Behind the violence in Venezuela
Behind the violence in Venezuela
Saturday 12th Apr 2014
On the 12th anniversary of the failed coup against Hugo Chavez, MATT WILLGRESS unpicks the reality behind unrest
~snip~
Venezuelan socialists have argued that, through a wave of violence and terror, the protagonists of "La Salida" have sought to create the conditions for a coup at home and increased intervention from abroad, especially by the US.
The violence has included attacks on ministry buildings, health clinics, public transport, buildings associated with government social programmes, offices of left-wing parties and parts of universities.
Energy Minister Jesse Chacon has stated that violent protesters have attacked electricity stations in Tachira, Aragua, Merida, Zulia, Bolivar, Anzoategui, Lara, Barinas and Caracas. There has also been a violent siege of the state TV station VTV.
To give some specific examples, in Merida state, someone was arrested for putting diesel in the water supply. And in the same state, according to the Venezuelan site Aporrea, "The governor of Merida, Alexis Ramirez, reported that [a] murder occurred on Avenida Cardenal Quintero of Merida. It culminated after [a] 'peaceful' protest by the opposition in the morning" with Jesus Orlando Labrador, an employee of the state-owned telecommunications company CANTV, being "the victim of snipers on the roofs of nearby buildings, who were caught on camera."
More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-17cf-Behind-the-violence-in-Venezuela#.U0iCrmePLmI
