The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have made it clear that two of their top members currently serving sentences in US prisons will remain part of any humanitarian exchange of prisoners. The two leaders code-named " Sonia" and " Simon Trinidad" were mentioned in a statement by FARC commander, Raul Reyes who heads FARC's international committee. The FARC is currently holding hostage three US contractors. The two guerrilla leaders have been sentenced to 60 years prison for terrorist activities, the kidnap of the three US contractors, as well as narco- trafficking activities. Reyes calls the pro-Colombian government rallies on February 4 as "war rallies" aimed at obstructing the mediation of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and rejecting a demilitarized zone requested to hand over 43 hostages for 500 imprisoned guerrillas without any ambushes or military operations. The much awaited release of three former Colombian Congressman, Reyes announces, will take place without any haste or pauses. Commenting on declarations made by Venezuelan and Ecuadorian Presidents that their countries do not limit with the Colombian government but with the FARC, the guerrilla leader agrees saying the two Presidents' analysis is closer to the reality and he goes a step further, stating that the FARC also borders with Panama, Peru and Brazil.
Ambassador to Mexico, Roy Chaderton Matos says the president of the Mexican Bimbo company operating in Venezuela, Lorenzo Servitje is financing Venezuela's opposition. In a letter published in Mexican broadsheet, El Universal, the Ambassador states that Mr. Servitje is the main private financier for Manuel Espino, president of the Christian Democrat Organization of America (OCDA). The latter organization, Chaderton claims, is organizing an international anti-chavist bash in March with the participation of hardliners, former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar and former Mexican President Vicente Fox, among others. Chaderton Matos maintains that money from Mr. Espino is being used for destabilization actions and policies against Venezuela's democracy. And he calls on the Venezuelan government to investigate movements of Bimbo company directors in Venezuela.
According to a report from the Health Ministry around 40% of children in Venezuela suffer from malnutrition. The study points out that malnutrition is the product of inadequate eating habits, poor digestive absorption and an abnormal loss of nutrients through the digestive system, hemorrhages, kidney failings, excessive sweating, infection or addiction to drugs.
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro says Venezuelans are prepared, trained and ready to meet any attack from the USA in the remaining months of the Bush Administration. Maduro made the statement after meeting representatives of the Argentinean government to discuss an exchange of food products. When asked about the new campaign against Venezuela by transnational oil company Exxon Mobile, the Minister replies that the government has the right to rescue national interests and national assets. The Minister recalls that those in charge of former administrations damaged national interests and he cites the example of the privatization process planned for the Orinoco oil belt, known as the Open Oil Policy (Apertura Petrolera).
Labor Ministry director-general of labor relations, Jose Gregorio Villaroel has announced that collective bargaining negotiations between the United Steel Workers Union (Sutiss) and the Ternium steel company of the Orinoco (Sidor) is advancing satisfactorily. Last Sunday, the trade union handed a proposal to the Sidor board of directors, who returned a counter proposal. Yesterday, a number of clauses have been agreed regarding work stability, remunerated permissions and education projects. The unions had held stoppages to protest delays in opening the bargaining process.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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