AD angry at opposition and CTV for silence on Ortega’s asylum

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, March 16, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Accion Democratica (AD) leader, Henry Ramos Allup has slammed other opposition parties for their silence over rogue CTV leader Carlos Ortega's "diplomatic asylum" in Costa Rica ... commenting that they've never experienced what it is like to live under a dictatorship.

AD is the only political party to have thrown in its lot with Venezuelan Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) president, Carlos Ortega with both the CTV and AD staging a token protest supporting the self-exiled Ortega ... who forced AD and the disloyal opposition to play to his and rogue Fedecamaras president Carlos Fernandez’ tune.

• Ramos Allup has also hit out against CTV leaders ... especially Pablo Castro ... who, he claims, are fighting for the spoils in Ortega’s absence.

“The CTV presidency is not the inheritance of a dead man … it’s tragic and pathetic that they're thinking of substituting Ortega ... who came up from the grassroots … they're envious of his leadership.”

AD leader, Timoteo Zambrano ... who has already made two gaffes in two days calling on the International Red Cross to find an allegedly “disappeared” First Lady and making Carlos Ortega honorary AD president to cock a snoot at former AD kingpin, Rafael Marin ... has thanked Costa Rican Ambassador Ricardo Lizano for holding out "diplomatic asylum" to Ortega, following the tradition of receiving such distinguished exiles as AD founder Romulo Betancourt.