Carlos Ortega (unionist)

In April 2002, under Carlos Ortega's leadership, the CTV declared a national strike, to protest against the perceived increasingly dictatorial policies of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

Chávez had moved in late 2002 to implement greater control over the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and its revenues.

[6] The Attorney General's office announced that an inquiry would be made into "everyone showing solidarity and support" for Ortega's escape, and that those who "praised the incident" could be charged under Article 285 of the Penal Code, which "labels generic or indirect solicitation as a crime.

This behavior can be established in three ways -solicitation to disobey laws, hatred among citizens and apology of a crime or defense of people who put public peace in jeopardy.

[9] Peru's Foreign Affairs Minister José Antonio García Belaúnde later confirmed the claim made by the Venezuelan government and stated that Ortega had been granted political asylum on the basis of "humanitarian reasons".