Venezuelan Strike Leader Goes into Exile

<a href=www.voanews.com>VOA News 28 Mar 2003, 02:34 UTC

Venezuelan labor and strike leader Carlos Ortega has gone into exile in Costa Rica, where he sought asylum to avoid arrest for treason and rebellion in his homeland.

Mr. Ortega arrived in San Jose Thursday, one day after Venezuela's government agreed to let him leave the country. Mr. Ortega was one of the organizers of Venezuela's two-month general strike that failed to force President Hugo Chavez to resign and call early elections.

The labor leader went into hiding last month after the Venezuelan government sought his arrest on the charges that can carry a 20-year prison term.

Mr. Ortega later took refuge at the Costa Rican Embassy in Caracas and asked for asylum, saying he feared for his safety.

Mr. Ortega is the third major opponent of President Chavez to seek asylum. Last year, Colombia granted asylum to business leader Pedro Carmona, who briefly replaced Mr. Chavez during last April's failed coup against the populist president.

El Salvador granted asylum to retired naval officer Carlos Molina, who faced an investigation for his role in the coup.