Venezuelan strike leader leaves for exile in Costa Rica

<a href=www.sfgate.com>Reference MARIANELA JIMENEZ, Associated Press Writer Thursday, March 27, 2003
(03-27) 19:12 PST SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) --

An opposition leader charged with treason for directing a two-month strike against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived here Thursday after being granted asylum.

Carlos Ortega immediately left for a meeting with Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar at the Foreign Ministry where he later told reporters he was "glad to be in Costa Rica" but that his exile "doesn't mean the democratic movements in Venezuela will come to an end."

Ortega, president of the million-member Venezuelan Workers Confederation, had taken refuge in the Costa Rican embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to avoid arrest stemming from his role in leading a crippling nationwide strike.

Venezuelan authorities, however, agreed Wednesday to grant Ortega safe passage out of the country.

Waving Venezuelan and Costa Rican flags, a handful of government opponents gathered outside the embassy to bid farewell to the burly, tough-talking labor boss, who raised his fists in a victory gesture before leaving for the airport escorted by heavily armed federal police.

The general strike was aimed at forcing Chavez to resign or call early elections.

Chavez has demanded 20-year prison sentences for Ortega and co-strike leader Carlos Fernandez, saying that they must be punished because the work stoppage cost Venezuela an estimated $6 billion, caused fuel and food shortages and suffering among the nation's poor majority.

Costa Rica granted Ortega asylum after he expressed fears that his life could be in danger. Tovar said his country granted Ortega asylum as "a courtesy," adding that "with this Costa Rica again meets its humanitarian obligations."

Last week, a Venezuelan appeals court ordered the release of Fernandez, who escaped charges of rebellion. Fernandez was previously held under house arrest.