Venezuela's poor join protests as turmoil grips Chávez's revolution
Source: The Guardian
The poor neighbourhood of Petare in western Caracas is not an obvious hotbed of anti-government sentiment. In the past, its residents have been among the major beneficiaries of Venezuela's public health and education campaigns, and an economic policy that resulted in one of the sharpest falls in inequality in the world.
But as demonstrations sweep several major cities, even the people of Petare have taken to the streets to protest again surging inflation, alarming murder rates and shortages of essential commodities.
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Government officials claim the protests are limited, but the sense of tension – as well as government repression – is escalating. On Wednesday night, groups of protesters across the country were dispersed by National Guard troops firing teargas and rubber bullets in what has been the strongest show of government force so far.
The centre of Valencia – a northern industrial city and Venezuela's third largest – was filled with flames as demonstrators blocked the streets.
In the Altavista area of Puerto Ordaz, in Bolivar state, witnesses said national guard troops fired rubber bullets and teargas to break up a student protest camp, and stood by as about 60 plainclothes government supporters on motorbikes opened fire at protesters. "The tanks, the guard and the motorizados were all shooting at the students. There are several wounded," said Ines Duran, who had been providing food and water to the students. "They have the weapons, we only have sticks and rocks." Despite the increased risk of violence, Farias said he was determined to keep protesting. "I am scared, but I am also scared on a daily basis", he said, adding that he had been the target of multiple robberies. "I am sick of not imagining a better future".
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/venezuelas-poor-protests-chavez-revolution
Venezuela Erupts
The tremors have been building for years, but on Wednesday night Venezuela was convulsed in a wave of violence as the government of President Nicolas Maduro appeared to enforce a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests. Streets were filled with tear gas and the crackle of gunfire, as National Guard units and National Police came out in force. Bands of regime supporters—paramilitary gangs known as colectivos—swarmed neighborhoods and public squares on their motorcycles, firing live ammunition at anyone who remained in the open. Some stormed into apartment buildings in search of protesters. The crackdown extended from Caracas to Maracaibo, Maracay, Valencia, and nearly every major city across the South American country. Venezuela’s cities have become notoriously dangerous in recent years, as the country’s crime and murder rate soared. But on Wednesday, Venezuelan cities weren't simply dangerous; they were a war zone.
As startling as the violence itself was the fact that the government gave no warning or explanation in advance. In a rambling national address earlier that day, President Maduro spoke of the need for peace—then praised the work of paramilitary thugs and promised to target members of Popular Will, a leading opposition party. Its leader, Leopoldo Lopez, was spending his second night in a military prison, after surrendering himself to authorities on Tuesday to face trumped-up charges implicating him for the death of three Venezuelans at protests. Even if Lopez, one of the opposition’s best-known leaders, is imprisoned, Maduro isn't acting like the man with the upper hand. In his remarks Wednesday, he seemed erratic and unsure of himself, which only fuels rumors that he may have diminishing control over the state and its security forces.
The most focused target of the regime’s repression has been the Popular Will party. Lopez is being held in the Ramo Verde military prison, a small facility that sits on a mountainside about an hour outside of Caracas. The remote prison has held other high-value political prisoners during Chavez’s years in power. On Tuesday, security personnel raided the Popular Will party’s headquarters in search of their second in command, Carlos Vecchio. Vecchio, a lawyer and activist, has been forced to go into hiding, and on Wednesday President Maduro confirmed that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. There were also unconfirmed reports that a warrant would soon be released for David Smolansky, the next highest party leader. A senior member of the party confirmed Thursday morning that most of the party’s top leadership has either been detained or gone underground.
That may be the key difference between Venezuela today and before: For all of the combative rhetoric and venom spewed by Hugo Chavez, the Comandante always kept a lid on widespread repression. The late strongman was expert at verbally provoking and demonizing his opponents, but the threshold for a large-scale crackdown was never crossed. Chavez would unsettle his enemies, entertain half measures, or defuse a situation by simply directing his abuse at a wholly new target. But Maduro has never possessed his predecessor’s confidence, communication, or political canny, and he inherited a government rife with factions. Since his narrow election last April, the fear has been that Chavismo’s odd blend of bravado and insecurity would swing wildly in his hands, especially as the country dire economic conditions worsened. Early Thursday morning, a senior adviser to a Popular Will party leader described the situation as “extremely fluid,” before expressing surprise at Maduro’s decision to ramp up the confrontation. “The government keeps upping the ante,” he said.
The government is likely reacting to the wave of spontaneous protests that have broken out across the country since peaceful demonstrations devolved into violence on Feb. 12. Those protests had been called in part because of the country’s economic freefall. The oil-rich country has been racked by inflation of nearly 60 percent. Venezuelans have suffered shortages of basic foods, goods, and medicines for years now, but December and January saw new levels of scarcity. The government now admits that 1 in 4 basic goods is out of stock (which means, in truth, it’s much worse). The situation is so bad that three airlines now refuse to fly there: The government owes them too much money.
Full article: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/02/nicolas_maduro_s_venezuela_erupts_in_violence_the_venezuelan_president_appears.html
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pays for even the basics!
How will the cheerleaders explain this, that "the poor" have turned against the brutal mismanagement of the current incompetent regime?
Maduro is an idiot, and VZ is being robbed blind while he fondles the Puerto Rican flag and adjusts his moustaches...!
Now, from whence will the coup come? I keep betting on Diosdado Cabello...he's still got friends in the Army, he was Chavez's best buddy--everyone was shocked when he didn't get the gig in the first place...and he has governmental experience.
Time will tell if "God Given Hair" can cover VZ and lead her out of her misery...! A monkey at a piano could play a better tune than Maduro is managing, now...
I'm also amused that the opposition is using the Guy Fawkes mask...
Many more photos at this link ...this ain't just a little thing; this is serious business in VZ.
Sorry, but if I don't let it out, it tickles.
Yes, this is a BFD. We're all going to learn some things. Thanks for staying on this.
