Comptroller General investigates extent of PDVSA rebel damage in oil blockade 

www.vheadline.com Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian admits that he has ordered an investigation into the role of the top 7 dismissed Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) executives and managers organized in what has been described as the “shadow PDVSA” or "Gente de Petroleo" in Spanish.

Russian claims that the rebels must assume responsibility for the damages they allegedly caused to Venezuela’s prime industry and “patrimony.”

“The PDVSA stoppage was political and aimed at ousting President Chavez Frias and calling elections.”

Urging the seven to turn up at the 50th control court and face the music, Russian says the Comptroller General’s first task is to investigate patrimonial damage caused by not being able to sell oil and sabotage on PDVSA installations.

“Who is responsible for damaging 80 kilometers of pipeline after petrol solidified? Or the money that went into repairing computer equipment, just to mention two examples?”