Chavists block San Tome plant to stop reinstated PDVSA  employees from entering

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Government supporters have prevented 29 Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) employees from entering the San Tome plant in Anzoategui. Cantaura municipal judge, Rosa Guzman sentenced in favor of  employees, who complained that they had been unjustly dismissed during the December-January oil stoppage. 

Employees' lawyers successfully argued that their clients could not access the site because of "Chavist hordes" protesting at the gates of the plant during the stoppage. 

Among the employees are three key persons: former San Tome manager Samuel Moncada, who has been replaced by Engineer Gilberto Zerpa, crude oil drilling manager Ildemaro Torres and legal department manager Dely Sole, both of whom have been replaced.  

• The lawyers say they will ask the judge to enforce his sentence or they will seek more robust legal measures against protesters to ensure that their clients return to work.

PDVSA president Ali Rodriguez formally ordered the dismissal of 3,400 San Tome plant mayor payroll and contractor employees during the stoppage. Barcelona courts are said to be working on 1,400 cases of illegal dismissal from work. Gente de Petroleo spokesman, Cristian Rodriguez welcomes the judge's decision saying it sets a precedent. 

Protesters outside the plant gates argue that they will not let people onto the site who disrupted and crippled Venezuela's main source of income for political motives.