Business Strike Shuts Down Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Thousands of Venezuelan businesses closed Monday and millions of people stayed home from work in a nationwide strike against a concentration of power by President Hugo Chavez and new laws he decreed that critics say will smother the economy.

Chavez responded by calling out troops and police to patrol the tense streets and accusing ``corrupt economic elites'' of conspiring against his government. He blamed news media for promoting the strike and threatened legislation regulating the content of news reporting.

``Beware,'' Chavez told would-be conspirators. ``You would regret it for the rest of your life.''

The 12-hour business strike appeared to further polarize politics in Venezuela, the United States' fourth-largest trade partner in the Americas and No. 3 supplier of oil. Domestic production was at a near standstill, though oil production and exports were unaffected.

The strike was called by Fedecamaras, Venezuela's biggest business confederation, whose affiliates are responsible for 90 percent of Venezuela's non-oil production. Fedecamaras head Pedro Carmona proclaimed it a nationwide success late Monday.

Banks, schools, supermarkets and the Caracas stock exchange closed and airlines canceled flights for lack of passengers. Hospitals tended to emergencies, and Caracas' subway system and private buses operated normally.

Venezuela's largest media association, the Bloque de Prensa, joined the protest, as did the opposition-aligned Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, Venezuela's largest labor group with 1 million members.

Chavez took a hard line, withdrawing an offer to discuss amending the laws he decreed last month and vowing the laws will stand for the sake of Venezuela's poverty-stricken majority. He warned a ``cowardly oligarchy'' that he will implement the laws immediately, including a review of land titles under a land reform law.

``I must say that my government tried to avoid (the strike). We did everything possible ethically. But they proposed an immoral pact'' - suspend the laws first, and talk later, Chavez declared. ``Nobody, and nothing, will stop this revolution.''

Chavez countered the strike with a flourish of patriotism and strength, hosting the air force's annual air show over Caracas.

With each flyover of F-16 fighters, helicopters, training and transport planes, many residents banged pots and pans from their windows in protest. Chavez supporters responded with powerful fireworks.

``These planes and these helicopters that shake the skies over Caracas are the planes and the helicopters of the people!'' Chavez thundered.

Chavez formally inaugurated the land reform law at rallies in Caracas and in his home state of Barinas. Both were attended by thousands of peasant farmers.

The poor constitute 80 percent of Venezuela's 24 million people. The land reform law is designed to correct a situation in which 1 percent of the population owns more than 60 percent of the country's arable land.

Business leaders say the law violates private property rights by forcing large-scale farmers to conform to a national agricultural strategy or risk having their land confiscated and distributed to the poor.

Police used tear gas and water cannon to repel Chavez supporters setting off powerful fireworks near Fedecamaras' headquarters. Two officers suffered slight leg burns, Metropolitan Police Chief Henry Vivas said.

``I'm here to defend Chavez and the revolution,'' said Anabel Cortez, a 51-year-old street vendor. ``They're selling out the country. The poor, the peasants, the dispossessed, we love Chavez.''

Fedecamaras said 80 to 90 percent of its 3,000 member businesses shut their doors during the strike, which organizers said cost $480 million in lost production.

Antonio Herrera, vice president of the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce, said the strike will ``have a high cost in terms of confidence'' in Chavez's government and discourage foreign investors.

Supporters of President Hugo Chavez carry a large national flag and waving with the image of Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Gevara, right, march against a nationwide strike in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Dec10, 2001. The strike was called by Fedecamaras, Venezuela's biggest business confederation to protest President Hugo Chavez's economic policies. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, top, wearing fatigues, greets his supporters during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Dec 10, 2001. Thousands of businesses closed, millions of Venezuelans stayed home and soldiers patrolled the streets to prevent looting and violence during a nationwide business strike against new laws that critics say stifle investment. (AP Photo/Fernando LLano)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) embraces Cuban President Fidel Castro after Castro arrived to La Guaira August 11, 2001. Castro, making his first trip abroad since a recent scare over his health, arrived in Venezuela Saturday to enjoy an early 75th birthday celebration with his friend and ally President Hugo Chavez. Castro, who turns 75 Monday, will spend two days in Venezuela.REUTERS/Emilio Guzman

Jiang Zemin and Hugo Chavez

CHRISTOPHER DODD FREE OTTO REICH ----[Excerpt] While the eyes of the world focus on the Middle East, the war on terror has its targets in this hemisphere, too. Unfortunately, President Bush's designated envoy to the Americas must fight this country's shadowy enemies with both hands tied behind his back. Otto Reich, Bush's nominee for assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, is being held hostage by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) who refuses to hold a confirmation hearing on Reich's candidacy. Dodd apparently would rather brood over Reich's performance in the Reagan administration than permit him to address these clear-and-present dangers today:

Venezuela. Hugo Chavez, the increasingly erratic president of this key U.S. oil supplier, has declared himself "a Maoist" and befriended pro-terrorist dictators. A Caracas-based, anti-Chavez group called the National Emergency Coalition published a veritable Chavez photo album in the September 25 Washington Times. In one picture, Chavez rides in Saddam Hussein's Mercedes with the Iraqi thug at the wheel. During an August 2000 visit, Chavez called Iraq "a model" for Venezuela.

In another snapshot, Chavez hugs Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and says, "We have sister revolutions with equal struggles and the same destiny." Elsewhere, Chavez embraces Muammar Qaddafi and calls Libya "a model of participatory democracy." Chavez greets Fidel Castro as well and says that Cuba and Venezuela are "swimming together toward the same sea of happiness."

Chavez also appears to be arming Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels. Colombian defense officials say that between January 1998 and July 2000, they captured 470 clandestine FAL rifles stamped with the insignias of Venezuela's military and its arms manufacturers.

Cuba: Castro's worker's paradise seems to be a giant O'Hare Airport for suspected terrorists. As counterterrorism consultant Paul Crespo reported in the Nov. 5 issue of Insight, three Afghans detained in the Grand Caymans shortly after the September 11 attacks allegedly arrived there from Cuba. Two others, allegedly linked financially to al Qaeda, were stopped in Panama bound for Cuba.

…Snip…..

"I need Otto Reich in place," Secretary of State Colin Powell pleaded with senators on October 3. Eight weeks later, Reich's State Department office literally remains empty, its desk unoccupied and bookshelves bare. Even as an overworked career diplomat juggles crucial security and economic matters in Reich's absence, Dodd could care less.

"That nomination's not going anywhere. That's the end of it," Dodd recently snapped. He has hurled at Reich a number of easily refuted ethical charges pertaining to his 1980s service as director of State's Office of Public Diplomacy and as Ambassador to Venezuela. However Dodd will not let his subcommittee hear Reich defend himself. Perhaps Dodd fears looking foolish once Reich demonstrates his innocence. [End Excerpt]

VENEZUELANS TENSE AS STRIKE LOOMS: Business and labor challenge Chávez

How Chavez brought Venezuela to this crisis

Chavez Says Ties Make Venezuela, Cuba 'One Team'-- CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela and Cuba, united in ``one team'' by their growing cooperation ties, should spearhead an international campaign against free-market capitalism, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said.

China's Venezuelan 'partnership' Jiang hails 'strategic'--[Excerpt] "China and Venezuela complement each other in many fields, and the prospects for bilateral cooperation are broad," the communist leader declared after talks with the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital. Jiang invited Chavez to China next month, an offer Chavez "gladly" accepted.

The statements were reported on China Radio International, the official broadcasting service of the PRC.

The two leaders jointly declared that their meeting "enhanced mutual understanding, deepened friendship, and pushed forward the development of a strategic partnership" between their respective nations, according to CRI.[End Excerpt]

"I am a Maoist"--Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez Attacks Elitism-- Mr. Chávez has described the subsequent purge of Ms. Imber and others as the start of a "Bolivarian cultural revolution," a reference to Venezuela's national hero, Simón Bolívar. But that term has generated apprehension here, especially in view of Mr. Chávez's declaration "I am a Maoist," made during the visit this month of President Jiang Zemin (news - web sites) of China, and the agreements he has signed to bring Cuban advisers and exchange programs to Venezuela.

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