On Monday, December 10, 2001, millions of Venezuelans closed their businesses to protest economic policies recently passed by the Chavez government that are perceived as anti-private sector. Although Venezuela's largest business association, Fedecamaras, organized the protest, the unions also supported the strike, the first cooperation of this kind in the country. The opposition-aligned Confederation of Venezuelan Workers, Venezuela's largest labor group, called on its 1 million members to stay home. Chavez says his land reform law will correct the injustice of only 1 percent of the population owning more than 60 percent of the country's arable land. But business leaders say it violates private property rights by forcing farmers to conform to a national agricultural strategy or risk having their land confiscated. The country's two largest newspapers, El Nacional and El Universal, and many regional dailies did not circulate Monday in solidarity with the stoppage.

News Stories:

"Chávez: ''Estoy dispuesto a tomar medidas muy duras'",
El Universal, (Venezuela) December 11, 2001

"Breves del Paro Nacional",
El Universal, (Venezuela) December 11, 2001

"El Mandatario se empeña en desconocer la realidad"
El Universal, (Venezuela) December 11, 2001

"Venezuelan Businesses Shut Doors"
Associated Press, December 10, 2001

"Venezuela's Chavez faces labour wrath"
BBC News, December 10, 2001

"A Brash Rival for Venezuela's President"
New York Times, December 10, 2001

"Venezuelans Brace for Strike"
Associated Press, December 10, 2001

"Paro en Venezuela es casi total"
El Tiempo, (Colombia) December 10, 2001