Venezuela strike enters new phase

www.gulf-daily-news.com Vol XXV   NO. 319      Sunday      2 February 2003

CARACAS: A strike launched two months ago in a bid to drive out Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will be partially lifted, but the crucial oil sector will remain on strike, an opposition spokesman said yesterday.

Jesus Torrealba said the movement "will enter a new phase" today, with businesses, industries, schools and shopping centres resuming activity over the course of the next week.

Torrealba, executive secretary of the opposition co-ordinating committee, said it would continue the fight in the key oil industry, demanding that 5,000 oil workers sacked by the government be allowed to return to work.

He said strike leaders were pleased with mediation proposals from the Organisation of American States, and the creation of a Group of Friends of Venezuela to try to help end the standoff that has crippled Venezuela's economy. The Group of Friends is made up of the United States, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Portugal.

With that intervention, "the national strike has reached its objectives and the protest is entering a new phase," Torrealba said.

The opposition to Chavez announced on Friday it would "rethink" the general strike next week.

It has been on since December 2, and its impact has been greatest due to the blow it has dealt to the key oil industry and the state oil giant PDVSA.

The strike has caused Venezuela billions of dollars in losses, largely because it slashed oil shipments from the world's fifth largest oil exporter.