http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/wo...s/16venez.html

Chávez Tells His Navy to Take Over Key Seaports


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By SIMON ROMERO
Published: March 15, 2009

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chávez ordered the navy on Sunday to seize seaports in states with major petroleum-exporting installations, part of his effort to assert greater control over infrastructure that had come under the dominion of political opponents in regional elections last year.
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The move points to a spreading radicalization by Mr. Chávez, as he responds to a slowing economy and the gains made by his opponents. Economic growth slowed in the last quarter to its most sluggish pace in five years, 3.2 percent, weighed down by low oil prices.

In recent weeks, Mr. Chávez’s government announced the nationalization of an Irish-owned eucalyptus-tree plantation and a rice plant controlled by Cargill, the American agricultural giant. Last week, legislators loyal to Mr. Chávez approved a law shifting control of seaports, airports and highways from states to the central government.

Mr. Chávez announced on state television the takeover of the ports of Maracaibo, in Zulia State, and Puerto Cabello, in Carabobo State, and threatened to jail governors who opposed the move. He also referred to a plan to take control of the seaport and airport in the state of Nueva Esparta.

“Go ask the gringo Fourth Fleet for help to defend your port,” Mr. Chávez taunted the governor of Nueva Esparta, a political rival, referring to the United States Navy’s Fourth Fleet. It was reactivated in the Caribbean last year after a six-decade hiatus, to the chagrin of several Latin American governments.

Opponents of Mr. Chávez won control in November of five states and several key cities, including parts of Caracas and Maracaibo, Venezuela’s second-largest city.

But his followers have been seeking to restrict their opponents’ authority and enhance the power of the president, who won approval of a measure last month abolishing his term limits.

On Sunday, Mr. Chávez said the takeover of the seaports was needed to bolster security after reports of cocaine trafficking on ships docking in Venezuelan ports.

Hinting at a looming economic adjustment that may accompany the spate of takeovers, however, he also spoke of subsidized gasoline, a generally taboo subject in his government.

Venezuela has some of the world’s most inexpensive gasoline, selling for about 6 cents a gallon, a subsidized price that deprives the government of money for social welfare projects. The subsidy also feeds a thriving fuel-smuggling network into countries that export their own oil, including Brazil, as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

“Someday these prices will need to be adjusted,” Mr. Chávez warned. “We are practically giving away our gasoline.”

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