Rafael Montero, right background, and other employees fired from the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., PDVSA, in December 2002 for joining a general strike called to force President Hugo Chavez from power, stands ready with a baseball bat in hand to defend his home from government supporters in Tia Juana, some 450 kilometers from Caracas on July 9, 2003. Chavez backers have threatened to seize PDVSA-owned residences that former workers refuse to abandon until a court orders them to leave. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Oscar Mendez, right, an employee fired from state-run oil company PDVSA for joining a general strike in December 2002 to force President Hugo Chavez from power, guards the PDVSA-owned home where he lives with his family on the outskirts of Punto Fijo, located some 360 kilometers from Caracas, Venezuela, July 7, 2003. 'Chavistas,' as the president's backers are called, have attacked and attempted to seized the residences. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)