Venezuela Grants Strike Leader's Request for Asylum

<a href=www.voanews.com>VOA News 27 Mar 2003, 16:25 UTC

The Venezuelan government has granted strike leader Carlos Ortega's request to seek asylum in Costa Rica.

Costa Rican ambassador Ricardo Lizano said Wednesday he received an order of safe conduct for Mr. Ortega to travel to Costa Rica. He said the Costa Rican government will not release details of Mr. Ortega's departure.

Mr. Ortega has been awaiting Venezuela's decision on the matter for nearly two weeks, after taking refuge at the Costa Rican embassy in Caracas.

Costa Rica immediately approved his asylum request for "humanitarian reasons."

Mr. Ortega went into hiding last month after the Venezuelan government ordered his arrest on treason and rebellion charges related to a massive strike. The two-month walk-out, which crippled the country's key oil industry, was aimed at ousting President Hugo Chavez.

Mr. Ortega is president of the Venezuela's biggest labor group, the Confederation of Trade Unions.Another strike leader, Carlos Fernandez, is facing charges of treason and other crimes related to the protest. A Venezuelan judge last week ordered police to release Mr. Fernandez from house arrest.