VENEZUELA: Venezuelan opposition ends strike, but vows to fight on

world.scmp.com Tuesday, February 4, 2003

Opponents say 3.7 million have signed a petition for the president's term to be cut

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Caracas

   The Venezuelan opposition has officially declared an end to a 63-day general strike that has crippled the economy, but said a poll of voters' desire to see President Hugo Chavez's mandate cut had been an overwhelming success.

The petition is aimed at allowing opponents of the president to voice opinions about possible options for cutting short his term, which is scheduled to last until 2006.

Although the strike is formally ended, it will continue in the oil sector, according to opposition leaders, who say the struggle against the Chavez government is entering a new phase.

"The Democratic Co-ordinating Committee announced that tonight we are entering a long-expected and more trying new phase in our struggle," opposition spokesman Timoteo Zambrano said on Sunday night.

He said although the strike was ending, the protesters intended to stand by thousands of employees of Petroleos de Venezuela, the state-run oil company, who have been dismissed by the government. "Our struggle will now assume new forms, and we will pursue our goals at the negotiation table," Mr Zambrano said.

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

Before the strike the oil sector produced 2.8 million barrels a day.

Mr Chavez said on Sunday that production had reached 1.8 million barrels a day and that the world's largest refinery, in Amuey, had come back on line. Oil prices fell in early London trading yesterday on news of an end to the general strike.

The price of reference Brent North Sea crude oil for March delivery dropped to US$30.77 (HK$240) at the close of trading on Friday. In New York, benchmark light sweet crude March-dated futures lost 34 US cents on Friday to US$33.51.

The Organisation of American States and former US president Jimmy Carter, meanwhile, have tried to bring the government and opposition to the negotiating table.

But clashes between Chavez supporters and police left at least five people injured as opponents queued to sign the non-binding petition aimed at cutting short his term. The opposition had garnered more than 3.7 million signatures, comfortably above expectations, leaders said.

A mid-term recall for Mr Chavez could come as early as August 19, and it is the only vote he has said repeatedly that he will accept if it is requested at the polls.