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Related: About this forumProtests, Disturbances, and Violence Continue in Venezuela, General Strike a “Failure”
Protests, Disturbances, and Violence Continue in Venezuela, General Strike a Failure
By Tamara Pearson
Merida, April 16th 2013 (Venezuelanalysis.com) This afternoon president Maduro said the oppositions call for a general strike today had failed. He also blamed the losing candidate in Sundays elections, Henrique Capriles, for the seven deaths last night.
Maduro said last nights violence was part of a plan to take Venezuela off the road of democracy, and called on the people to be peaceful and not fall for provocations.
He also declared the coup détat defeated, and inaugurated a health centre in Miranda state. However he said it seemed the destabilisations will continue. Though there has been no direct attempt to overthrow the government, some government authorities have referred to the oppositions refusal to recognise the election results as a coup or part of an attempt to bring about a coup.
President of the National Electoral Council (CNE) Tibisay Lucena said yesterday that the electoral system functioned perfectly on Sunday. She urged Henrique Capriles, who has not recognised the results, to use legal methods to present his complaints. 54% of the votes were audited on Sunday in the presence of booth witnesses from both political parties, and no problems were found, but opposition protestors are demanding that 100% of the votes be recounted.
Telesur reports that according to CNE norms, the opposition have twenty (working) days to contest the results, they can do it through the Supreme Court, or the CNE, but they should formalise it, and not do it through the media.
Majority is majority, and should be respected under a democracy, they shouldnt seek ambushes and invent things in order to make popular sovereignty vulnerable... that has just one name, coup-ism (golpismo), Maduro said yesterday.
Mondays aggressions
Last night seven people were killed as a result of opposition violence; two in Caracas, three in Ojeda, Zulia, one in Cumana, and one person in San Cristobal.
The opposition set fire to 18 Central Diagnostic Centres (CDIs part of the Barrio Adentro mission), and 3 subsidised markets (Mercals). They also attacked the director of the CNE, Tibisay Lucenas house, and the Telesur and VTV offices.
There are also unconfirmed reports of four attacks on housing mission buildings in Miranda, with seven people killed and ten injured.
The governor of Carabobo state, Francisco Ameliach, reported that 8 CDIs were besieged and Cuban doctors were attacked in his state. He said 64 people were detained inside the CDI, and should go to jail, because were not going to tolerate a coup détat here.
In Merida, around 700 mostly young opposition students protested outside the CNE, as well as in four other places in the city. Venezuelanalysis.com observed that police presence was light, and most police unarmed. Many of the students armed themselves with rocks and glass bottles however, as though hoping something would happen. There were similar such protests outside most of the countrys main CNE headquarters.
Many people have posted photos around social networks, claiming they are of the CNE disposing of Sundays ballot boxes, though they are in fact of the CNE disposing of 2010 voting boxes, as the law requires. Media like La Patilla and RCTV have also used the photos. Pundit Nelson Bocaranda also tweeted that the CDI in La Paz, Gallo Verde, Maracaibo is hiding some electoral boxes and the Cubans there wont allow them to be removed. Opposition television station Globovision has been arguing that if they dont want to count the votes, they must have something to hide.
Capriles called for marches around the country to each states head CNE office for today, and for a large march lead by him tomorrow to the headquarters of the CNE in Caracas.
President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, reported by Twitter that he will propose an investigation to the assembly against Capriles for the acts of violence. Luisa Ortega said the public prosecutors office will investigate the seven confirmed deaths.
Further, the suspension of the right to carry arms in place during the election, as is the custom, has been extended to this Saturday 6.00pm, following last nights violence.
State, municipal, and national police are also confined to barracks until Saturday. Police need permission from the National Bolivarian Armed Forces strategic operational command to intervene or act on any of the violence taking place.
Published on Apr 16th 2013 at 2.20pm
This work is licensed under a Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives Creative Commons license
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/8652
Judi Lynn
(160,218 posts)Remember the group of over 1000 paramilitaries the oligarchs brought in from Colombia several years ago testified, after being arrested, that they had been given the orders to attack a National Guard armory and steal 2,000 rifles and ammunition, etc. preparatory to their assault on Miraflores to assassinate Hugo Chavez.
We didn't learn about it through the US corporate media, of course, but thousands of Venezuela marched in the street to protest this interrupted assassination attempt on their president.
We notice all their targets are valuable to the Venezuelan people themselves. I hope somehow they are brought to justice and made to pay for this. They have a good swift kick coming to them.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Figure the odds. It's a calculated insult to the people, to the medical community and to the government that prefers to invest in people rather than rich people's bank accounts.
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)Catherina
(35,568 posts)Yet you neglect to mention that they're still allowed to peacefully protest. Capriles' supporters are protesting right now especially in Merida, Barinas and Maracay. Tomorrow wasn't just a simple protest rally, it was more insurrection to whip up hatred and destabilize.
Everyone knows the script. Maduro would have to be a fool to play along with it. Nope, it's not going to be so easy for Otto Reich crowd.
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)Tomorrow is the big protest in Central Caracas. Or, it was. Maduro cancelled it and said he won't allow it. Hopefully they will do it anyway, as I say to all people who want to protest against the wishes of any government.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2013, 07:37 PM - Edit history (1)
according to the information I've seen.
El excandidato presidencial Henrique Capriles, llamó este martes a sus seguidores a "recogerse" y no marchar mañana miércoles como había llamado, para evitar situaciones de violencia.
...
http://www.panorama.com.ve/portal/app/push/noticia62619.php
The former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, on Tuesday called on his followers to "restrain themselves" and not go to the rally he had called for Wednesday in order to avoid situations of violence.
On edit, also in English on the BBC:
Venezuela opposition leader Capriles calls off rally
Venezuela's opposition leader Henrique Capriles has called off a rally to demand a recount of Sunday's disputed presidential election.
...
"We are ready to open a dialogue with the government so that the crisis can be ended in the coming hours," he said later, calling off the rally. He claimed that Mr Maduro's supporters were planning to infiltrate the march.
...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22176532
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)It's possible both are true i.e. Maduro says I am allowing it and and so Capriles says "don't go". I'll look for more info.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)The announcement came after President Maduro banned the opposition march from entering Caracas. He denounced the two-day anti-government street protests as part of a US-led coup attempt reminiscent of the April 2002 coup that saw Chávez ousted from power for two days.
"That march will not enter Caracas. It is my responsibility as president not to allow this march I am defending them from themselves," Maduro said from the headquarters of the state-run oil company PDVSA. "While we conducted a campaign within the principles established by our constitution, they [the opposition] waged an electric warfare, an economic warfare."
...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/17/venezuela-opposition-protest-maduro-victory
I was w... w... wr.... wrong lol.
...
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)Marksman_91
(2,035 posts)Catherina
(35,568 posts)Actions taken to destabilize the economy and also corporations hoarding food supplies to drive the price up or, especially in Venezuela's cause, to create anger against the government/
When private firms cheat customers with unjustified price rises that drive 30% inflation and drive food up even more at 40%, it's considered to be economic warfare, in the US it's mainly attributable to greed, in Venezuela's case it's mostly to *prove* that socialism can't work.
Since the distribution of food is still mainly in the hands of big supermarkets and food monopolies, often owned by multinationals, this is very easy to do.
Marksman_91
(2,035 posts)So, tell me, how is he fascist again?
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Next time Occupy posters are banned I'm sure you'll be cheering it.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)So much for inciting violence.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)Just like I said.
The fascist are never one to disappoint with their hatred of Democracy.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)that anyone could even dare suggest x,y,z. Go figure
Capriles saw he lost control of this thing, so he's starting to back off. And i would not automatically dismiss allegations of US involvement in trying to destabilize Venezuela, we've done it before and we'll do it again, sadly. This country just can't mind its own business.
PETRUS
(3,678 posts)Catherina
(35,568 posts)Hasta La Victoria Siempre
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)This has been an invaluable series. Thank you Catherina.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)I love you for years of struggle together.
Thank you
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Venezuela's post-election crisis is growing deeper, with seven people killed during clashes between the opposition and police. President-elect Nicolas Maduro has assured Venezuelans that he has proof that the US embassy is financing the ongoing protests.
The deaths occurred on Monday, when hundreds of protesters took to the streets in various parts of Caracas and other cities. The demonstrators blocked streets, burned tires, and fought with security forces.
The fatalities include two people shot by opposition sympathizers while celebrating Maduro's victory, state media reported. One person died in an attack on a government-run clinic in a central state. Two others, including a policeman, were killed in an Andean border state, officials told Reuters.
"The most serious thing is that in these violent actions, seven Venezuelans died," said Attorney General Luisa Ortega. She added that 135 people have been arrested in suspected connection with the violence.
http://rt.com/news/venezuela-maduro-coup-killed-963/
Marksman_91
(2,035 posts)That seems like a popular thing to do nowadays in anti-democratic regimes.
Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)...needed here, and have no value except to illustrate just how the CIA and those whom they serve operate in the world, using rightwing trumpets to spread disinformation, and to make people stupid, powerless, uninformed and uncaring--all the better to foist 'TRADE SECRET' voting machines off on them, and bankster bailouts, and wars.
Latin Americans, these days, are into REALITY, and know the truth about U.S. domination and interference--often horrific interference--in their DEMOCRACIES. They are not taking it any more, nor should we, here in the U.S., who value truth, who know what's real and what isn't, and who cherish and advocate and live democracy.
Your deliberately vague "hit piece" words--"anti-democratic regimes," "popular thing"--have no real meaning, but seek to implant an IMPRESSION based on decades of "Big Lie" propaganda that OUR government is democratic, and desires OTHER countries to be democratic. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The "Big Lie" goes on to say that anybody who doesn't like Corporate Rule, corporate monopoly of the public airwaves, corporations writing their laws and buying their politicians, corporations plundering their resources, corporate resource wars, corporate banksterism, USAID funding of rightwing causes and candidates, the U.S. military, DIA, CIA, DEA, FBI, AFT, et al, controlling their militaries, police forces, courts, laws, political leaders and entire governments, is anti-democratic. The opposite is true. Those who hate these things ARE the democrats in Latin America.
The people of Latin America are making a so far highly successful bid for INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY and REAL DEMOCRACY. They are the democrats, and our rulers are the anti-democrats, here and abroad.
Our rulers' mouthing of democracy pablum is just that--gruel for innocent babes. It could not be more hypocritical. We need to grow up, like Latin Americans have done, restore our independence from transglobal corporations and "military-industrial complex" war profiteers, re-assert our sovereignty as a people and re-establish real democracy HERE.
As part of our growing up, we need to understand what our rulers have done to Latin American countries over the last half century, and over the last decade, and are still doing, now, today. Our government is NOTORIOUS in that region for coup plotting, for overthrowing democracies, for destabilization tactics, for supporting militarism and fascism, for arming and training and funding torturers and murderers, and for looting entire countries and trying to destroy every advance that Latin Americans have made in economic fairness, poverty reduction, health care, educational opportunity, public services and all the elements of a decent society. Our rulers are PROFITEERS. They see Latin America is THEIR 'back yard.' The last thing in the world they want to see happen there is democracy, and that is what IS happening, at long last.
In Venezuela.
In Brazil.
In Bolivia.
In Ecuador.
In Argentina.
In Uruguay.
In Nicaragua.
In El Salvador.
In Peru.
In Chile (leftist democrat will be elected there, this year).
In Honduras (before the U.S.-supported fascist coup).
Our rulers are terrified of this leftist democracy revolution moving north. That is one reason why they lie about it so much. "When in doubt, blame America" is the kind of lie they love. Short, pithy, like a bullet to the head, stopping thought. Gee, why would "blaming America" be "popular" in Latin America? Can't imagine why.
Judi Lynn
(160,218 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Fair enough.
Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)On the contrary, I think that pile of crapola that Capriles came up with ought to be quite closely investigated--and every one of his distortions and lies exposed. Some of them are hilarious. He was not well-briefed.
In fact, most of it has already been debunked. But, yeah, he has a right to file his objections to the CNE and they have a right and a duty to judge whether or not there were sufficient irregularities reported to warrant withholding their determination of the winner. They made that judgement. That's their job--and all the election monitoring groups agreed--no serious irregularities, fair and honest election. And all of Latin America agreed--Maduro won. Even the OAS backed down on this "100% recount" mantra out of Washington.
Venezuela does a whopping 55% audit right on election day, just after the polls close. That is more than five times the audit needed to detect fraud in an electronic system. There was no evidence of fraud in that system, and no other irregularities sufficient to warrant withholding the result.
If there were any irregularities, they of course should be investigated and if crimes were committed, prosecution pursued--or lesser remedies taken, depending on what happened. That is quite different from calling an entire election into question just because it was close. Remember when Chavez lost the 69 amendments vote? That was even more of a squeaker and Chavez just said, Okay, the people have spoken. He did NOT do what Capriles has done, which led to all this violence--calling the election system itself into question, which Jimmy Carter recently said is "the best election system in the world."
What Capriles has done has resulted it deaths, and in defamation of Venezuela's democracy, and in thugs running around burning down health clinics and poor people's homes. I'm sorry but THAT is the crime--and minor election irregularities pale before that crime.
Let's have fairness all around--close scrutiny of every one of Capriles' complaints, and equal scrutiny of the murders and the burnings.
joshcryer
(62,265 posts)They're getting the audit. I guess the Venezuelan government didn't consider it of "no value."