Protests Across Venezuela This Weekend As Maduro Tries To Rewrite Constitution
Over the last month a number of protests have taken place in Venezuela and the death toll is now said to be around 37 dead. There are also reports that at least 717 or more people have been injured because of the protests and at least 152 people still remain in jail.
This past Saturday, again thousands of protesters took to the streets in Caracas to protest against the state's violent crackdown on political opposition. Many people accuse the state of repression and have labeled them as a dictatorship.
Aside from the frequent protests, there has also been an increase in violence and looting within the nation. The U.S. Department of State has warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Venezuela because of the social unrest, widespread crime, and other issues.
A number of other protests are planned for various locations across the country and the political opposition doesn't plan to sit down and be quiet anytime soon. Some even suggest that the current dictatorship might be living its last days.
Oddly enough, the Venezuelan leader was just seen smiling and dancing as people were out protesting and demonstrating in the street against riot police. He didn't appear all that worried.
A number of peaceful demonstrations have turned violent in recent months, and some individuals have taken to attacking the riot police with rocks, Molotov cocktails, and more. The police have taken to firing tear gas and mowing down protesters with armored vehicles.
One of the president's most controversial moves to date has been to order for the creation of a 500-member constituent body that is going to be tasked with rewriting the constitution. This allows him to bypass political opposition in the assembly and act as more of a dictator. He says that it's to help him restore peace, because it's not like he's going to say he just wants more power. Unfortunately for him, the people see the move for what it is, a desperate attempt to secure absolute power.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the country have overwhelmingly demonstrated that they want the present leader to step aside, given the worsening economic conditions, and other issues the country is struggling with.
The situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate with many losing their lives, struggling to find food or basic necessities, or stuck in jail because of recent political demonstrations. And instead of any coherent solutions being proposed, all we see is the leader dancing and trying to grab more power.
He hasn't lost all of his support either. There are still powerful political figures and military elites who are said to be sided with President Maduro. And some in the country are already calling on the military to get involved in the situation.
Not all authority figures have sided with Maduro however. Just last month, a video surfaced online of 3 military officers saying that they no longer recognized the president's authority. But they have since been seen in Colombia asking for asylum; the government allegedly wants them to be returned.
In another incident, a group of young men believed to be students, were seen destroying a statue of Hugo Chavez during recent protests. They allegedly accuse him of destroying their future.
The protesters have said that they aren't going to stop until Maduro steps aside and new elections are held. But Maduro has accused them all of plotting a violent coup along with help from the U.S. And he has taken to accusing political opposition figures of being responsible for any and all of the violent acts that are perpetrated by individuals (whatever the reason) on the streets during these protests.
A number of polls suggest that if they were to have a vote, that obviously the ruling Socialist party would not be the favorite. People don't trust them to know how to get them even the very basics like food and medicine, let alone holding any solution on how to make a country thrive.
Pics:
REUTERS
imgur
pppfocus
mediaite
Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-rewrite-constitution-deadly-protests/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN1811X3
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/venezuela-travel-warning.html
http://www.vocativ.com/427517/more-venezuela-protests-as-death-toll-rises/
https://steemit.com/gifs/@acidyo/venezuela-s-president-dancing-while-riots-happening-in-the-streets
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/800248/Venezuela-civil-war-protest-demonstration-president-dancing-killed
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/05/americas/venezuela-unrest-tank/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/06/world/americas/venezuela-unrest-protests.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/06/hugo-chavez-statue-torn-down-as-death-toll-rises-in-venezuela-protests
http://www.mediaite.com/online/protesters-in-venezuela-pull-down-statue-of-hugo-chavez-amid-deadly-turmoil/
http://pppfocus.com/2017/05/06/venezuela-s-violent-protests-have-claimed-31-lives-so-far/
All by design and the elite will seek to benefit. Lots of oil in Venezuela. Constitutions are unlawful and unbinding anyway. No contract = No Jurisdiction. Time for a new voluntary society minus political parties, corporates and governments. Maybe the blockchain can deliverer such a concept with a decentralised administration?
It's very sad what is happening in Venezuela.
it's sad to read about venezuela....it breaks my heart.
The situation is getting out of hand there... any Venezuelans here on Steemit?
yes i have seen quite a few:)
This type of government is unacceptable. Any plans from the United State regarding this violence?
hopefully they mind their own business.. they've got their own problems to worry about lol
I wonder if Venezuela is a member of UN because if it does, UN should do something for this instead of criticizing the president of the Philippines for its campaign against drugs.
i wouldn't trust the UN to do anything in that regard.. if anything they should be focused on weeding out the alleged pedophiles and rapists from within their ranks because they are said to have an issue with that
https://steemit.com/news/@doitvoluntarily/u-n-criticized-over-failing-to-crackdown-on-rapists-within-its-own-ranks
YOu guys are in quite the pickle.
Hate to say it but I predicted as much a long time ago.
I wish you had taken my advice.
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La Fe y la Unión de nuestro País mueve montañas, y nuestra Gran Venezuela será la que siempre hemos querido