Mediators Warn of More Violence in Venezuela

Government envoys have downplayed the seriousness of a national strike that has crippled oil production in Venezuela, complicating negotiations on the crisis and raising the chances for violence, the talks’ mediators said Wednesday.

In remarks that highlighted the growing urgency of the standoff between President Hugo Chavez and his opponents, Cesar Gaviria, head of the Organization of American States, said a failure to reach an accord in the next few days could lead to food shortages, looting and riots.

“I think both sides have to negotiate soon, in the next few days, or we will find increasing demands by the opposition that may take Venezuela to a confrontation with a high risk of violence,” Gaviria said, in his strongest comments yet on the possibility of bloodshed in this country’s 10-day-old strike.

The protest is the latest chapter in a sometimes bloody battle that pits Chavez, a strident leftist, against a determined though fragmented opposition of unions, businesses, civic groups and ordinary Venezuelans.

Gaviria said government representatives maintain that the strike has had no effect, while opposition negotiators insist that the only solution to the crisis is early presidential elections.

The gap between the two sides confirmed fears of a deepening political crisis in the country, which produces about 15% of all U.S. petroleum imports.

Opponents said the strike would continue today for an 11th day.

Government negotiators “say there is no strike. They say everyone is working, that what we have is sabotage in the oil industry,” Gaviria said. “Because they have such different views of reality, it is very difficult to have an agreement.”

Wednesday night, Gaviria called the day’s discussions “stimulating” but said the sides had reached no agreement. He said they would continue discussing the possibility of early elections today.

Originally, the opposition had sought a February referendum on Chavez’s rule. But now negotiators are seeking early presidential elections, encouraged by the strike’s success and angry at government actions.

One negotiator said the opposition is proposing that Chavez resign and that the February referendum be a vote on when and whether to hold a constitutional amendment to allow for his replacement. The negotiator acknowledged that the two sides aren’t close on an agreement but predicted that that would change.

“The water is only to his mouth. We think that by Saturday, it will be at his nose,” said Rafael Alfonso, an opposition negotiator representing the national Chamber of Commerce.

Chavez, however, spent Wednesday fiercely trying to break the strike, especially the paralysis at the state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, better known as PDVSA.

Armed commandos stormed two of 13 state oil tankers affected by the strike. New captains were installed, but a merchant marine representative insisted that the tankers remained anchored.

However, Rafael Ramirez, the minister of energy and mines, said several non-state-owned tankers loaded with crude were bound for the United States and the Bahamas, the first such shipments in days. At least three other tankers were loading, he said.

A triumphant Chavez appeared at the presidential palace late in the afternoon to announce that the strike was being defeated.

In incendiary remarks, which have been typical on both sides, he compared the strikers to leftist Colombian guerrillas who have blown up oil facilities, accusing them of terrorism.

The state television station also began running ads attacking the oil company’s profit margins, suggesting that it is filled with corrupt bureaucrats.

“The most important thing is that we are overcoming this crisis,” Chavez said as he picked up a little girl, kissed her and asked her what she wanted for Christmas. “It’s a demonstration of great strength.”

By the end of the day, after another peaceful protest march, opposition leaders insisted that the strike continued to be a success. They said 72% of the state’s crude oil production, 83% of natural gas production and more than 90% of refinery operations remained shut down.

The day ended with a massive cacerolazo, in which Venezuelans banged on pots and pans to raise an overwhelming tintinnabulation of protest.