Venezuela's Maduro threatens to arrest opposition leaders holding a political trial against him

Record ID: 83628

  • Title: Venezuela's Maduro threatens to arrest opposition leaders holding a political trial against him
  • Date: 28th October 2016
  • Summary: MADURO'S SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2016 21:22
  • Keywords: opposition strike Nicolas Maduro political trial arrest
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00455X8477
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:In Venezuela's contentious political climate where encouraging participation in an opposition-led strike could be cause for arrest, President Nicolas Maduro called the strike a 'failure' while threatening to arrest deputies leading a political trial against him.
    While polls show most Venezuelans want a recall referendum against Maduro and he would lose if it went ahead, participation in Friday's (October 28) 12-hour shutdown was light as businesses had to decide between staying open or closing and taking both the financial hit and risk arrest.
    Maduro taunted the opposition, saying their strike had failed.
    "The strike called for by the fascist right has been a failure. They failed. Peace, work, coexistence has won. Venezuela has won," he said.
    Venezuela's opposition Democratic Unity coalition called for the shutdown as part of escalating protests after authorities scuttled the opposition's push for a referendum to recall the OPEC nation's unpopular socialist leader.
    In the capital Caracas, where hundreds of thousands of demonstrators attended anti-Maduro rallies on Wednesday (October 26), traffic was lighter than normal for a weekday and some schools were virtually empty as parents kept children home.
    The government vowed to take over any companies heeding the strike, sending inspectors to ensure they were open. It posted intelligence agents outside Venezuela's main private company, beer and food conglomerate Polar, which was working normally.
    Traffic was light and public transport fell by about half in San Cristobal, where earlier in the week masked protesters clashed with police, witnesses said. Two businesses were fined for closing, a military source said.
    Parts of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second city, were deserted, witnesses said.
    Carlos Larrazabal, vice-president of Fedecamaras, Venezuela's largest corporate umbrella group, told Reuters companies were staying open and letting staff decide whether to attend or not, but troops were stationed outside various businesses.
    As well as Friday's strike, the opposition is carrying out a political trial of Maduro in the National Assembly and is vowing to march to the Miraflores presidential palace next week.
    Maduro said their actions violate the constitution.
    "If they violate the constitution and hold an alleged political trial that is not in our magna carta, the attorney general of the Republic, in representation of all Venezuelans, should file suit, file a complaint before the courts and imprison all of those who violate the constitution, whether they are deputies or not," he said.
    The opposition says 53-year-old Maduro has effectively carried out a "coup" by sidelining the legislature, arresting opponents and leaning on compliant institutions to squash the referendum. He says it is his foes who are seeking to topple him illegally.
    Polls show most Venezuelans want a plebiscite and that Maduro would lose if it went ahead. If he lost a referendum this year, it would trigger a presidential election and a chance for the opposition to end 17 years of socialist rule.
    Despite having the world's largest oil reserves, Venezuela is suffering a third year of recession, with many skipping meals due to shortages and soaring prices.
    Maduro blames the situation on a U.S.-led "economic war" against him and the fall in global oil prices. His supporters were holding rallies on Friday to oppose the strike.
    A total of 97 people were arrested during Wednesday's nationwide protests, including seven policemen accused of rights abuses, judicial authorities said. Some 82 people were injured that day, including 26 security personnel.
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