VENEZUELAN SHIP SEIZED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 9

VENEZUELAN SHIP SEIZED

Hijacked At Sea By Communists

(N-Z. Press Association-Copyright) CARACAS, February 14. A Venezuelan cargo ship, the Anzoategui, has been hijacked on the high seas while on the way to Houston, Texas, the Venezuelan Navigation Company reported today.

The company said two ships manned by Communists were, involved in the hijacking of the 3127-ton Anzoategui, about 370 miles north of Venezuela. The shipping company said the raiders were armed with machine-guns.

The Venezuelan Communist Armed Forces of Liberation (F.A.L.N.) claimed in a statement issued in Caracas that its agents had hijacked the ship.

The point where the company reported the ship was hijacked is about halfway between the northern coast of Venezuela and the southern coast of Dominica.

It is thought the ship might be taken by its pirate crew to Cuba, the British United Press said. The Minister of the Interior, Mr Carlos Perez, said the hijacking apparently was accomplished with the aid of stowaways or with the complicity of members of the crew. There were 40 passengers and seamen on board. A F.A.L.N. communique said: “The ship has been hijacked on the high seas as part of the operation to show repugnance for the four years of dictatorial government under (President) Betancourt "Two squads of guerrillas have captured the ship, Anzoategui, holding in hostage the captain, crew and passengers. This operation was directed by the Majors Simon and RafaeL “The national command of guerrillas (of the F.A.L.N.) guarantees the safety of the crew and passengers.” The shipowners said four stowaways, aided by at least two of the ship’s officers, helped to seize the ship. The holds of the ship were nearly empty, as it was going to Houston to pick up a cargo of industrial machinery. The Venezuelan Navy has been asked to help recapture the

Anzoategui, and two destroyers are reported to be preparing to sail. The Anzoategui left its home port of La Guaira last night for Houston.

Members of the F.A.L.N. stole several French paintings from a Caracas museum last month. The . paintings were recovered.

The organisation has launched a terrorist campaign in an attempt to force President Betancourt to cancel

his planned trip to the United States next Monday. The hijacking is reminiscent of the Santa Maria hijacking in 1961, when the Portuguese luxury liner was seized by Portuguese political exiles and sailed to Brazil after being lost to the world for several hours.

Captain Henrique Galvao, who led that hijacking, became a political exile in Brazil and the ship was returned to its owners.