Chavez gloats over arrest of dissident

www.globeandmail.com Associated Press

Oppopnents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hold a rally Thursday in Caracas to protest against the arrest of business-lobby head Carlos Fernandez.

Caracas — President Hugo Chavez said he “went to bed with a smile” after a leader of Venezuela's recent general strike was arrested, even as his opponents protested the move and threatened a new work stoppage.

Thousands of people rallied in the capital Thursday against the arrest of Carlos Fernandez, president of Venezuela's leading business chamber. He was captured late Wednesday night by several armed security agents.

“We are here to protest the abuse of power by this government, which is arresting our leaders to silence the opposition,” said 35-year-old Maritza Casas. Similar protests took place in other major cities.

The arrest threatened to spark yet more political turmoil in a country still struggling to recover from the two-month strike that ended Feb. 4.

The new demonstrations didn't phase Mr. Chavez, who triumphantly proclaimed that he authorized Mr. Fernandez's arrest.

“One of the coup plotters was arrested last night. It was about time, and see how the others are running to hide,” Mr. Chavez said at the foreign ministry. “I went to bed with a smile.”

Mr. Chavez, a former paratrooper who was elected in 1998 and re-elected two years later, said judges should not “be afraid to issue arrest warrants against coup-plotters.”

A warrant was also issued for Carlos Ortega, leader of the nation's largest labour union. He and Mr. Fernandez were the chief leaders of the strike, which was staged to demand Mr. Chavez resign and hold early elections.

Attorney-General Isaias Rodriguez said Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Ortega were the only opposition leaders wanted for arrest, but ruling party lawmaker Luis Velasquez said that about 100 more people who supported the strike, ranging from labor bosses to news media executives, could be arrested.

“More than 100 are on the list to be captured,” Mr. Velasquez said. The existence of such a list could not be immediately confirmed.

Mr. Ortega remained at large and pledged to “continue the fight'' against Mr. Chavez's regime from clandestine locations.

“The only one who has a date with justice is the president,” Mr. Ortega told the local Globovision TV station by telephone.

Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Ortega face charges of treason, rebellion and instigating violence for their roles in orchestrating the strike, which continues in the vital oil industry.

Manuel Cova, secretary-general of the million-member Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, which Mr. Ortega leads, called on all affiliated labor unions “to be on the alert.”

Workers, joined by citizens opposed to Mr. Chavez, planned massive street demonstrations to protest “the political persecution,” Mr. Cova said.

Labour and business leaders warned of another nationwide strike in response to the arrest. The earlier work stoppage cost Venezuela an estimated $4-billion (U.S.).

Mr. Chavez supporters gathered near the police headquarters, where Fernandez was being held, and a downtown plaza to celebrate the arrest.

“It's what had to be done. These opposition leaders tried to destroy the country; now they must be punished,” said Tomas Ordonez, a 49-year-old taxi driver.

Mr. Chavez has accused the opposition of plotting to overthrow his government with the strike.

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said officials in Washington worried that Mr. Fernandez's arrest could hinder efforts to end the stalemate between Venezuela's political rivals.

“We fear the act could undermine the dialogue process,” Mr. Boucher said. “This increases our concerns about human rights in Venezuela.”