Venezuelans Support Embattled President
The Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, failed yesterday to retake the rebellious oil tanker which has become the focus of a strike aimed at pushing him from power. Troops ordered to seize the Pilin Leon, anchored off the coast, returned to shore empty-handed because the crew said they...
The Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, failed yesterday to retake the rebellious oil tanker which has become the focus of a strike aimed at pushing him from power.
Troops ordered to seize the Pilin Leon, anchored off the coast, returned to shore empty-handed because the crew said they would break maritime law to surrender control to unqualified officers.
Mr Chavez then began seeking crews to sail the Pilin Leon and the other strike-bound tankers which have been crippling the oil industry since the strike began a week ago.
It is his most serious political crisis since a similar strike in April temporarily removed him from power. This time the opposition is more focused and the battleground has shifted from the street to the state oil monopoly, PDVSA.
Oil production has fallen 40% since of the strike began, a PDVSA spokesman told reporters, and key refineries were on the verge of closing. Oil exports account for half of the government's revenue.
Mr Chavez has ordered the army to step up its pro tection of oil sites and has warned that he may declare a state of emergency if the disruption continues to grow.
He has also threatened to remove staff at refineries.
The strike - the fourth this year - was called by a coalition of business, labour and civic organisations with the aim of forcing a referendum on President Chavez's rule.
Mr Chavez accused his enemies of sabotage and urged his people to "keep mobilised on the streets and in the countryside to defend the revolution once again".
A left-leaning former paratrooper, Mr Chavez was elected four years ago, promising a social revolution. He has polarised Venezuelan society.
His supporters, mostly the poor, see him as their only chance of a better life, but his opponents accuse him of being autocratic, destroying the economy and fuelling class hatred.
On Friday a gunman killed three people and wounded 21 others at an anti-government rally in a plaza where rebel officers have held daily protests.
On Saturday about 100,000 Chavez followers and a smaller number of his opponents held rallies in Caracas.
Troops ordered to seize the Pilin Leon, anchored off the coast, returned to shore empty-handed because the crew said they would break maritime law to surrender control to unqualified officers.
Mr Chavez then began seeking crews to sail the Pilin Leon and the other strike-bound tankers which have been crippling the oil industry since the strike began a week ago.
It is his most serious political crisis since a similar strike in April temporarily removed him from power. This time the opposition is more focused and the battleground has shifted from the street to the state oil monopoly, PDVSA.
Oil production has fallen 40% since of the strike began, a PDVSA spokesman told reporters, and key refineries were on the verge of closing. Oil exports account for half of the government's revenue.
Mr Chavez has ordered the army to step up its pro tection of oil sites and has warned that he may declare a state of emergency if the disruption continues to grow.
He has also threatened to remove staff at refineries.
The strike - the fourth this year - was called by a coalition of business, labour and civic organisations with the aim of forcing a referendum on President Chavez's rule.
Mr Chavez accused his enemies of sabotage and urged his people to "keep mobilised on the streets and in the countryside to defend the revolution once again".
A left-leaning former paratrooper, Mr Chavez was elected four years ago, promising a social revolution. He has polarised Venezuelan society.
His supporters, mostly the poor, see him as their only chance of a better life, but his opponents accuse him of being autocratic, destroying the economy and fuelling class hatred.
On Friday a gunman killed three people and wounded 21 others at an anti-government rally in a plaza where rebel officers have held daily protests.
On Saturday about 100,000 Chavez followers and a smaller number of his opponents held rallies in Caracas.
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