Clashes at Venezuela protest against 'dictatorship'

Yahoo – AFP, Javier TOVAR, April 6, 2017

Venezuelan opposition activists react to tear gas shot by the police during
protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on April 6,
2017 in Caracas (AFP Photo/JUAN BARRETO)

Caracas (AFP) - Violence erupted for a third straight day at protests against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday, escalating tension over moves to keep the leftist leader in power.

Opposition protesters chanting "No more dictatorship!" hurled stones at National Guard riot police who blocked them from marching on central Caracas.

The police responded with tear gas and water cannon, prompting chaos on the eight-lane highway where some 5,000 protesters had tried to break through army barricades.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Scores of protesters were wounded at violent protests on Tuesday and Wednesday in the volatile oil-exporting country, where a political crisis is raising concerns about democracy and stability.

Street protests are among the few options left for the center-right opposition to increase pressure on Maduro, whom they blame for the country's descent into economic calamity.

Negotiations have failed and he has resisted international pressure, while retaining backing from the military and control over most state institutions.

The opposition has taken to the streets accusing pro-Maduro Supreme Court judges of attempting an internal "coup d'etat" for attempting to take over the legislature's powers last week.

The socialist president's supporters held counter-demonstrations on Thursday, condemning Maduro's opponents as "imperialists" plotting with the United States to oust him.

Maduro's camp accused the leading opposition figure Henrique Capriles of changing the route of the protest march toward the city center in order to provoke the security forces.

"Capriles is seeking a few deaths to set the country on fire," Maduro ally Freddy Bernal said.

The president himself has accused the opposition of seeking to "fill the streets with blood" to destabilize his government.

Genreal view of the Venezuelan National Assembly during the discussion on 

Supreme Court judges removal process, at the National Assembly in Caracas 

on April 5, 2017 (AFP Photo/FEDERICO PARRA)

'Coup' charge

Last week, Venezuela's Supreme Court -- which has staunchly backed Maduro through the crisis -- issued rulings transferring the opposition-majority National Assembly's legislative powers to the court and revoking lawmakers' immunity from prosecution.

The court later reversed the rulings after an international outcry, but kept in place other measures limiting the assembly's powers.

Opposition lawmakers launched an effort to impeach the judges on Wednesday.

But it looks unlikely to succeed since removing the judges depends on other state institutions loyal to the government.

"They have carried out an ongoing internal coup," senior opposition deputy Henry Ramos Allup told the assembly.

On the streets, protesters said they want to get rid of Maduro.

"We're tired of this dictatorship," said Yoleidy Rodriguez, a 22-year-old university student. "We're not afraid."

Protests, injuries

Scores of people were hurt on Tuesday when riot police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a protest march in Caracas, opposition groups said.

On Wednesday, similar clashes broke out in the western city of San Cristobal, the scene of deadly riots and looting last year, and in the city of Valencia.

The wave of protests has revived fears of broader unrest in Venezuela, where 43 people were killed during riots in 2014.

The country has undergone three attempted military coups since 1992.

Venezuelan opposition activists receive assistance after clahing with the police

 during protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on 

April 6, 2017 in Caracas (AFP Photo/FEDERICO PARRA)

Election pressure

Maduro is resisting opposition efforts to hold an early vote on removing him from power.

Venezuela's next general election is due in December 2018. Regional elections last December were postponed indefinitely, and no date has been set for local polls due this year.

The collapse in energy prices has sapped the country's revenues, prompting shortages of food, medicine and basic goods along with a surge in violent crime.

The opposition blames Maduro for the economic crisis. He says it is due to a capitalist conspiracy.

Although he has retained the crucial support of the army so far, that could be changing, political analyst Luis Salamanca said.

"At this point, Maduro can't say he's sure of anyone's support," he said, "including the armed forces."

Related Article:

"The End of History" -  Nov 20, 2010 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll)

" ... South America and the New Energy

South America is starting to consider the same thing. My partner was just there and I allowed him to see the energy of the potential future in that land.

I would like to paint history for you regarding South America. There was a time when every single country had a dictator. Less than 15 years ago, they had failing economies and currencies that were worthless. Trouble and strife and killings were the norm. Marauding drug lords openly killed in the streets and corruption was everywhere. Even the politicians created fear and many disappeared overnight, never to be seen again. Today it isn't that way. Today, there is an ongoing stability as one country after another brings a new, positive, stable energy to their cultures. So, without a concentrated effort by any kind of multi-national leadership or direction, how could this have changed in only 15 years?

Within the entire continent, there's only one dictator left. What's happening? If you think that's amazing, there is a move afoot that you're not going to hear about yet. But they're discussing it right now, so let me tell you what they're thinking. "What would happen if we took these countries and eliminated the borders?" Sound familiar? They're talking about it. In back rooms where nobody is reporting it, they're saying, "What about a plan of eventually having one currency from the top of Columbia to the bottom of Chile? And we would be strong and we would be unified." And dear ones, I'm here to tell you, that it's going to work, and it might not take 50 years. Soon the one dictator will be gone, and the unification can begin.

There's a shift happening on this planet ...."