Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

[Alejo]

Things continue to deteriorate.

Something occurred to me last night while reading a news item that was talking about the theft of biochemical material from a lab in Maracay. Maybe I'm being too paranoid or conspiratorial but I wouldn't be surprised if they were thinking about a chemical attack on its own population schtick that was used in Syria.

The helicopter thing is quite scary. And it speaks about the depth and real intent of the opposition. Maduro and the government are no saints. But a helicopter being used to openly attack a government building is almost an act of war.

I understand people having serious and valid greivances, people are suffering in Venezuela. But what the opposition is after is not change or better living conditions. It's chaos they want, and this is clear from the acts they've committed.

Way uphigh there's a struggle for control of the resources of the country. The opposition simply don't agree with it not being them. And use and exploit the population to sow chaos with foreign support. Added to this the fact that maduro and his cabinet seem to be not only incompetent to deal with the pressure and quite infiltrated by psychos themselves. And we have ourselves a bloody tragedy of incredible proportions where anywhere you look there's disaster.

Sadly, the opposition will win this one I feel. They've got the government in a position where all they have to do is continue to make a mess of the country and any response from maduro will only fuel the fire.

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a foreign intervention in the coming months. Launched from Colombia and supported by Brazil and Argentina while Washington pulls the strings and manipulates the information to show it as humanitarian intervention.

 

[Cosmos]

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a foreign intervention in the coming months. Launched from Colombia and supported by Brazil and Argentina while Washington pulls the strings and manipulates the information to show it as humanitarian intervention.

Sadly, that is a real possibility and Venezuela has a big problem there, in that it has not the protecting power from russia as the syrians have. Maybe it is about time that the government there reaches out to russia, although I don't know if they would be willing to help out there, considering the mess and ramifications for their own country?

 

[angelburst29]

Health authority in the Baruta district of Caracas said Thursday 17 people were injured in clashes with Venezuelan riot police as protests are about to go into the fourth month.

Dozens Hurt, Arrested in Caracas as Violent Protests Continue in Venezuela
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201706301055101271-hurt-arrested-venezuela-protests/

Baruta heath director Enrique Montbrun said eight people had suffered from exposure to tear gas, six had been hit by shrapnel and rubber bullets, while three had been injured by tear gas canisters being fired into the crowd.

Separately, the Nacional newspaper reported that over 20 students were arrested and allegedly tortured by National Guard in the capital’s business hub of El Rosal. It said pro-government troops locked students in a truck a nd then threw a tear gas grenade into it.

Almost 80 people have lost their lives during months of demonstrations against Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro, prompting prosecutor general Luisa Ortega to describe the violence as state terrorism.

 

[Galaxia2002]

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a foreign intervention in the coming months. Launched from Colombia and supported by Brazil and Argentina while Washington pulls the strings and manipulates the information to show it as humanitarian intervention.

Sadly, that is a real possibility and Venezuela has a big problem there, in that it has not the protecting power from Russia as the syrians have. Maybe it is about time that the government there reaches out to russia, although I don't know if they would be willing to help out there, considering the mess and ramifications for their own country?

It is true that Russia has it difficult to help physically Venezuela. I think that they are really interested in helping because they are one of the main investor in oil extraction as China is. The debt with those nations is huge. Russia is also helping supplying wheat and I think that maybe they are currently help with intelligence information.

 

[angelburst29]

The right-wing opposition has put its foot down on the accelerator, it is moving all of its pieces at once, and aims to shatter the balance of forces through a coup. It has made it clear: the opposition has June and July to achieve its objective.

Venezuela: Right Wing Accelerates Coup Plans
http://www.globalresearch.ca/venezuela-right-wing-accelerates-coup-plans/5597001

It has declared that, backed by article 350 of the constitution, it does not recognize the government. Nor does it recognize the call for a National Constituent Assembly and it is organizing to impede the elections for the assembly going ahead on July 30.

Translating these words into actions has meant a rise in clashes between state powers through its use of the attorney-general and National Assembly, largely unsuccessful attacks from the Organisation of American States, media pressure, ramping up attacks on the economy and a deepening of the violence, street terror and attacks on state security forces, particularly the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB)

New elements - Within this violent scenario, some new elements have emerged in the last few weeks. These include systematic attacks on the La Carlota military base in Caracas, with the aim of demoralising and fracturing the FANB; outbreaks of violence in areas surrounding the presidential palace Miraflores; and the return of scenes of destruction in cities, like those that occurred in Maracay and nearby localities on June 26, where more than 40 establishments, from private shops to public institutions, were destroyed. A similar plan was unleashed in more than 10 localities across the country during the past few weeks.

A new turning point occurred on June 27: the use of a helicopter — stolen from the La Carlota airbase — to attack the Ministry of Interior Relations, Justice and Peace with gun fire. The Supreme Court of Justice was also hit with four grenades made in Israel that came from Colombia.

All this took place only four streets away from Miraflores presidential palace, in the political centre of Venezuela.

This action generated a symbolic impact within both the ranks of the right-wing opposition and the pro-government Chavista movement. Among the opposition, accompanied by waves of rumours on social media, it generated the sensation of being close to the final target, of power itself, that finally the FANB had come onboard the call for a coup.

Among Chavismo, the impact was due both to the brazenness of the act, and the fact it provided definitive certainness — if anyone still had doubts — that a coup attempt is underway and has entered its decisive hours.

The right wing has enough force to submit localities to a reign of terror for several days in a row, carry out assaults on military and police barracks, unleash political and class hatred that has converted the lynching of Chavistas into a recurring practice. It can maintain almost daily mobilisations with a relatively stable number of participants and generate situations that convert themselves into quasi-generalised destruction and looting. It is also able to make incursions into poorer neighbourhoods with the use of criminal groups to set up barricades, assassinate people and attack state institutions with grenades from a helicopter. It can make some government cadres crack — like the attorney-general — and win them to its side, and make a part of the population believe they were killed by the government.

In the coming days, we will see what else they are capable of. However, they seem to lack two elements needed to complete a coup: poor neighbourhoods mobilising behind their cause and a fracture in the FANB. Their key wager, which they are working on intensely, is to achieve a fracture within the FANB and other government sectors. They need this to break the violent deadlock that has now gone on for months. That is why they are ratcheting up the level of violence, targeting attacks on security forces, and using terror as a method of social control.

Support from the United States is already underway via international pressure, funding for the right — whether directly to opposition parties or indirectly via NGOs that funnel this money towards maintaining the street pressure — and the training of paramilitaries. Intervention already exists under the table. Could it soon take another form? The right is accelerating the pace and, at the same time, is displaying clear signs of desperation. It destroys and kills, but does not achieve its final objective. However, it obtains intermediary objectives, such as submitting entire localities to violence, breaking down social ties, legitimising persecution levels — which is part of its plan for government — against Chavismo. As the months go by, the country changes. It assimilates in an invisible manner the blows, hate, fear and distrust — elements that the right needs for its plan to violently reset the country. Lastly, it is important to turn to the other factor, omnipresent and invisible, that permeates the day-to-day debates and concerns, as well as the possibilities of resistance or rupture: the economy.

Regressing - In recent weeks, the situation has worsened with rising prices, the illegal exchange rate — which sets prices — and with ongoing shortages of vital products such as medicines. These attacks are not a coincidence, but part of the pressure that seeks to suffocate the population and not allow any point of escape.

The reality is popular Venezuela has regressed in terms of various advances it has achieved through the Bolivarian revolution. This generates conditions that are conducive to the plans for looting and depolitisation that the right is promoting. Reversing this trend is a challenge that Chavista leaders have not been able to resolve. This is its most critical bottleneck, the unresolved debate These are defining days and weeks. What happened this week are steps in the escalation of opposition violence, of armed actions carried out by paramilitaries, criminal gangs linked to right-wing leaders, and shadowy sectors within the security forces. There will be more deaths, because this is the opposition’s plan. Their now-or-never attitude is pushing the country to the brink. Their psychological and physical violence aims to increase the pressure to make the people cave in and open the doors of a historic revenge that the ruling classes of Venezuela, Latin America and US so desire.

Venezuela is facing its critical hour. Each day is key.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuelan authorities said Thursday more than 50 tons of food have been incinerated by anti-government groups, amid ongoing attacks on public infrastructure.

Venezuela: "Terrorists" Torch 50 Tons of Food as ex-National Guard Chief Indicted
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13214

The attack took place in the municipality Simon Bolivar in Barcelona, Anzoategui state, when a group of attackers infiltrated a government food distribution centre. The Ministry of Food has stated the attackers set fire to the interior of a warehouse, destroying a stockpile of basic food products awaiting distribution.

Food Minister Rodolfo Marco Torres described the incident as an act of terrorism, blaming opposition supporters.

“This is … fascism, this attack on the people by these terrorists,” he said.

State authorities say the attackers used improvised incendiary devices, including Molotov cocktails, though no injuries have been reported. Authorities also said they’ve recovered around 50 tons of food from the warehouse, which will be distributed to communities across Anzoategui on Friday.

No arrests have been made in connection to the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The interior of the warehouse was defaced with graffiti, including “Viva Leopoldo,” a possible reference to imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. Another spray painted message read “damned Chavistas,” while a third stated “no more hunger”.

The incident was just the latest in a wave of attacks targeting Venezuela’s state food distribution network. More than 30 facilities and vehicles involved in food distribution have been attacked in recent months, according to the minister.

“Also, two food aid workers have been injured by gunfire in Lara state,” he added.

The attacks have coincided with widespread opposition protests over the past three months, during which more than 90 people have died. In another alleged case of opposition violence, three power substations in Aragua state was also reportedly attacked Thursday.

“A group of terrorists attacked with Molotov cocktails and and set fire to these three units that serve the people,” Energy Minister Luis Motta Dominguez told state media.

The minister condemned the attack, and said it resulted in power outages in some parts of the state.

“They are not attacking an installation or the government as such; they are attacking the people, because ... it’ll take 24 hours to restore electricity with those units,” he said.

The minister continued by alleging the incident was part of a broader campaign of violence.

“This systematic attack was carried out with the purpose of instilling terror,” he said.

Meanwhile in Caracas, officials held a tour of the Supreme Court, which came under attack by a rogue police officer piloting a stolen helicopter earlier in the week.

Speaking to visiting diplomats and reporters, the court’s security head Jean Carlos Stanfor said the attacker dropped four grenades on the building, though only two detonated inside. He said the explosions occurred near an education centre for the children of court staffers, though he suspected the explosives were aimed at a Nation Guard (GNB) post.

“The grenades exploded 15 meters from the GNB post,” he said.

Over the last 24 hours the GNB itself has come under increased scrutiny, after controversial Attorney General Luisa Ortega issued charges against the guard’s former national head, Antonio Benavides Torres. She accused Torres with overseeing human rights abuses against opposition protesters. More than 90 people have died amid the protests, with at least 13 deaths possibly being linked to the actions of security forces. On the other hand, around 24 deaths have been linked to the actions of violent opposition groups.

According to a statement from the attorney general's office, it has "so far carried out 450 investigations into alleged violations of fundamental rights." Of these cases, 23 people died and 853 injured were attributed to police or military officials," the statement read.

“In many of these incidents, there is evidence of excessive use of force in repressing protests,” Ortega alleged.

Torres was removed from his position as head of the National Guard last week.

Ortega's latest move came a day after Venezula's highest court froze her assets and banned her from leaving the country ahead of a July 4 hearing on allegations of "grave misconduct". While Ortega has accused Torres of being too harsh on protesters, she has been hit with allegations of being too soft on violent offenders.

More than 2000 people have been detained or indicted in relation to the protests and political violence, though only around 300 have faced jail time. Ortega has also been accused of illegally appointing her vice attorney general.

Lucas Koerner of Venezuelanalysis.com says the death toll and violence are on the rise but according to the Attorney General's reports more of these deaths are being instigated and attributed to opposition supporters.

Venezuelan Opposition Largely Responsible for the Rising Death Toll and Violence in Venezuela (Video)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=19459
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzKN7cdRVwk (13:21 min.)

Lucas Koerner is a journalist at Venezuelanalysis based in Caracas, Venezuela. Interview and transcript with Sharmini Peries.

 

[angelburst29]

Another article on the food warehouse vandalism.

Two Venezuelan protesters attacked a state-owned storehouse Thursday, setting fire to the building and destroying food reserves kept there.

Venezuela Protesters Set 40 Tons of Subsidized Food on Fire
http://www.globalresearch.ca/venezuela-protesters-set-40-tons-of-subsidized-food-on-fire/5597334

Anzoategui’s state governor, Nelson Moreno reported that around 7 p.m. the two men armed with Molotov cocktails, scaled the institution’s fence and attempted to burn the facility to the ground.

About 40 tons of food that would have been distributed through the Mercal subsidized food market and subsidized government programs were consumed by the flames.

Officials said the destruction of the warehouse was a strategic move by the opposition groups, given its strategic location between the cities of Barcelona, Puerto la Cruz and Lecherias.

Consequently, 40,000 families will be affected by the fire, which also serves 399 Local Supply and Production Committees, CLAP, 278 schools, 31 comprehensive diagnostic centers, three penitentiaries, a geriatric center, as well as 52 nutrition houses.

Governor Moreno reassured families that firemen were able to salvage over half of the goods kept in the collection center. These will be distributed by the Local Committees of Supply and Production.

The violent incident follows the pattern of violent acts promoted since April by opposition groups across the country in order to destabilize the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Moreno said that these actions are part of the plan of extremist sectors of opposition to sabotage the Constituent Assembly process called by Maduro.

“They will not be able to stop the advance of the call made by our President Nicolas Maduro to the National Constituent Assembly,” the governor said.

The National Constituent Assembly holds its final elections on July 30 when 545 candidates will be selected to represent the country’s social, regional and economic sectors.

 

[Ant22]

Another article on the food warehouse vandalism.

Two Venezuelan protesters attacked a state-owned storehouse Thursday, setting fire to the building and destroying food reserves kept there.

Venezuela Protesters Set 40 Tons of Subsidized Food on Fire
http://www.globalresearch.ca/venezuela-protesters-set-40-tons-of-subsidized-food-on-fire/5597334

Anzoategui’s state governor, Nelson Moreno reported that around 7 p.m. the two men armed with Molotov cocktails, scaled the institution’s fence and attempted to burn the facility to the ground.

About 40 tons of food that would have been distributed through the Mercal subsidized food market and subsidized government programs were consumed by the flames.

Officials said the destruction of the warehouse was a strategic move by the opposition groups, given its strategic location between the cities of Barcelona, Puerto la Cruz and Lecherias.

Consequently, 40,000 families will be affected by the fire, which also serves 399 Local Supply and Production Committees, CLAP, 278 schools, 31 comprehensive diagnostic centers, three penitentiaries, a geriatric center, as well as 52 nutrition houses.

Governor Moreno reassured families that firemen were able to salvage over half of the goods kept in the collection center. These will be distributed by the Local Committees of Supply and Production.

The violent incident follows the pattern of violent acts promoted since April by opposition groups across the country in order to destabilize the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Moreno said that these actions are part of the plan of extremist sectors of opposition to sabotage the Constituent Assembly process called by Maduro.

“They will not be able to stop the advance of the call made by our President Nicolas Maduro to the National Constituent Assembly,” the governor said.

The National Constituent Assembly holds its final elections on July 30 when 545 candidates will be selected to represent the country’s social, regional and economic sectors.

I found a video on Twitter that points to Washington-backed 'peaceful protesters' as responsible for this: https://twitter.com/timand2037/status/881788917585924096/video/1

The above post makes me think of man-made famine being used as a cheap method of genocide in the past.

Take Churchil and the Bengal Holocaust . Or the Irish “Famine" . Or man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine in 1932-33.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuelan authorities have started evacuating people from the National Assembly after a mob blocked them inside for over six hours, media reported Wednesday.

Evacuation Underway From Venezuela’s Besieged National Assembly
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707061055271428-venezuela-national-assembly-evacuation/

Assembly President Julio Borges said 350 people – lawmakers, journalists and visitors – had been prevented from leaving, according to the Spanish-language NTN24 channel.

The siege, which started on Wednesday morning, was blamed on supporters of President Nicolas Maduro. After the Assembly session the crowd broke into the building hurting five legislators, according to the speaker.

The nation’s president criticized the attack on the opposition-controlled legislature, while the government promised to investigate. The country has seen three months of protests against authorities and calls to hold an early election.

Venezuelan policeman Oscar Perez who stole a helicopter last month to drop grenades on the top court vowed Wednesday to open a manhunt on pro-government grassroots militia groups.

Venezuelan Rogue Policeman Vows to Hunt Down Pro-Government Civilian Militia
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707061055272841-perez-vow-hunt-down-militia/

We will break them up to bring back peace to our country, these government-armed colectivos," Perez said in a new video address released on social media networks.

Vigilante-styled civilian militias, called "colectivos," have been accused of targeting opposition protesters, who are unhappy about President Nicolas Maduro and his government.

Perez said he had their names and addresses and a special operations brigade was on standby to take down these groups.

He also claimed the president had holed up inside a walled military compound in Caracas and promised to flush him and his ministers out to "make them pay for their crimes."

This came after a mob of government supporters stormed the opposition-controlled National Assembly earlier in the day, injuring several lawmakers, after preventing some 350 people from getting out for hours.

The United States condemns an attack on the Venezuelan National Assembly on allegedly by supporters of President Nicolas Maduro, according to the US State Department.

US Condemns Maduro Supporters Alleged Attack on Venezuelan National Assembly
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707061055272083-us-condemns-venezuela-attack/

"The United States condemns the July 5 attack on members of the Venezuelan National Assembly by armed supporters of the government of President Nicolas Maduro," the release stated on Wednesday.

The US government calls on the government of Venezuela to quickly establish protections for members of the National Assembly, ensure medical aid for individuals injured in the attack and bring the attackers to justice, the release added.

The attack occurred during the celebration of Venezuela’s independence, the release noted. The United States condemns Venezuela’s increasing authoritarianism and its actions undermining Venezuela’s democratic institutions, including the National Assembly, the release stated.

 

[Galaxia2002]

Oswaldo Ribero, alias "cabeza e mango" and host of a TV program in the chavist state channel media (VTV) published a video in which he assumes responsibility for the attack carried out by armed groups against the National Assembly, deputies and workers.

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/asi-lidero-cabeza-emango-ataque-asamblea-nacional_191486

The host of the Show "Zurda Konducta" in VTV channel, told in a video, that in the place there were no hooded; However, he was captured in several photos along with a group of violent people who had their faces covered and allusive to the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

"Cabeza e'mango" published a video in which it assumes responsibility for the attack carried out by armed groups against the National Assembly, deputies and workers.

Rivero recorded the violence with his camera and called on the different social movements to join the alleged "protest."


The groups used hammers, sticks, shovels, pipes and firearms against the deputies. The Bolivarian National Guard did not control the attack of the official.

During the attack the groups seriously attacked several deputies, including Américo De Grazia, who lost consciousness after a blow with a blunt object that collectives hit him in the head.

Armed civilians continually detonated explosives and avoided for seven hours the departure of parliamentarians, journalists and law-enforcement workers.

There is very often a "coincidence": This paramilitary and violent groups are not arrested by the state law enforcement. Here in the article link you can see the picture that shows the military guard (controlled by maduro) of the congress doing nothing against the violents. So there is complicity.

 

[Windmill knight]

Venezuelan Opposition Largely Responsible for the Rising Death Toll and Violence in Venezuela (Video)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=19459
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzKN7cdRVwk (13:21 min.)

Lucas Koerner is a journalist at Venezuelanalysis based in Caracas, Venezuela. Interview and transcript with Sharmini Peries.

The guy on the video, who lives and studies in Venezuela, says that he estimates that maybe 80% of the population do not approve of the violent protests, and that even though many have many grievances and complaints against Maduro, they wouldn't want him to resign before the elections, which is what the opposition are demanding. He also makes it very clear that many of those in the opposition are laregely responsible for the violence and even deaths, and that they are indeed seeking to provoke a coup d'etat. They have in the past openly called for the Army to uprise vs the government. He adds that the US support for the opposition is 'systemic', in that they have constantly received funding from them.

Here is another very interesting report from Venezuela by Abby Martin, who went to hang out with both the peaceful and violent protestors, until she read on social media that she was accused of spying for the government and threatened to be lynched if they saw her again. Among other interesting things, she mentions that most of the deaths were perpetrated by the opposition and not law enforcement, and that the demonstrators occur predominantly in richer districts - medium and higher classes.

http://<iframe width="560" height="...VQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

So after reading this thread and watching those videos, I think we have to consider the position Maduro finds himself in before pasing judgement. He does not have the charisma nor intelligence of Chávez; the pressure and hysterical propaganda against chavismo had already been ongoing since he came to power; the economy has been steadily deteriorating, partly as was mentioned earlier on this thread due to the naive reforms of the 'revolution' that did not take into account the nature of current global markets, and partly because of foreign pressure; a worsened economy leads to supply issues and more discontent; and all along these opposition groups have been threatening with a coup and have become more violent, while Maduro knows they have the backing of the US.

So is it surprising that a guy who is not as brilliant, nor has the integrity of his predecessor is acting like a cornered beast, making mistakes and committing some abuses of power, and talking paranoia? And it is not just him. The military and police, which in Latin America are not very disciplined nor historically very loyal to anyone, also take the "law in their hands" and react like they did in that apartment building that Galaxia posted a video of.

It's all very sad, because the way things are going, Venezuela is going to turn into Ukraine or Syria, and too late will the demonstrators realize (the 'normal' ones) that they have jumped from the pan and into the fire.

That's how I see it so far.

 

[irjO]

It's all very sad, because the way things are going, Venezuela is going to turn into Ukraine or Syria, and too late will the demonstrators realize (the 'normal' ones) that they have jumped from the pan and into the fire.

That's how I see it so far.

Yup, I feel the same way as you do about it, sadly there is not "happy ending" in this situation with Venezuela on the horizon.

 

[Windmill knight]

For those of you who read Spanish, here's an excellent analysis of the situation, quite balanced, with lots of details on the situation:

https://es.sott.net/article/53438-La-compleja-realidad-politica-venezolana-debido-al-incremento-de-las-contradicciones

Although the article has many critiques to the government's mistakes, abuses and corruption, it also stresses the brutality of the extreme right shock-groups, the dirty tricks that the corporate powers have used against the economy and government, the complicity of the media and the pressure from outside, first and foremost from the US and its CIA, but also international finance, the OEA and countries in the region that have shifted to the right.

So all things considered, I think that most of the 'bad' things that Maduro's government has done can be explained as ill-thought reactions to those attacks. And again, I don't see any way out for the country but down. The right wingers will end up taking the power and they'll seek their payback in blood and suffering. :(

Btw, Venezuela released today from jail Leopoldo López, the opposition leader who was arrested for corruption and instigation to violence three years ago. He is now under house arrest, which seems quite lenient for someone who was openly calling for a coup d'état and in a time in which that is a very real possibility. At least in this instance, it doesn't sound like the repressive regime we have been told of.

Added: A link to López' release: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Venezuela-Opposition-Leader-Leopoldo-Lopez-Gets-House-Arrest-20170708-0006.html

 

[Galaxia2002]

For those of you who read Spanish, here's an excellent analysis of the situation, quite balanced, with lots of details on the situation:

https://es.sott.net/article/53438-La-compleja-realidad-politica-venezolana-debido-al-incremento-de-las-contradicciones

Although the article has many critiques to the government's mistakes, abuses and corruption, it also stresses the brutality of the extreme right shock-groups, the dirty tricks that the corporate powers have used against the economy and government, the complicity of the media and the pressure from outside, first and foremost from the US and its CIA, but also international finance, the OEA and countries in the region that have shifted to the right.

So all things considered, I think that most of the 'bad' things that Maduro's government has done can be explained as ill-thought reactions to those attacks. And again, I don't see any way out for the country but down. The right wingers will end up taking the power and they'll seek their payback in blood and suffering. :(

Btw, Venezuela released today from jail Leopoldo López, the opposition leader who was arrested for corruption and instigation to violence three years ago. He is now under house arrest, which seems quite lenient for someone who was openly calling for a coup d'état and in a time in which that is a very real possibility. At least in this instance, it doesn't sound like the repressive regime we have been told of.

Added: A link to López' release: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Venezuela-Opposition-Leader-Leopoldo-Lopez-Gets-House-Arrest-20170708-0006.html

I agree with the most of that article. This is really a very complicated situation to keep the eyes open in all directions and objectivity since there is so much contradictions, thanks to the members of this network I can have a wider vision.

Windmill knight IMO they only did this movement with Lopez in a way to cool down the protests at the streets and avoid the sabotage and protest the day of votations of the members of the constituent Assembly, (it lasts 2 weeks for that). It will be difficult to do that votations with people doing disasters in the streets that day. I think there is also a way to cool down the increasing international pressure (OEA, European parliament) that has now new elements to annoy, even more with the recent attack on parliament that I was referring in my last post. As a result of that attack, Almagro called again a meeting to discuss the case of Venezuela and venezuela will for sure use this change of status of Lopez to lower the pressure with the political prisoners issue.

I think this is only indicative of political strategy and don't talk about repression.

 

[angelburst29]

President of Venezuela Nicholas Maduro respects the decision of the Supreme Court to transfer opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez from prison to house arrest and expects him to correct, local media reported Saturday.

Maduro Welcomes Release, Expects Correction of Opposition Leader Lopez
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707091055375082-maduro-lopez-release-opposition/

Earlier on Saturday, the Supreme Court of Venezuela had released Lopez from prison, where he was from 2014, due to health issues, and transferred him to house arrest. Lopez already called on his supporters to continue protests against Maduro.

I respect and, I will say more, support this decision. God bless, if this measure is understood, and Lopez will deliver a message on correction and peace in the country," Maduro said, as quoted by NTN24 television channel.

Earlier, the United States welcomed Lopez's transfer to house arrest and called on the country's authorities to release all political prisoners.