Posted on 04/05/2002 1:10:27 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
"Workers of all sectors of PDVSA are starting today a progressive, collective suspension of work in operational and administrative areas," Horacio Medina, one of the spokesmen, told reporters. He gave no details of how vital producing, refining and export operations might be affected.
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - The Venezuelan government, faced with an escalating labor protest in its strategic state oil industry, said Thursday it was ready to take all necessary measures to guarantee domestic oil supplies and international shipments.
Employees of the state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) had earlier announced they were intensifying a five-week-old protest campaign against government-ordered management changes, raising the threat of disruption to supplies by the world's No. 4 oil exporter.
"We don't accept manipulation or blackmail," Vice President Diosdado Cabello said in a televised broadcast to the nation.
"The government has its contingency plans and will not hesitate to apply them if it is necessary," he added.
Cabello did not specify what measures the government would take to prevent disruptions in PDVSA, which exports more than 2 million barrels per day of crude and refined products and is a leading supplier to the U.S. market.
But President Hugo Chavez, a tough-talking former paratrooper, previously warned that he will send in the armed forces to take over the company, Latin America's biggest oil corporation, if it is halted by an all-out strike.
During the day and into the night Thursday, Venezuelan motorists, anxious about possible gasoline shortages resulting from the row, jammed gas stations in Caracas and other cities.
"I'm worried, because, in my job, I fill up a whole tank every day," 47-year-old taxi driver Pedro Luna told reporters.
Cabello tried to reassure the population, accusing the opposition-dominated media of magnifying the situation.
"There is no problem with gasoline supplies, nor will there be," he said. "We want to ensure not only internal fuel supplies but also our international commitments," he added.
CHALLENGE TO CHAVEZ
An all-out strike in PDVSA could cripple the country's oil-reliant economy and pose a major challenge to Chavez, a left-wing populist who faces mounting political opposition to his self-proclaimed "revolution".
Critics accuse him of trying to install a Cuban-style left-wing authoritarian regime in Venezuela, but he says his "revolutionary" reforms covering everything from oil and land to fisheries are aimed at helping the nation's poor majority.
Opinion polls have shown Chavez's popularity has fallen sharply from the high levels that swept him into the presidency in a 1998 election, six years after he failed to seize power in botched military coup.
Cabello reiterated the government's tough position against the PDVSA protest after the dissident executives and employees staged surprise work stoppages in Caracas and other offices, refineries and installations across the oil-rich country.
Since late February, the dissident executives and employees have been protesting the appointment of five new members to PDVSA's board by Chavez, saying they were based on political motives rather than merit.
Chavez's government has responded by ordering the forced retirement and transfer of some protesting senior staff in PDVSA. The dissident employees want these measures reversed before they will agree to take part in any negotiations.
Thursday's protests caused some disruption to supplies in Venezuela's internal fuel distribution network but the company reported no immediate effect on international oil shipments.
However, representatives for the dissidents made it clear they planned to step up their protests at all levels.
"Workers of all sectors of PDVSA are starting today a progressive, collective suspension of work in operational and administrative areas," Horacio Medina, one of the spokesmen, told reporters. He gave no details of how vital producing, refining and export operations might be affected.
The protests planned for Friday would also involve staff at Venezuela's largest refining facility, the 960,000 barrel per day (bpd) Cardon-Amuay complex located on the Paraguana peninsula, a spokeswoman for the protesters said.
Cabello called on the dissidents to reconsider their actions. "Ladies and gentlemen, think of the consequences of the decision you are taking," he said.
REFINERIES FEELING EFFECTS
As part of Thursday's protests, PDVSA staff staged office work stoppages at refineries at El Palito, near Puerto Cabello, west of the capital, and at Puerto La Cruz, to the east.
Representatives for the protesters confirmed that internal fuel distribution hubs had been hit, but they added that refinery production and export loading operations had continued Thursday, although the installations were beginning to feel the effects of the escalating protest.
"What we're seeing is that activity is decreasing, going down," a spokeswoman told Reuters by telephone from Puerto La Cruz refinery, where PDVSA staff staged a noisy demonstration.
The dissident executives and employees made clear Thursday they were losing patience with what they called the government's intransigence in refusing to heed their demands.
But PDVSA president Gaston Parra had earlier pledged to take firm action against the protests. "There can't be a dialogue if there are measures applying pressure," he said.
Absolutely. Good morning, Cincy =^)
Another thing he shares in common with the bearded-one: He won't be in power for long, either.
Chavistas: Venezuelan street toughs: Helping "revolution" or crushing dissent?****CARACAS, Venezuela - From her bed in a Caracas military hospital, the wiry, chain-smoking prisoner vowed to continue a hunger strike and risk becoming the first death in Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's "revolution." "Comandante" Lina Ron, who considers herself a modern version of "Tania," a woman who fought alongside Cuban revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara, says she is a willing martyr for Chavez's cause. She was arrested after leading a violent pro-Chavez counter-protest against demonstrating university students. Thousands follow her lead in Venezuela and they have increasingly quashed dissent, breaking up anti-government protests, intimidating journalists and alarming the president's critics.****
Thanks for the ping, JH. (^:
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