Official: Venezuelan oil workers must be socialist

The Associated Press
5:41 p.m. July 14, 2009

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's oil minister says workers at the state oil company must support President Hugo Chavez's endeavors or be suspected of conspiring against his socialist revolution.

Rafael Ramirez says Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, must follow Chavez's orders – whether that's helping out with social programs or selling oil to geopolitical allies such as China.

He warned that workers who do not join community groups organized by the government's party will be suspected of "conspiring against the revolution."

Tuesday's comments were not the first time Ramirez has pressured oil workers.

In November 2006, Chavez opponents released a video of Ramirez telling PDVSA employees to support the president for re-election.

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