Published at: 06/12/2023 09:00 PM

After the April 2002 coup d'etat, 36 non-governmental organizations, 14 political parties, 12 captains of the merchant marine, private media (radio, press and television), the church hierarchy and the leaders of the CTV and Fedecamaras tried to overthrow President Hugo Chávez through a general strike and sabotage of the oil industry.

In the six months after the April coup, these factors, in the shadow of the dialogue table, negotiated with the U.S. government to articulate low-intensity stratagems and launch the blow they claimed would wipe out the ultimate leader of the Bolivarian Revolution and his government.

For 64 days, millions of households were victims of shortages of gasoline, household gas and the food needed for daily sustenance. The queues were endless.

30 days after the oil strike, the losses caused to Venezuela amounted to Bs. 5.69 trillion, at a rate of 35 million dollars a day. Production fell by one and a half million barrels a day destined for export. The Paraguaná refining complex was paralyzed.

In addition, millions of dollars were lost due to the stoppage of loading and unloading of 14 tankers, 5 from PDV Marina anchored in the bays of Amuay and Cardón, including the super tankers “Martiza Sayalero” and “Ambrosio Plaza”. The “Susana Duijm” was anchored near Catia La Mar and the “Pilín León” near the bridge over Lake Maracaibo.

On the coast of Pozuelos Bay, Anzoátegui, four PDVSA oil tankers and eleven hydrocarbon vessels were anchored to international ports that were not allowed to load fuel.

This being one of the longest general strikes in history, the total damage reached an estimated amount of 21 billion dollars. The national GDP declined significantly, boosting inflation and unemployment. Millions of workers stopped receiving their bonuses and all economic-labor activity was de facto suspended.

The lockout imposed by the Democratic Coordinator and Fedechambers brought disastrous consequences for small and medium-sized businessmen who, in the midst of Christmas celebrations, were forced to download Santa María.

The impact led to the closure of supermarkets, shopping centers, private schools and, as a result, the bankruptcy of many merchants. Small factories, artisanal businesses, restaurants, hotels and other businesses that could not recover from this suicidal action called for by the coven of the opposition Holy Alliance also went bankrupt.

This time the coup d'etat manual applied followed the same guidelines as the one applied to Salvador Allende in September 1973; increasing scarcity, stopping transportation, disconnecting the middle class to the streets, producing a social outbreak and the subsequent intervention of military forces with the participation of the United States. The Pentagon and the CIA were behind this entire operation.

A strike of that nature could not work and will never work, because, like any fratricidal action of the Creole bourgeoisie and its obsequent dissociated and denationalized middle class, underestimated the popular roots and leadership capacity of Commander Chávez.

They also underestimated, as always, an indispensable factor: The legendary strength, resilience and fighting spirit of the noble and sovereign VENEZUELAN PEOPLE.

Mazo News Team