President adamant that PDVSA rebels will NOT get their jobs back

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Hugo Chavez Frias says he has ordered Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) president, Ali Rodriguez Araque and Energy & Mines (MEM) Minister, Rafael Ramirez not to allow anyone that joined the PDVSA stoppage to return to the company. 

"We must not be weak and give in to arguments that those who left have families or have the technology." 

Speaking to new PDVSA workers and supporters in Maracaibo (Zulia), Chavez Frias repeated his resolve against former PDVSA employees whom he accuses of sabotaging Venezuela. 

"Those people have done a lot of damage, even though they are skilled, capable and have experience ... I would prefer to bring in people from other countries who have the expertise rather than bring any of them back and I am a nationalist!" 

The President told his followers, "what good is it to have a country full of technocrats or prepared persons with university titles and PhDs, if they are not proud of being Venezuelans of belonging here?" 

Calling the leaders rebel PDVSA leaders "terrorists," the President says Venezuela's Criminal Code should be applied against them and a trial opened against them for treason meriting a 30-year prison sentence. 

Referring to the media, Chavez Frias it would be a waste of time shutting them down ... "it would give them the ammunition they want ... it doesn't matter ... nobody here or abroad believes them anymore."

Former PDVSA employees congregated early in the morning and closed off the Maracaibo-Cabimas road for several hours until the National Guard (GN) came to restore order.