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Title: Students Attacked by Police as Protests Continue Publication: NEAR international |
Country: Venezuela |
Published Date: February 12, 2010 |
Students Attacked By Police as Protests Continue
Protesting students in Caracas, Venezuela have been attacked with tear gas, water cannons and plastic bullets. Ongoing protests have been met with a harsh response as President Chavez’s supporters celebrated the 18th anniversary of his failed coup as an army officer.
There have been daily student protests in the capital since 24 January, triggered by the closure of Radio Caracas Television International. Students are accusing Chavez of forcing the network off the airwaves as a means of silencing his critics.
The police response seems to have become more severe on 4 February, the day when pro-government supporters were celebrating the 18th anniversary of President Chavez’s failed coup. Two have been killed during the unrest, with many more injured. Police chiefs said that the protesters had not been granted permission to march on that particular day.
Thousands of Chavez backers had gathered to listen to the President, who hailed the 1992 military uprising as a justified rebellion seeking to topple a corrupt government that ignored the plight of Venezuela’s poor.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Inter-America Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed concern about the violent repression of the protests and urged the authorities to investigate any reports of police abuses. They have called for “dialogue and the peaceful exercise of the right to demonstrate and gather in Venezuela”.
President Chavez has been clear that he will take drastic measures to protect what he calls his “Bolivarian revolution” referring to Simon Bolivar, a 19th century revolutionary credited with a key role in claiming independence from Spanish colonial rule.
Chavez’s socialist government has been continually accused of oppressing political opponents, restricting media output and orchestrating unfair trials of dissidents.