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Chavez Orders Army to Seize Rice Plants

Struggle over nationalization as plants fear bankruptcy

By Amelia Atlas, Newser User

Posted Mar 1, 2009 6:27 AM CST

(Newser) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the army to seize control of the nation's rice processing plants, continuing a trend of industrial nationalization by his government, reports the BBC. Chavez accused the plants of failing to meet government price quotas for grain, intended to ensure cheap food prices. The plants, in turn, claim that they are facing bankruptcy as strict price controls have interfered with their profits.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez holds a national flag during a farewell ceremony to a sailboat crew at a port near Caracas yesterday. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office, Juan Carlos Solorzano)

Venezuela's government seized control of this cement company last year. Now, the government is also seizing rice plants. (AP Photo/STR)

Venezuela's government seized control of the cement company owned by Mexico's Cemex SAB last year night after failing to reach a deal on terms for its nationalization. (AP Photo/Reinado D'Santiago)

People buy confiscated food at the National Guard headquarters at the Colombian border. President Hugo Chavez is cracking down on the smuggling of staples including rice, flour and sugar to Colombia. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

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I have ordered the immediate intervention in all those sectors of agro-industry. This government is here to protect the people, not the bourgeoisie or the rich. - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

Guest

Mar 2, 2009 6:07 AM CST

Whoops, Brown shirts were right wing fascists-wrong end of the political spectrum. Fascism is when business controls governement. Socialism is when government completely controls business. That business controlling government hasn't worked out to well lately, has it. Maybe time to move enough to the left to at least regulate business a little.

Guest

Mar 2, 2009 1:36 AM CST

Banks first, then agriculture.

BackAgain

Mar 1, 2009 3:29 AM CST

hey lets do the banks first.

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Venezuela • bankruptcy • nationalization • food prices • Hugo Chávez

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Chavez Orders Army to Seize Rice Plants