President Chavez Frias defends Fernandez and Ortega's right to defense ... "no privileges!"

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Chavez Frias says the arrest of Carlos Fernandez shows that nobody in Venezuela is above the law … “the oligarchs think they are untouchable here in Venezuela but a criminal is a criminal whatever his name may be … we are all equal before God and the law.”

Speaking to supporters in Trujillo, Chavez Frias let loose on the opposition media … “they claim the gentleman was taken hostage … No, sir, he’s in prison … some are now telling us that his human rights are being violated ... they are violating the People’s human rights … justice has to reign in Venezuela.”

Fernandez and Ortega are criminals, Chavez Frias told the crowd, and should get 20 years imprisonment for the damage they caused the National … "the April 11 coup, oil sabotage, damage against Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and all the terror they have unleashed on Venezuela.”

“They say they are innocent, well, let them defend themselves, and go and tell a judge how they called on people thousands of times to commit crime, why they ordered the sabotage of the oil company, why they ordered the blockade of highways … they have all their rights intact and the right to defense.”

President Chavez Frias has reiterated that there will be no more privileges for businessmen … “those were other times when well-heeled rich men could do what they liked against the poor, peasants and nobody could mess with them … it’s over for ever!”