Posted on 03/13/2003 12:49:07 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- Venezuelan Trade Minister Ramon Rosales said a recently published list of "importable" items included paper only for text books and not for newspapers, which are a lower priority, local daily El Nacional reported Thursday.
Paper for newspapers may be included in future lists, and newspaper owners needing to import paper can file a request for "reconsideration," Rosales was quoted as saying.
Rosales couldn't be reached for further comment.
Newsprint isn't manufactured in Venezuela and many local newspapers have said they only have paper to last them through about April.
Opponents of President Hugo Chavez warn he'll likely use the new rules to close newspapers critical of his administration, which they say is becoming increasingly dictatorial.
Chavez often accuses some newspapers, along with television and radio stations, of unfair coverage.
As reported, Venezuela earlier this week published a list of some 6,000 items deemed essential imports by the government, which imposed foreign exchange controls last month in a bid to protect international reserves which stood at $ 12.4 billion on March 11, according to the central bank.
Reserves were severely affected by a two-month general strike that began Dec. 2, which all but shut down Venezuela's vital oil industry, among many other sectors.
Opposition leaders are demanding Chavez agree to early elections, blaming his left-leaning policies for the country's deepening economic crisis.
The economy contracted 8.9% in 2002, amid 17% unemployment, and 32% annualized inflation sparked by a 46% devaluation of the bolivar. The currency lost a further 25% this year before currency sales were halted Jan. 21. Meanwhile, an unofficial parallel market has developed, with the bolivar trading at between VEB2300 and VEB2800 per dollar versus VEB1598 set by the government.
Colombia's leading daily El Tiempo reported Wednesday that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, runs a training school for some 400 rebels in Venezuela. Citing an unidentified report from the Colombian army, the newspaper also said that the National Liberation Army, or ELN, has a camp in Venezuela that it uses as an air base and hideout for kidnap victims. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton denied the report, saying Colombian officials would have contacted Venezuelan authorities by now if it were true. Chaderton said he believed someone provided false information to the press.
On Thursday, a Venezuelan opposition politician claimed he has a report by Venezuela's Environment Ministry confirming the existence of a FARC camp in Sierra de Perija. The report says the camp has a water tank, a cafeteria for 50 people and a dormitory, Fernando Villasmil, president of the legislature of western Zulia state, said in an interview with Union Radio. Environment Ministry officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Earlier in the week, Chaderton said his country would not declare Colombian rebels terrorists because that would make it harder for Venezuela to help broker any future peace agreement in the civil war. Chavez has condemned rebel bombings and kidnappings as "acts of terrorism." Caracas and Bogota are considering calling a meeting between Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to discuss relations, which have been rocky for years. Many Colombians believe that the Venezuelan government is sympathetic to the leftist rebels, and some have even accused Venezuelan authorities of harboring rebels.
Chavez denies supporting rebels.***
Venezuelan army commander Gen. Jorge Garcia Carneiro also called for talks with his Colombian counterpart to discuss security along the rugged, 1,400-mile frontier that separates the two Andean neighbors.
"Neither the army, nor the armed forces in general, are going to let anyone use Venezuela as a hideout, and much less irregular forces," Garcia, who was made army chief in January by President Hugo Chavez, said at a news conference.
Relations between Bogota and Caracas have been strained again this month by insistent charges by Colombian officials and media that Chavez's government is allowing Colombian Marxist rebels to set up camps in Venezuela.
The left-leaning Chavez is frequently accused by his domestic and foreign foes of collaborating with Colombian guerrillas, but he has repeatedly denied these accusations. He warned the guerrillas Sunday not to meddle in Venezuela.
While vowing to protect the long frontier, Garcia said its length and terrain -- a patchwork of jungle, savannah and mountain -- made it impossible to patrol every inch.
"Even if you had 300,000 troops holding hands you're never going to be able to control the frontier, because it is a very extensive zone," he said. Colombian politicians and media have alleged that Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda, the top commander of Colombia's biggest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, has been hiding out in Venezuela.
Garcia said the Venezuelan army would try to keep him out.
"The day that Marulanda, or any other irregular crosses the frontier line, then he is going to get a tough response from our army," he said. Garcia added that unlawful incursions by the Colombian armed forces would also not be tolerated.
Garcia has been fiercely criticized by opponents of the populist president who accuse the general of using his troops to back the Venezuelan leader's self-styled "revolution."
Chavez, who survived a coup by rebel military officers last year, used soldiers to break an opposition strike in December and January that crippled oil output in the world's No. 5 oil exporter. Oil production has been steadily recovering since the strike petered out in early February.
Garcia is currently managing a national food distribution program aimed at offsetting shortages caused by the strike.
He has also been a key figure in a campaign started by Chavez to involve the armed forces in development work, such as building houses, providing medical services and growing food.
Critics of the president say he is turning the armed forces into his personal Praetorian guard and is also dragging the country toward Cuban-style communism. [End]
CUBA SENDS FOOD HELP ***…….Chavez told a meeting of supporters in a Caracas theater that Venezuela had received donations of sugar and beans from communist Cuba to help his government fight food shortages caused by the recent strike. Chavez thanked his political ally and friend, Cuban President Fidel Castro, for the cargoes of 10,000 tonnes of sugar and 5,000 tonnes of black beans. He said these were being sold cheaply to the poor in the government's food program. "The Cubans gave up 10 million kilos (10,000 tonnes) of sugar from their own reserves ... they didn't want to accept payment, they said we could pay for them whenever we could," the president said. Cuba receives oil from Venezuela on preferential terms under a bilateral energy deal.
Chavez's opponents, who include private business leaders, union bosses and dissident military officers, accuse him of ruining the economy with his anti-capitalist rhetoric and left-wing, statist economic policies. They say he is trying to recreate Cuban-style communism in Venezuela. The president condemns his opponents as a rich, resentful "oligarchy" opposed to his self-styled "revolution."
Chavez announced the creation of a state-run network of shops which would sell cheap food to the poor. The idea appeared to be a replica of a similar system existing in Cuba. ***
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.