- Title: VENEZUELA: Pro-opposition groups stage rally in Caracas; Jaua lambasts opposition
- Date: 27th February 2014
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FEBRUARY 27, 2014) (REUTERS) VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER ELIAS JAUA AND ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER HECTOR TIMERMAN ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JAUA SAYING: "Any dialogue can begin with people who are not going.. but the important thing is that it begins little by little, we are certain that those who were not there, they were not there not because they didn't want to go, but because they were subjected to the blackmail of the neofascist and violent groups that control a good part of the communications media and dictate policy to whatever politician who sits down to talk with the legitimate and democratic government of Venezuela. That is the truth. Many people did not go yesterday for fear of a political and moral media lynching, including threats on their families." JAUA AND TIMERMAN AT NEWS CONFERENCE JAUA AND TIMERMAN LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 14th March 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACBJF2A7XH59NMMOW6VUZEM4Y8
- Story Text: Venezuela's opposition supporters rallied in Caracas on Thursday (February 27) - despite the start of a week-long national holiday that the government hopes will take the the heat out of the nation's worst unrest for a decade.
Earlier this week, President Nicolas Maduro brought forward by two days a long weekend national holiday for Carnival when
Venezuelans traditionally abandon cities and head for Caribbean coast beaches to relax and party.
But in Caracas, a large crowd gathered to protest against Maduro, while some street barricades remained in place.
"While there is censorship we know we are in a crisis and the students are going to fight for each of you, for the mothers, the housewife, the young labourer, the grandmother, we are all going into the streets together," said one student, Eusebio, addressing the crowd from a makeshift stage.
Thirteen people have been killed in the protests to date.
The students are demanding Maduro quit over grievances ranging from high inflation and shocking crime rates to
shortages of basic food and alleged repression of political rivals.
One student said the lengthened Carnival holiday would not dampen the protest movement.
"The Venezuelan people is here demonstrating that nobody is going to Carnival, that would be disrespectful to all the people who have fallen in the fight for their country and we are here to demonstrate that we not going to rest for anything," said Victor Villegas.
Another protester said he was there to support the students.
"We are here supporting the students who have been attacked by the National Guard and by the government, I do not agree with the repression they have taken against the students, the marches have always been peaceful," said Jose Bonilla.
Firebrand protest leader Leopoldo Lopez, who leads a radical wing of the opposition, is in jail on charges of fomenting this month's unrest.
Many Latin American nations, the Vatican and the White House, have called on both sides to talk, but most of the opposition declined to take part in a "peace conference" at the presidential palace on Wednesday night.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua lambasted the opposition during a meeting with Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman in Buenos Aires. Jaua is touring several Latin American nations to drum up support for Maduro's government.
"Any dialogue can begin with people who are not going.. but the important thing is that it begins step by step, we are certain that those who were not there, they were not there not because they didn't want to go, but because they were subjected to the blackmail of the neofascist and violent groups that control a good part of the communications media and dictate policy to whatever politician who sits down to talk with the legitimate and democratic government of Venezuela. That is the truth. Many people did not go yesterday for fear of a political and moral media lynching, including threats on their families," Jaua said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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