Fedecamaras-Bolivar says Carlos Fernandez' arrest was inevitable

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 03, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

According to the Bolivar State division of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) Senen Torrealba, since the day the national work stoppage began on December 2, the arrest of Fedecamaras national president Carlos Fernandez became inevitable.

"As soon as the strike started, led by Fedecamaras the Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) and opposition parties, it was evident that its organizers would face the prospects of legal action for the destruction of the economy."

Torrealba's comments came following an enquiry into his position on Fernandez' arrest, and he went on to say that in no way could the Fedecamaras leader's detention be considered as a politically motivated act or part of a governmental persecution campaign, because the strike has had catastrophic effects on the country and its economy, industry and commerce, as well as its population, which in any civilized country would have been considered as terrorism.