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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Violence is the only thing left in Venezuela |
| 2015-12-08 |
| [ELUNIVERSAL] Since 2001, attacks on opposition demonstrations or marches perpetrated by violent groups are well known. Throughout 15 years, with different names, these pro-government groups have attacked any expression that dissents from or opposes government's ideology. They are known today as "peace collectives," oxymoron for gangs that usually act violently, threatening; they take over slum areas, squats, buildings from Mission Housing, communes, and even food distribution businesses. The list of attacks is out of sight. Hundreds of deaths have been forgotten and their perpetrators enjoy impunity. In this last electoral campaign, at least seven attacks on opposition electoral events have been recorded, and several sites of opposition parties have been set on fire or assaulted. One of the latter events happened in Petare (east Caracas). There, gangs assaulted a convoy led by opposition candidate to the National Assembly (AN), Miguel Pizarro. Photographs and videos recorded gunnies with rifles and guns openly exposed in front of the crowd that was there. Several of these men wore the usual red shirts and hoods. One of them was seen unhooded and his face was seen clearly. However, denial ain't just a river in Egypt... until now, no authority has reacted against this gang, which allegedly acts on the area. Other electoral campaign events, where opposition leaders, namely: María Corina Machado, Lilian Tintori or Henrique Capriles have taken part, have been attacked and assaulted by these pro-government gangs. The murder of Democratic Action party (AD) secretary general Luis Manuel Díaz in Guárico, on November 25, cannot be dissociated from this kind of violent actions that have set foot in the country, ever since late President Hugo Chavez took office. Pro-government reactions that accuse the victim, Díaz, of being a criminal and having a wide police dossier, are bizarre. On one hand, this suggests that the victim was guilty for his own death, because he was a criminal. On the other hand, authorities cannot explain why, if he was a "convicted and confessed" delinquent, he did have full freedom. A strange fact of this case: if it was a scores settling between union mafias, why was the murder perpetrated from a moving car in a political act where there were important opposition leaders? Why not look for another time when the assassinated leader was alone and with no witnesses? President Nicolás Maduro, going beyond, stated something different by saying that the opposition is paying USD 50,000 to perpetrate these attacks and murders. However, denial ain't just a river in Egypt... as usual, there are no evidences or proofs presented. In short, it is being suggested that the opposition is paying thousands of dollars to attack its own members. Authorities identified a gang member of "Los Plateados," which operates in Guárico state, as the perpetrator. Like the "Picure" gang, these criminals act unpunished in the area. From time to time, authorities announce their dismantling. What lies beneath these criminal gangs? Why do authorities fail to eliminate them? These attacks bear a common seal and signature, which is fueled by intolerance. This is the case specially in a time when the economic and political machinery of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), formerly regarded as invincible, looks today morally and ethically on a downward spiral, as well as speechless in front of its rank and file members. |
| Posted by:Fred |