President calls for imprisonment of strike leaders

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, February 24, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

President Hugo Chavez Frias has called for Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez and Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) president Carlos Ortega to be jailed for twenty years for charges of treason for their organization of the two-month long national work stoppage and for calling on their supporters not to pay their taxes. 

"These oligarchs think they're untouchable, but there are no untouchables in Venezuela. A criminal is a criminal."

Fernandez was arrested early last Thursday morning and is under house arrest pending a trial, while Ortega went into hiding shortly after hearing the news that his fellow strike leader had been detained and that their was also a warrant issued for his arrest.  Should the pair be found guilty then they could face prison terms of 20-26 years.