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CNN Live Sunday
Venezuelan Oil Workers Strike Continues
Aired December 29, 2002 - 17:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You're paying more for gasoline partly because of the nearly month-old oil workers strike in Venezuela. Venezuelans themselves are lining up for hours to get gas, only to find empty pumps in many cases. CNN's Lucia Newman joins us live on videophone from Caracas -- Lucia.
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Fredricka. At this very moment, another enormous demonstration is taking place right now, organized by opponents of President Hugo Chavez. There are hundreds and thousands of them marching right now, gathered on Victoria Avenue, in southwestern Caracas, demanding early elections which they hope will lead to the resignation or at least a defeat of President Hugo Chavez, who is now refusing to hold earlier elections thus far.
Now, they also called for civil disobedience against the authority.
As they were gathering earlier on, President Hugo Chavez himself addressed the nation from Carabobo (ph), which is one of the main gasoline distribution areas of Venezuela. In his regular address to the nation on Sunday, he called the striking petrol workers "traitors to the cause." He said that the government was winning the battle for gasoline and oil with employees who are loyal to the government who are now working overtime.
He said, in fact, that his opponents are even trying to use black magic and voodoo against them, and even went as far to say that a vulture in chains has been tossed into the presidential palace. He said, quote, "I have no plans to withdraw. Only towards attack, advance, unity and reconciliation."
Now, Fredricka, he did not explain how you can attack and reconciliate all at the same time. However, he did confirm that Venezuela continues to import gasoline to meet the acute gasoline shortages in this country, that some 400,000 barrels, in fact, will be coming in from Trinidad over the next few days. However, he says that the situation should get back to normal within the next two weeks, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Lucia, where are some of those imports coming from?
NEWMAN: We already saw the first shipload, the first tanker coming from Brazil yesterday. There are some coming in from Kurosao (ph), and also from Trinidad. Two tankers are coming in, according to President Chavez, from Trinidad. We don't know whether that will be it, because the government says that slowly they are getting the industry back on its feet again. The opposition, the striking workers, at least, say that it's impossible, that the government cannot get Venezuela's enormous petrol industry back on its feet without the expertise of those who are now on strike, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And of course, Lucia, Chavez is digging in his heels. He's saying he's not going to be forced to step down.
NEWMAN: Both sides are digging in their heels. That's the problem here. Everybody is talking, but nobody seems to be willing to negotiate at all. (AUDIO GAP). Bartered by the secretary general of the Organization of American States will probably continue on Monday, but the secretary general himself won't be back until Thursday. So for at least another week, we don't expect to see any kind of a political solution to this crisis, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Lucia Newman, thank you very much, from Caracas.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 29, 2002 - 17:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: You're paying more for gasoline partly because of the nearly month-old oil workers strike in Venezuela. Venezuelans themselves are lining up for hours to get gas, only to find empty pumps in many cases. CNN's Lucia Newman joins us live on videophone from Caracas -- Lucia.
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Fredricka. At this very moment, another enormous demonstration is taking place right now, organized by opponents of President Hugo Chavez. There are hundreds and thousands of them marching right now, gathered on Victoria Avenue, in southwestern Caracas, demanding early elections which they hope will lead to the resignation or at least a defeat of President Hugo Chavez, who is now refusing to hold earlier elections thus far.
Now, they also called for civil disobedience against the authority.
As they were gathering earlier on, President Hugo Chavez himself addressed the nation from Carabobo (ph), which is one of the main gasoline distribution areas of Venezuela. In his regular address to the nation on Sunday, he called the striking petrol workers "traitors to the cause." He said that the government was winning the battle for gasoline and oil with employees who are loyal to the government who are now working overtime.
He said, in fact, that his opponents are even trying to use black magic and voodoo against them, and even went as far to say that a vulture in chains has been tossed into the presidential palace. He said, quote, "I have no plans to withdraw. Only towards attack, advance, unity and reconciliation."
Now, Fredricka, he did not explain how you can attack and reconciliate all at the same time. However, he did confirm that Venezuela continues to import gasoline to meet the acute gasoline shortages in this country, that some 400,000 barrels, in fact, will be coming in from Trinidad over the next few days. However, he says that the situation should get back to normal within the next two weeks, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Lucia, where are some of those imports coming from?
NEWMAN: We already saw the first shipload, the first tanker coming from Brazil yesterday. There are some coming in from Kurosao (ph), and also from Trinidad. Two tankers are coming in, according to President Chavez, from Trinidad. We don't know whether that will be it, because the government says that slowly they are getting the industry back on its feet again. The opposition, the striking workers, at least, say that it's impossible, that the government cannot get Venezuela's enormous petrol industry back on its feet without the expertise of those who are now on strike, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And of course, Lucia, Chavez is digging in his heels. He's saying he's not going to be forced to step down.
NEWMAN: Both sides are digging in their heels. That's the problem here. Everybody is talking, but nobody seems to be willing to negotiate at all. (AUDIO GAP). Bartered by the secretary general of the Organization of American States will probably continue on Monday, but the secretary general himself won't be back until Thursday. So for at least another week, we don't expect to see any kind of a political solution to this crisis, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Lucia Newman, thank you very much, from Caracas.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
