Venezuela Brief: Countdown to Tyranny IV

by the Menges Hemispheric Security Project

Violence levels in Venezuela worry Amnesty International

Due to the escalation of violence and protests against the Constitutional Referendum proposed by Chvez, Amnesty International has urged the Venezuelan government to take into account these incidents. Amnesty says the government needs to guarantee appropriate conduct by members of the security forces, who should keep their weapons in check without attacking the students who protest daily in the streets.

In the last few days, the police and the National Guard have breached the autonomy of universities in the cities of Caracas, Barinas, Mrida and Barquisimeto, and the confrontations have left two people dead and many injured. The atmosphere in Venezuela is extremely tense and many fear that the violence might get out of control.

Former Candidate Manuel Rosales and the Vice-President of the Venezuelan Episcopalian Conference, call people to vote against the Reform

In a campaign that has extended throughout the whole country to out-win nonparticipation in the Referendum, Manuel Rosales and Monsignor Lckert are trying to convince people to vote against the Referendum, since they believe the Constitutional Reforms deprive people of their freedom, impose a socialist model on society and give unlimited powers to the President.

They are doing this because Venezuelans are skeptical that their votes will not be respected since they believe the National Electoral Council is controlled by the government. In addition, they are suspicious about the voter’s list for the national elections and, in general, distrust the whole electoral process which lacks transparency.

Niveles de violencia en Venezuela alarman a Amnista Internacional

La violencia que ha escalado en las ltimas semanas en Venezuela ante el Referndum Constitucional planteado por Chvez para el 2 de diciembre, ha llevado a Amnista Internacional a instar al gobierno a tomar en cuenta estos incidentes y garantizar que las fuerzas de seguridad acten de forma adecuada, controlando el porte de armas y sin agredir a los estudiantes que protestan diariamente en las calles.

En los ltimos das, la polica y la Guardia Nacional han violado la autonoma universitaria en ciudades como Caracas, Barinas, Mrida y Barquisimeto, y de los enfrentamientos han resultado dos muertos y varios heridos.  Los das en Venezuela transcurren con gran tensin y temor de que se desborde la violencia.

Ex candidato Manuel Rosales y Vicepresidente de la Conferencia Episcopal venezolana, llaman a votar por el No a la reforma

En una campaa que se ha extendido en el pas para vencer el abstencionismo en el Referndum de diciembre, Manuel Rosales y Monseor Lckert, llaman a votar por el No en el Referndum por considerar que la Reforma Constitucional va en contra de las libertades del pueblo, impone un modelo socialista y otorga poderes ilimitados al Presidente.

Este llamado se hace ante la falta de confianza de los venezolanos de que su voto se respete, dadas las dudas que genera un Consejo Nacional Electoral en manos del gobierno, un padrn electoral poco claro y un mecanismo electoral que no garantiza la transparencia.