Venezuelan Govt Ready for Dialogue with Opposition in Critical Situation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Venezuelan Govt Ready for Dialogue with Opposition in Critical Situation

The government of President Hugo Chavez announced Tuesday that it is prepared to have dialogue with the opposition amid Venezuela's severe labor stoppage and sharply reduced oil production.

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The government of President Hugo Chavez announced Tuesday that it is prepared to have dialogue with the opposition amid Venezuela's severe labor stoppage and sharply reduced oil production.

"We want to meet the democratic opposition but not the terrorist and pro-coup opposition," Venezuelan Vice President JoseRangel told the press.

But Rangel rejected the early elections demanded by the more radical opposition. A referendum could take place only next Augustto decide whether President Chavez's term should be reduced, he added.

Thousands of people again took to the streets in support of thestrike Tuesday, notably in Caracas where they marched around an air base to show their resentment toward the government.

As the general strike entered its ninth day, it has disrupted 80.48 percent of economic activities, Adolfo Padron, chairman of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), said on Tuesday.

According to the union leader, 70 percent of the public sector is affected by the labor action; the education sector, 90 percent;transportation, 50 percent; commerce, 65 percent; shipping, 80 percent; and construction, 90 percent.

As a result of the strike, Venezuelan crude production is now below 1 million barrels per day (bpd), less than a third of the OPEC nation's pre-strike levels. Venezuela produced about 3.1 million bpd of oil in November, according to a survey.

Employees of the Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. oil monopoly, known as PDVSA, joined the general strike last Wednesday in response to the opposition's call, thus paralyzing the country's oil exports.

The government then deployed troops to protect the industry andaccused the opposition of intending to oust Chavez through an "oilcoup."

Venezuela's refineries, with a daily capacity to process 1.3 million bpd of oil before the strike, are nearly paralyzed, including the gigantic Amuay-Cardon plant in the western region ofParaguana.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Defense Minister Jose Prieto said on Tuesday that the government guarantees, with the support of the armed forces, the gradual normalization of oil supply in the country.

He added that under the country's law and constitution, the armed forces have the obligation to ensure the physical security of PDVSA facilities, as well as the loading and transportation operations, both on land and sea.

The command of the Venezuelan armed forces ordered the operational units to be ready to act in case of extreme emergency,military sources said. This means that all the military personnel must remain in their units.

General Raul Baduel, commander of the 4th Armored Division, said it is necessary to restore order in the country to safeguard national interests.

Various opposition sectors expressed their concerns about the possibility that the government may declare a state of emergency.

The constitution stipulates that such a measure could be taken "when calamity, public crisis or similar events occur, endangeringthe security of the nation."

Venezuela is the only Latin American member of the Organizationof Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC), and its political crisis is likely to figure prominently at a ministerial meeting of the cartel in Vienna on Thursday.

The United States, the main importer of Venezuelan fuel, has expressed its serious concern over the escalated conflict and saidearly elections would help.

Venezuela is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and provides the United States with 13 percent of its crude imports.

Opposition groups and trade unions launched the strike on Dec. 2 to demand the resignation of President Chavez and accused him ofplunging the country into a severe economic recession.

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