CARACAS: Opponents of Venezuela’s leftist government prepared for a mass protest rally in Caracas yesterday, one day after President Nicolas Maduro issued a surprise call for talks with the United States.
At least nine people have been killed, 104 injured and 137 arrested in weeks of street demonstrations that begin peacefully and often turn violent, according to government figures.
Pro-government “Chavista women” are also scheduled to march “against fascism” yesterday in Caracas. While pro- and anti-government groups will march in a different part of town, violence could erupt if they meet at any point.
Henrique Capriles, Governor of Miranda state and the main opposition leader, has called on marchers to focus on demanding that authorities disarm pro-government “collectives” blamed for attacking demonstrators.
Maduro, who denies any links to the armed groups, says the protests are part of a “coup d’etat in development” instigated by Washington and conservative ex-Colombian president Alvaro Uribe.
The protests began on February 2 in the western city of San Cristobal led by students angry over the soaring crime rate. Protests quickly spread to Caracas and other major cities, and intensified over the past two weeks. Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but under Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez the economy has tailspinned, street crime is out of control, and corruption is widespread. Maduro’s government warned it would cut off petrol supplies to restless areas.
Capriles, who lost last year’s presidential election to Maduro by a razor-thin margin, is again in the limelight following the Tuesday arrest of another opposition leader, 42 year-old Leopoldo Lopez, on charges of instigating violence, property damage and criminal association.
On Friday, Maduro challenged Obama to meet him for talks. “I call a dialogue with you, President Obama... between the patriotic and revolutionary Venezuela and the United States and its government,” he said.
“Accept the challenge and we will start a high-level dialogue and put the truth on the table,” Maduro told a news conference with foreign reporters.
Caracas and Washington have not exchanged ambassadors since their respective envoys were withdrawn in 2010. Venezuela has expelled eight US diplomats over the past year, including three on February 16.
Oil-rich Venezuela’s main customer for its key export is the US, yet Venezuela’s relations with the US, long strained under Chavez, have worsened under Maduro.
AFP
