VENEZUELA: The fate of Venezuelan President Mr Hugo Chavez's embattled administration hung by a fine thread yesterday as an ongoing general strike left the country at a standstill and rival street protests sparked fears of widespread violence.
Venezuela's opposition, led by a powerful business and media alliance, has targeted Mr Chavez's "jugular vein", the oil supplies which provide 80 per cent of government income. Oil production has fallen to a quarter of normal levels as army troops struggle to take control of installations.
The nation is trapped in a Catch-22 situation as opposition leaders insist on continuing the general strike until Mr Chavez has left office while government officials demand that the strike is called off before negotiations resume.
The lack of movement has transferred the crisis to the streets where Mr Chavez's supporters sacked hostile media outlets and shots were fired at the offices of the nation's only government channel.
Mobile phones spread rumours at a furious pace in Caracas yesterday where pro-government supporters rallied to the presidential palace, fearing a paramilitary attack while anti-government followers huddled in groups, claiming Mr Chavez was about to send tanks on to the streets.
"There is nothing left to discuss," said Mr Carlos Ortega, leader of Venezuela's Central Worker's Union, "Chavez must go." Each fresh offensive against Mr Chavez appears closer to unseating him as ordinary Venezuelans grow weary of the ongoing tension. However, he still enjoys considerable support in the poor neighbourhoods of Caracas where half a million supporters are prepared to risk their lives to defend his administration.
Mr César Gaviria, secretary-general of the Organisation of American States, initially appeared hopeful that each side would split the difference on a timetable for early elections. Mr Chavez insisted a referendum on his rule should take place in August 2003 but opposition leaders demand one in February. The proposal for a compromise date next May was scuppered on Tuesday when both sides left the negotiating table, angry at events elsewhere.
Despite his fiery bluster and rhetoric, Mr Chavez is a genuine democrat in a region where civilian rule is frequently a thin disguise for dictatorial methods with political leaders constantly dispatching army and police troops to crush peaceful protest.
Mr Chavez rose to prominence by denouncing Venezuela's corrupt, traditional parties which were swept away by his electoral steamroller in December 1998. The ousted parties have reinvented themselves as "civil society" and are leading the current offensive.
"The only unaccountable power here is the media," complained Vice-President Mr Jose Vicente Rangel. Venezuela's media freely publishes a catalogue of alleged government abuses but systematically ignores pro-government statements and rallies. The self-censorship process was denounced by Mr Andres Izarra, a production manager in charge of a flagship television news programme, who resigned his post during the April coup. "This censorship has made life impossible for journalists."
Meanwhile, the former director of oil giant PDVSA, Mr Josi Toro Hardy, described Mr Chavez as "the greatest threat" to US oil supplies, a reminder that beyond the streets of Caracas, the Bush administration is keeping a close eye on unfolding events.
