www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

According to a report in Maracaibo newspaper Panorama, military authorities in Bogota, Colombia have informed the Venezuelan government that a so-called radical wing of Venezuela’s opposition has been attempting to purchase explosives in Colombia.

Unconfirmed sources say the looney fringe’s objective is to blow up a tanker bringing gasoline into Venezuela for domestic consumption as it comes into Maracaibo Port. 

Panorama adds that the idea is to make the planned explosion look like an accident.  The government hasn’t issued any statement on the allegations.

www.whotv.com Sunday,February23,2003,8:49 AM

Caracas, Venezuela-AP -- One of the leaders of the national strike in Venezuela has been placed under house arrest. Carlos Fernandez, president of a business group, was seized by secret police on Wednesday on charges including treason. A judge today struck down the charge of treason but upheld charges of rebellion and incitement to commit offenses.

Strike co-leader Carlos Ortega remains at large. The president of the Venezuelan Workers Confederation teamed up with Fernandez in spearheading the two-month-old work stoppage that has paralyzed Venezuela's vital oil industry and devastated the economy.

Ortega said he was going into hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The national strike is aimed at ousting President Hugo Chavez.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

www.alertnet.org 23 Feb 2003 11:52

CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb 23 (Reuters) - A Venezuelan opposition leader detained last week for spearheading a two-month strike against President Hugo Chavez was placed under house arrest on Sunday after a judge charged him with civil rebellion.

State security police nabbed business leader Carlos Fernandez on Wednesday in a midnight raid that foes of the leftist leader portrayed as a political witch hunt.

Police hustled a worn-looking Fernandez out of the capital's palace of justice early on Sunday after the judge ordered him detained at his home in the western city of Valencia, his lawyer told reporters.

He faces charges of civil rebellion and instigation, although three other charges were dismissed.

Fernandez's arrest and a detention order issued for another strike leader, Carlos Ortega, stoked fears among opposition leaders of a crackdown against foes of Chavez, who brands his critics "terrorists" and "coup plotters."

Union leader Ortega, one of the president's fiercest critics, has gone into hiding as his supporters urge the international community to condemn charges they see as illegal and politically motivated.

Opponents of the populist president, who they accuse of disregarding democracy and ruining the economy, are waging a campaign to pressure him into accepting elections in the world's No. 5 oil exporter.

The opposition strike, which fizzled out during the first week of February, severely disrupted the nation's oil exports that account for half of state revenues. Venezuela's economy, already deep in recession, contracted by nearly 9 percent by the end of last year.

Chavez, who survived a coup in April, has resisted calls for a vote. He accuses his opponents of trying to sabotage the oil industry and has demanded judges jail the opponents he accuses of trying to topple him again.

The Venezuelan leader, who was first elected in 1998 with vows to ease poverty, has recently hardened his position and calls 2003 the "year of the offensive" to deepen his self-styled revolution.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Chavez Frias says the arrest of Carlos Fernandez shows that nobody in Venezuela is above the law … “the oligarchs think they are untouchable here in Venezuela but a criminal is a criminal whatever his name may be … we are all equal before God and the law.”

Speaking to supporters in Trujillo, Chavez Frias let loose on the opposition media … “they claim the gentleman was taken hostage … No, sir, he’s in prison … some are now telling us that his human rights are being violated ... they are violating the People’s human rights … justice has to reign in Venezuela.”

Fernandez and Ortega are criminals, Chavez Frias told the crowd, and should get 20 years imprisonment for the damage they caused the National … "the April 11 coup, oil sabotage, damage against Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and all the terror they have unleashed on Venezuela.”

“They say they are innocent, well, let them defend themselves, and go and tell a judge how they called on people thousands of times to commit crime, why they ordered the sabotage of the oil company, why they ordered the blockade of highways … they have all their rights intact and the right to defense.”

President Chavez Frias has reiterated that there will be no more privileges for businessmen … “those were other times when well-heeled rich men could do what they liked against the poor, peasants and nobody could mess with them … it’s over for ever!”

www.vheadline.com Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Shots were exchanged Saturday night in the surrounds of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) La Campina HQ where government supporters have been holding camp. Early news reports say a Metropolitan Police (PM) officer on a motorbike was ambushed as he tried to reach a funeral parlor for the wake of a fellow officer.

• Government supporters are accused of firing the first shots at the officer who was passing La Campina, wounding him in the foot.

Further shots were exchanged when police reinforcements came on the scene.  One policeman is dead and five persons wounded as a result of the shootout.