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Autonomy Proposed in State Legislature of Venezuelan Oil State Zulia

An autonomy initiative in Zulia, Venezuela could become a "half-moon" secessionist movement if the opposition prevails in upcoming state and local elections, President Chávez speculated Sunday. (VTV)
On Tuesday, state legislators from the opposition political party A New Time (Un Nuevo Tiempo) in the oil-rich state of Zulia, Venezuela, proposed a feasibility study for potential autonomy from the federal government, which they compared to the autonomy efforts in Bolivia’s wealthiest province.

Uribe Would Be Involved in the “Final Offensive” Against Venezuela

Former Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez (Archive)
According to former Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez, the so-called “final offensive” against Venezuela is being planned presumably from Colombia, and would be executed by that country’s army, according to agreements between Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and US Ambassador William Brownfield.

Venezuela Calls for Oil Profits to Fund Food in Latin America

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro proposed that Latin American countries create a food bank to counter food supply problems and that oil profits of the region go towards a new food fund. Maduro made the proposal during the Food summit held in Nicaragua on Wednesday.

Venezuelan Inflation Holds Steady at 1.7% in April

Planning and Development Minister Haiman El Troudi (Archive)
Venezuelan Planning and Development Minister Haiman El Troudi announced on Tuesday that inflation closed at 1.7 percent for April, unchanged from the previous month.

United Socialist Party of Venezuela to Determine Nomination Process Democratically

PSUV vice-president Muller Rojas (EFE)
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will hold a national assembly of party delegates on Friday to determine the methodology of selecting candidates for the upcoming state and local election party vice-president Alberto Müller Rojas said on Monday.

Labor Contract Signed, Nationalization Process Continues at Venezuelan Steel Plant

After marathon negotiations, Steel workers in recently nationalized SIDOR achieved a collective contract agreement that union leader José Meléndez (second from Left) called "a great triumph." (Aporrea)

The United Steel Industry Workers Union at the recently nationalized SIDOR steel plant and the Venezuelan government finalized a collective labor contract early Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Sidor's former owner says it is still willing to negotiate the indemnity for the nationalization.

Venezuela Rejects Bolivian Province’s Autonomy Vote

Tens of thousands of Bolivians march against Santa Cruz's illegal autonomy referendum in El Alto (ABI)
Venezuela will not recognize the results of an autonomy referendum, marred by fraud, abstention, and violence in Bolivia’s richest state, Santa Cruz on Sunday, Venezuelan representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Jorge Valero assured Sunday night.

Venezuela Declares Solidarity with Bolivia’s Government in Face of Separatist Effort

Bolivians protesting against the regional autonomy referendum in Santa Cruz (AFP)
The Venezuelan government reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity of Bolivia and the government of Evo Morales in the face of moves by rightwing oppositionists in the state of Santa Cruz, to hold an unconstitutional referendum on autonomy this Sunday, May 4.

Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment Puts Breaks on Gold Mining Permits

The Venezuelan government denied a mining permit to the transnational Crystallex Wednesday, favoring small-scale mining cooperatives (Archive)
Toronto-based Crystallex Corporation announced Wednesday that the Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment denied a key gold mining permit for the company’s operation of the Las Cristinas mine, one of the largest gold deposits in Latin America.

Venezuelan Labor Day Rally Attracts Hundreds of Thousands, Wages Raised by 30%

Hundreds of thousands of workers celebrate May Day in Venezuela (ABN)
Waving red flags, more than 300,000 workers marched in Caracas to celebrate May 1, the International Day of Workers Struggle. The rally also celebrated a decree by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez increasing the minimum wage by 30%.