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AFP. 30 April 2002. Violence feared as Venezuelan unions prepare for May Day parades. CARACAS -- Authorities fear that marches here by unions supporting and opposing President Hugo Chavez, scheduled for May 1, could result in outbreaks of violence similar to the mid-April unrest that resulted in a brief civilian-military coup. Plans by the rival unions, which at one point will march within 500 meters (1,500 feet) of each other, has led the government to deploy some 1,200 police to keep the peace and make sure the two groups remain apart. The Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), the country's most powerful labor union, has called its members to march Wednesday in celebration of international labor day from its southeast Caracas headquarters to the downtown National Assembly. The other major labor march, by the pro-Chavez Bolivarian Workers Force (FBT), is scheduled to start at a working-class neighborhood in western Caracas and end near the downtown presidential palace of Miraflores. CTV president Carlos Ortega, a fierce Chavez opponent, said that he guaranteed "the physical integrity" of his workers during the Wednesday march. The CTV represents some 1.3 million workers, mainly public sector employees. FBT coordinator Oswaldo Vera called on the Venezuelan people to come out "in the street" to join their pro-Chavez march and protest the April 12 coup. On Sunday, Chavez confirmed that a 20% increase of the minimum wage would go into effect on May 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews MayDay coverage! --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
