Opposition clash with Venezuelan police during protest

Record ID: 103038

  • Title: Opposition clash with Venezuelan police during protest
  • Date: 18th May 2016
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA) (MAY 18, 2016) (REUTERS) OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS WHO WERE MARCHING CLAPPING AND HOLDING UP POSTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS RUNNING NATIONAL POLICE, WEARING RIOT GEAR, ADVANCING TO BLOCK PROTEST PROTESTERS RUNNING POLICE LINE BLOCKING PATH OF MARCHING PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, PROTESTER, SAYING: "We're tired of the corruption. We're tired of the queues. We're tired that every day they smack us in the face with this supposed economic war. That doesn't exist, (addressing President Nicolas) Maduro. The economic war is your war against us." CROWD PROTESTING PROTESTER ARGUING WITH POLICE
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2016 16:21
  • Keywords: Venezuela opposition politics President Nicolas Maduro shortages crisis
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014IC5B9F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Security forces fired tear gas on Wednesday (May 18) to block an intended march by protesters demanding a recall referendum to end Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's socialist rule.
    In the third opposition rally in a week, several thousand protesters descended on downtown Caracas, witnesses said, planning to march to the national election board's headquarters.
    But National Guard soldiers and police cordoned off the square where they planned to meet, so protesters milled instead in nearby streets waving flags and chanting anti-Maduro slogans.
    Security forces used tear gas to control about 100 protesters in one street, witnesses said.
    "We're tired of the corruption. We're tired of the queues. We're tired that every day they smack us in the face with this supposed economic war. That doesn't exist, (addressing President Nicolas) Maduro. The economic war is your war against us," said protester Carlos Rodriguez.
    Authorities also closed subway stations in Caracas on Wednesday in another measure to impede the protesters.
    Beyond the opposition's formal protest campaign, spontaneous street protests and looting are becoming more common around Venezuela amid worsening food shortages, frequent power and water cuts, and inflation that is the highest in the world.
    "Of course we are going to continue on the street until we get freedom in Venezuela and we get this country on the path to progress," said protester Javier Lopez.
    Maduro, a 53-year-old former bus driver who narrowly won election to replace the late Hugo Chavez in 2013, accuses opposition leaders of seeking a coup with the help of the United States.
    The opposition coalition, capitalizing on popular discontent over the OPEC nation's economic crisis, won control of the National Assembly in December elections. But all the legislature's measures have been shot down by the government-leaning Supreme Court.
    The opposition wants a recall referendum against Maduro this year in order force a new presidential election. But ruling Socialist Party officials say there is no time to organize such a vote this year and the election board is dragging its feet over the procedure. Should Maduro lose a referendum next year, his vice president - currently Socialist Party stalwart Aristobulo Isturiz - would take over.
    During the weekend, Maduro declared a 60-day state of emergency, widening his powers to side-step the legislature, intervene in the economy and control the streets, because of what he called U.S. and domestic plots against him.
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