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<h1 id="reader-title">Right-Wing Terrorism in Venezuela <br>
</h1>
<div id="reader-credits" class="credits">By William Camacaro
& Frederick B. Mills – COHA , May 30th 2017</div>
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<p>One May 20th, the 21 year old vendor from the shanty
town of Petare, <a
href="http://www.trtworld.com/americas/anti-maduro-protestors-set-man-on-fire-in-venezuela-361961">Orlando
José Figueras</a>, was beaten, stabbed, doused with
gasoline and set on fire by opposition militants in the
middle class neighborhood of Altamira during an
anti-government demonstration reportedly because they
took him for a Chavista or a thief. This atrocity has
sent tremors throughout the popular barrios and raised
the profile of terrorism from the right in Venezuela.
The horrific scene was <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13141">captured
on video</a> and by professional photographer, <a
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-image-idUSKBN18I2HF">Marco
Bello</a>, and described in testimonies of the <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7E_JFS62to&feature=youtu.be">victim </a>and
his<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k_HgQNCKcA"> parents</a>.
Other demonstrators at the scene reportedly urged the
attackers not to kill Figueras as he pleaded for his
life. What happened to Figueras, who has lived to tell
his story, is impossible to ignore, and it casts light
on the hatred and savagery of some radical and extremist
supporters of the opposition in Venezuela.</p>
<p>This hostility did not emerge overnight. An
intensifying rhetoric aimed at vilifying and
stigmatizing all Chavistas, often mixed with racism and
bigotry, has motivated a growing number of <a
href="http://misionverdad.com/la-guerra-en-Venezuela/crimenes-de-odio-agresiones-y-asesinatos-de-chavistas">hate
crimes</a> and assaults as well as the destruction of
symbols of Chavismo. This destruction is manifest in
recent vandalizing of <a
href="http://www.noticias24.com/venezuela/noticia/332045/atacan-sedes-de-barrio-adentro-y-mercal-en-los-teques/">government
buildings</a>; the <a
href="https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/236480-venezuela-bandas-armadas-atacan-hospital">Hospital
Materno Infantil Hugo Chávez</a> (Hugo Chavez
Maternity Hospital); a <a
href="https://informe21.com/actualidad/quemaron-51-autobuses-de-transbolivar-en-ciudad-guayana-este-22may-fotos">fleet
of buses</a>, and the humble <a
href="http://www.laiguana.tv/articulos/56791-el-paramo-quemar-casa-chavista">house
of a Chavista artisan</a> in the state of Merida.
There have even been a number of cases recently where
Chavistas, their family members, and perceived
sympathizers have been harassed by opposition supporters
in the <a
href="https://www.ensartaos.com.ve/es/2017/05/18/policia-de-nueva-york-arresta-venezolano-que-ataco-mision-en-la-onu">U.S</a>., <a
href="http://www.lechuguinos.com/oliver-stone-opositores-agreden/">Italy</a>, <a
href="http://www.hispantv.com/noticias/venezuela/341307/violentos-opositores-agreden-chavista-partidario-maduro">Spain</a>,
and <a
href="https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/238746-australia-detienen-venezolanos-intentaron-agredir">Australia</a>.</p>
<p>Since some of the anti-government violence and road
blocks occur in opposition governed municipalities, in
too many cases with impunity, <a
href="http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/tsj-ordena-ocho-alcaldes-desautorizar-protestas-sus-municipios_654155">eight
mayors</a> have been served notice by Venezuela’s
Supreme Court to restore order in accord with their
legal obligations. There is also growing pressure on a <a
href="http://misionverdad.com/la-guerra-en-venezuela/a-que-no-se-refirio-la-fiscal-luisa-ortega-diaz">reluctant
Attorney General</a>, Luisa Ortega Díaz, whose <a
href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fvqDaJbpY4M&ebc=ANyPxKqakUPXlh2vQveDz5sdW5NV4GVFuZe9VA7jdHcvSVWBUVcKmjVeO4Lg2mKhzgL5jNAlBsLeGzu1VZ4QHGLfFIiQwsJ7mw">allegiance</a> to
the government appears to be wavering, to vigorously
investigate, and where appropriate prosecute, all of
these crimes.</p>
<p>Despite the political polarization that has gripped
Venezuela, hatred and violence does not garner broad
support in this Bolivarian Republic. According to an <a
href="https://es.scribd.com/document/346935915/Monitor-Pais-al-17-Abril-2017-Protestas-Violentas#from_embed">April
2017 Hinterlaces poll</a>, 80% of Venezuelans are “in
disagreement” with the violent demonstrations and <em>guarimbas</em> [street
disturbances] as instruments of protest. Most
Venezuelans want peace and support talks between the
opposition and the government.</p>
<p><em>Generalizing about either the opposition or
Chavismo will inevitably distort the complex political
landscape in Venezuela.</em> The opposition to the
Maduro administration includes a diversity of political
orientations, from extreme right to social democrat and
many of the opposition parties come under the umbrella
of the United Democratic Roundtable (MUD). There are
also a number of dissident groups on the left, including
ones that consider themselves Chavista, but unlike the
MUD, none of those groups are appealing for U.S.
intervention to advance their agendas.</p>
<p>Most anti-government demonstrators are expressing their
dissent peacefully and have legitimate concerns and
demands. Many in the opposition argue that the
government is undemocratic and corrupt, and that the
security forces repress lawful protest. The Maduro
administration argues that it is fighting corruption;
that there is a U.S. backed coup underway in Venezuela;
and that security forces are dealing not only with
lawful demonstrations, but also with various levels of
anti-government violence, including hate crimes,
sabotage, barricades, destruction of property, sniper
fire, and armed attacks on police and Bolivarian
National Guard (GNB), some of which have been lethal. In
the midst of these challenges,<a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13143"> Chavistas
are still able to mobilize </a>sizable <em>peaceful</em> demonstrations,
such as the ones on <a
href="http://www.telesurtv.net/multimedia/Pueblo-revolucionario-y-derecha-marchan-en-historica-jornada-en-la-ciudad-de-Caracas-20170419-0034.html">Venezuelan
Independence Day</a> (April 19), and on <a
href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=1+mayo+movilizacion+venezuela+telesur&ia=videos&iax=1&iai=G8GniQWSBM4">May
1</a>, to defend national sovereignty and the
Bolivarian project.</p>
<p>Some of those in the front lines of anti-government
street disturbances are <a
href="http://www.telesurtv.net/news/Venezuela-denuncia-en-Unicef-el-uso-de-ninos-en-protestas-20170525-0072.htm">minors</a>,
equipped with expensive gas masks and helmets, shields,
and at times, Molotov cocktails and homemade weapons. In
some middle class municipalities governed by MUD
politicians, <a
href="https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2017/05/23/overcoming-guarimba-instinct/">there
is growing impatience among residents</a> for having
to suffer the indignity of being ruled by masked
children and youth, while oftentimes police look the
other way. In such communities these one time “heroes of
the resistance” have worn out their welcome. The
government has described <a
href="http://misionverdad.com/la-guerra-en-venezuela/de-escudos-humanos-a-pichones-de-terroristas-el-uso-de-ninos-en-las-guarimbas">these
children</a> as victims and delivered a <a
href="http://www.panorama.com.ve/politicayeconomia/Venezuela-denuncia-ante-Unicef-uso-de-ninos-en-acciones-violentas-de-oposicion-20170525-0137.html">report
to UNICEF </a>on May 25th documenting violations of
the <a
href="http://policiadearagua.gob.ve/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/LOPNNA.pdf">laws
that protect children</a> from exploitation.</p>
<p>Government officials in Venezuela reported the arrests
of six <a
href="http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/paramilitares-colombianos-detenidos-en-venezuela-89160">paramilitaries
from Colombia</a> in the state of Tachira last week,
who are allegedly contracted by radical right-wing
opponents of the government. These claims deserve some
serious investigation by an independent body rather than
being derisively dismissed as unworthy of consideration.
This is critically important because these ultra
right-wing elements arguably aim at terrorizing the
general population, exacerbating the economic crisis,
and ultimately creating sufficient chaos in Venezuela so
as to legitimate a so called <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKW9DEgehs4">“humanitarian”</a> intervention
by the United States. If this is the case, the
Venezuelan people ought to be commended, even at this
late date, for not releasing the dogs of war on a large
scale. Venezuelans want peace.</p>
<p><a href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13141">Venezuela
Analysis</a> (VA) keeps track, on a <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13081">daily
basis</a>, of the causes of recent deaths in
Venezuela. In a recent summary, VA reports:</p>
<p>“The latest killing brings the death toll in seven
weeks of anti-government protests to at least<a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13081"> 55</a>,
including eight confirmed deaths at the hands of
authorities and eighteen people killed by opposition
violence. The Public Prosecution has confirmed that at
least<a
href="http://www.mp.gob.ve/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=e8595d5a-f5b3-44dc-b6bf-02b6f593f26f&groupId=10136"> 972</a> people
have been injured in the unrest to date.</p>
<p>The protests have likewise seen widespread attacks on
public and private property, including 115 businesses
looted nationwide, reports<a
href="http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/destacados/informe-39-personas-no-relacionadas-protestas-murieron-abril-mayo-2017/"> Últimas
Noticias</a>.</p>
<p>In the latest incident of public property destruction,
Bolivar state Governor Francisco Rangel Gomez has
confirmed that 54 public-operated TransBolivar buses
were set on fire early Monday morning, leaving 51 of the
units totally destroyed.” (Lucas Koerner, May 22, 2017;
see <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/13081">update</a>)</p>
<p>All such violence and killings, incontestably, ought
to draw indignation. A number of <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13151">police
and GNB</a> personnel have been arrested and charged
with crimes by Venezuelan authorities for violations of
human rights, including homicide. These abuses are
widely reported as should <em>all</em> violations of
human rights, including those caused by opposition
political violence.</p>
<p>With regard to the MUD’s bid to enter popular barrios
to recruit for their cause, The MUD is not likely to get
significant traction. Despite the severe economic
crisis, which has been exacerbated by an <a
href="http://www.15yultimo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/THE-VISIBLE-HAND-OF-THE-MARKET.-ECONOMIC-WARFARE-IN-VENEZUELA.-PASQUALINA-CURCIO-C.pdf">economic
war</a> reminiscent of the tactics used to bring down <a
href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=battle+chile+youtube&ia=videos&iax=1&iai=GGJbrn_42jA">Salvador
Allende</a>, Chavistas and most social movements have
not jumped on the MUD train and have <a
href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Why-Are-There-No-Riots-in-the-Barrios-of-Venezuela-20170511-0014.html">defended
their neighborhoods</a> from the entrance of
opposition militants. The image of Figueras on fire; the
assassination of the young Chavista legislator <a
href="http://www.coha.org/aftermath-of-the-assassinations-of-robert-serra-and-maria-herrera/">Robert
Serra</a> and his wife (October 2014); and the
historic memory of the <a
href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/11868">Caracazo</a> (February
1989) are all vivid reminders of the fate that could
await <a
href="https://www.aporrea.org/ddhh/n309041.html">Chavistas
under a MUD “transition”</a>.</p>
<p>Hate crimes, and the terrorist violence of
paramilitaries and the ultra right, as well as <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcC5lc6IJkU">the
presence of so many children </a>in the ranks of
opposition militants at the barricades, is not just a
problem for Venezuelans; it could soon pose a political
problem for Washington and its allies in the OAS, which
justify their blatant<a
href="https://usun.state.gov/remarks/7805"> interventionism
in the name of human rights</a> and democratic values.
As <a
href="http://www.coha.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/OAS-Zamorano-Mills.pdf">Patricio
Zamorano</a> points out, Secretary Luis Almagro’s
extreme partisanship on behalf of the Venezuelan
opposition has not only (deliberately or not) given the
green light to hard liners within the opposition camp;
it has also undermined talks being promoted by Pope
Francis. Almagro now has the infamous distinction in the
region of severely damaging the institutional legitimacy
of the OAS in order to do Washington’s bidding.</p>
<p>The State Department views Venezuela as an obstacle to
the rehabilitation of United States hegemony in the
region and it sees the OAS as an instrument for imposing
its agenda. There is no mystery over this. In an unusual
display of candor, <a
href="https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271013.pdf"> the
State Department, in its Congressional Budget
Justification</a> for FY 2018, states:</p>
<p>“The Organization of American States (OAS) promotes
U.S. political and economic interests in the Western
Hemisphere by countering the influence of anti-U.S.
countries such as Venezuela and by promoting free and
fair elections and building international support for
the peace accord in Colombia and rebuilding efforts in
Haiti.“ (p. 180)</p>
<p>The OAS ought to take issue with such a statement and
insist that the organization should be promoting the
“political and economic interests” of all the member
states in the spirit of new regional organizations that
have worked overtime to buttress the region against an
excess of U.S. manipulation.</p>
<p>Such manipulation and meddling is obvious in the case
of Venezuela. <a
href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/09/fact-sheet-venezuela-executive-order">Obama’s
executive order</a> declaring Venezuela an “unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security and
foreign policy of the United States”; targeted sanctions
against the government; <a
href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/US-Has-Budgeted-49M-for-Venezuelan-Right-Wing-Since-2009-20170517-0018.html">funding</a> for
opposition organizations; as well as recent<a
href="http://venezuela.liveuamap.com/en/2017/6-may-national-security-advisor-mcmaster-met-with-venezuela"> meetings
between opposition leaders</a> and U.S. officials;
have provided the opposition with the confidence to stay
the course for nothing less than regime change <em>without
delay</em>. Ironically, the MUD<a
href="http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/politica/mud-marcha-hoy-rechazo-elecciones-regionales/"> rejects
the regional elections</a> scheduled for December 10,
2017 for which it previously had been clamoring;
repudiates the constituent assembly process; demands the
release of “political prisoners”; and refuses talks with
the Maduro administration mediated by<a
href="http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Pope-Francis-Tells-Venezuela-Bishops-to-Support-Dialogue-and-Denounce-Violence-20170507-0023.html"> Pope
Francis</a> and supported by the<a
href="http://globovision.com/article/secretario-general-de-la-onu-mantiene-contacto-con-mediadores-sobre-situacion-en-venezuela"> UN</a>,<a
href="https://videos.telesurtv.net/video/660047/caricom-apoya-el-dialogo-en-venezuela-y-pide-la-no-injerencia/"> CARICOM</a> and
other regional partners, as well as the majority of
Venezuelans.</p>
<p>It is urgently important to condemn not only abuses by
security forces, but also the selective assassinations
and hate crimes against Chavistas. The MUD leadership’s
failure so far to denounce all terrorist violence and to
completely repudiate the use of children at the
barricades, as well as the continued reluctance of some
opposition mayors to act to restore public order in
their municipalities, is not consistent with a
principled stand on human rights. Although so far
anti-government violence is limited to a few parts of
the country, attempts at plunging this South American
nation into chaos in order to justify foreign
intervention ought to set off alarm bells for all
progressive forces.</p>
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