process," the group said in a statement.

In December, Chavez issued a presidential decree authorizing the military to "temporarily" confiscate private property to guarantee the distribution of basic food staples. He had warned food producers he would send soldiers to raid plants and warehouses hoarding supplies.

Polar and Panamco, the owner of the Coca-Cola plant, claim they haven't been able to distribute products due to fuel shortages and worker absences.

Opposition leaders said the raids set a dangerous precedent.

"There are private property rights here, rights of all Venezuelans and we will not permit them to be violated," said opposition leader Rafael Alfonzo.

The strike has hobbled Venezuela's oil industry, the world's fifth largest exporter, and cost the country at least $4 billion US. Chavez insisted his government was reviving production at the state-owned oil monopoly, although the Paris-based International Energy Agency said it could take months before Venezuela returns to its pre-strike production.

Speaking to legislators in Congress on Friday, Chavez welcomed foreign help to end the strike.

Chavez cautioned, however, that his government "won't accept any restrictions from the Friends group and warned other countries not to legitimize the opposition.