Anti-Maduro strike paralyzes swathes of Venezuela

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#WORLD NEWS
JULY 20, 2017 / 7:45 AM / 24 MINUTES AGO

Anti-Maduro strike paralyzes swathes of Venezuela

CARACAS (Reuters) - Streets around Venezuela were deserted and barricaded on Thursday for a strike called by foes of President Nicolas Maduro to demand a presidential election and the abandonment of a new congress they fear would cement dictatorship.

Many businesses were also staying shut as the opposition sought a 24-hour national shutdown from 6 a.m. to heighten pressure on the ruling Socialist Party.

"It's started well. There's no movement, everything is closed, we all need to do our best to get rid of this tyrant," said protester Miguel Lopez, 17, holding a shield with "No To Dictatorship!" emblazoned on it, as he manned a roadblock in Caracas in a main thoroughfare devoid of traffic.

Writing by Andrew Cawthorne

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-strike-idUSKBN1A51ET

[GatoGordo]

1. Not so curiously, all government offices are open for business...

... despite the fact that they don't do anything. Maduro (and PSUV strongman Cabello, the puppet master) have made it very clear that any government employee who doesn't show up for work will lose their employment and "benefits" (translation: CLAP food bags given to "faithful" Chavistas). No allowances will be made for not being able to get to work due to protests and strikes. Ergo, many government employees spent the night in their buildings for fear of not being able to eat.

[GatoGordo]

2. Tweets from the dark side!

"Alcaldía de Caroní sancionará a comerciantes que acaten llamado a paro. Alcalde @OviedoPSUV dijo que revocarán licencia de actividades"

translation: "The mayor of Caroní will punish merchants who abide by the call to strike. The mayor @OviedoPSUV said that he will revoked their operators licenses." (Chavismo has a long, illustrious history of confiscating business under the name of "State Security" and not reimbursing the owners)

And a tweet from El Jefe himself!

"El Gobierno Bolivariano junto al pueblo, derrotando con Trabajo y compromiso patriota a los enemigos de Venezuela"

translation: "The Bolivarian Government together with the people, defeating the enemies of Venezuela with work and patriotic commitment" (His tweet shows the former bus driver driving down a "busy" street... as street that usually is a impassable to drive on at midday.)



What the main highway looked like at the same time.

Link: https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2017/07/21/strike-recap/

edited to add link