Venezuela Oil Execs Emerge From Hiding

www.wilmingtonstar.com Last changed: March 18. 2003 4:11PM By FABIOLA SANCHEZ Associated Press Writer

Former oil executive Juan Fernandez hugs his daughters Esther, 19, left, and Christina, 16, at the offices of the state oil monopoly, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., after emerging from weeks of hiding in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 18, 2003. Seven former oil executives emerged from hiding after a judge struck down warrants for their arrest on charges related to a two-month strike that sought President Hugo Chavez's ouster. The seven had been accused of interrupting and damaging the country's fuel supply.

Seven former oil executives emerged from weeks of hiding Tuesday after a judge struck down warrants for their arrest on charges stemming from a two-month strike that sought President Hugo Chavez's ouster. The executives hugged one another in front of the Caracas offices of the state oil monopoly, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. Hundreds of supporters cheered and waved flags. "At moments like this words just don't come. I just want to say thanks," former executive Juan Fernandez said. "This decision gives us hope in the Venezuelan justice system. There are still judges willing to maintain their independence." The seven were accused of interrupting and damaging the country's fuel supply. They went into hiding for three weeks until an appeals court dropped the charge Monday. Prosecutors said they would appeal that ruling in the Supreme Court. The executives were among 15,000 oil workers - almost half the oil monopoly's work force - sacked for joining a walkout to demand Chavez's resignation or early elections. The strike, which fizzled last month, paralyzed the world's fifth-largest oil exporting industry and cost Venezuela $6 billion. The government says oil production has risen to 3 million barrels a day, almost what it was before the strike. But fired executives insisted Tuesday that production was 2.4 million barrels. Private economists expect Venezuela's economy to shrink 40 percent in the first three months of the year, after contracting 9 percent in 2002. Foes say Chavez is persecuting opponents, trampling the country's democratic institutions and fomenting class hatred. The former army paratrooper accuses opponents of trying to overthrow a democratically elected president and bring Venezuela back under the control of two corrupt traditional parties that ruled for 40 years until his 1998 election. Also Tuesday, strike leader Carlos Ortega waited for the Venezuelan government to grant him safe conduct to Costa Rica, where he has been given asylum. Venezuelan officials have indicated the government would do so. The head of Venezuela's largest labor union slipped into the Costa Rican Embassy on Friday, fleeing charges of treason, rebellion and instigation. The Costa Rican government granted Ortega territorial asylum Monday for what it said were "humanitarian reasons." Costa Rican Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar said the labor leader would be leaving for the Central American country soon. Costa Rican Ambassador Ricardo Lizano met Tuesday with Venezuelan Vice Foreign Minister Arevalo Mendez. "Costa Rica maintains cordial, respectful, institutional relations with President Hugo Chavez's government," Lizano said. He urged Ortega not to become "an instrument that perturbs relations between two countries that have diplomatic relations." Co-strike leader Carlos Fernandez, the president of Venezuela's biggest business association, is under house arrest awaiting trial for rebellion and instigation.