Tag: Venezuela

NOVANEWS In Venezuela, where most of the country's residents voted against the convening of a constituent assembly in a popular referendum, a pattern similar to that of Maidan in Kiev back in 2014 was seen, according to the head of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISI) Center for Public Relations Igor Pshenichnikov. On Sunday, the opposition organized the so-called popular referendum, in which over 98 percent of 7.2 million voters opposed Maduro’s decision to call the Constituent Assembly. The country’s government believes that results of the referendum do not have legal force as only the electoral authorities have the right to hold such events. © REUTERS/ UESLEI MARCELINO Venezuela Vows to Reconsider Relations With US Amid Threat of Sanctions "We are see...

NOVANEWS By Marco Teruggi – 15 y Ultimo Since opposition protests began in Venezuela in early April, much of the media coverage has focused on clashes in Caracas. However, the opposition’s campaign to bring down the government of Nicolas Maduro has not been limited to the country’s capital. Marco Teruggi reports on a recent visit to the small, but strategic town of Socopo, in the largely rural state Barinas, which has been the site of a campaign of terror and an all-out struggle for power. It was original published at 15 y Ultimo and has been translated by Green Left Weekly’s Federico Fuentes. *** More than two months after the right-wing opposition began its campaign of full-frontal confrontation, we can start to see particular episodes as model cases. Such is the case with Socopo, ...

NOVANEWS By Rachael Boothroyd Rojas | Venezuelanalysis  Caracas – Three Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) soldiers have been arrested following the fatal shooting of an anti-government protester in Caracas this past Monday. First sergeant Raymon Ávila León and second sergeants Johan Rojas Díaz and Jesús Baez Rojas will be charged with the misuse of a firearm, according to national ombudsman, William Saab. On Monday, 17 year old Fabian Urbina died from gunshot wounds when GNB soldiers opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the eastern district of Altamira. Five other demonstrators were also injured in the incident. In footage of the confrontation circulated by the private media channel La Patilla on social media, hundreds of violent protesters can be seen attempting to attack several GNB of...

NOVANEWS By Ryan Mallett-Outtrim – Venezuelanalysis –  Two opposition protesters were killed in Venezuela Thursday, in the wake of the assassination of a prominent right-wing politician. The two latest deaths include 20-year-old protester Luis Enrique Vera Sulbaran and Jose Gregorio Perez Perez. A university student, Vera died after being hit by a pick up truck while blocking a road in Venezuela’s second largest city, Maracaibo. The pick up truck was then torched by protesters. Police believe the death occurred after the protesters attempted to loot the pick up truck, which was carrying medical supplies. According to Interior Minister Nestor Reverol, Vera was struck by the truck as the driver attempted to flee the robbery. Opposition protesters are known to attempt to loot vehicles, a...

NOVANEWS By Lucas Koerner | Venezuelanalysis  Venezuela is once again dominating international headlines as violent opposition protests bent on toppling the elected Maduro government enter their seventh week. The demonstrations have claimed to date at least 54 lives since April 4, surpassing the previous wave of violent anti-government protests in 2014, known as “the Exit”. However, this time around, the unrest coincides with a severe economic downturn and a transformed geopolitical landscape defined by the return of the right in Brazil and Argentina as well as an even more bellicose regime in Washington. Meanwhile, the international outcry at this latest violent effort to oust the Chavista government has been far more muffled than the last time. With the notable exception of an open le...

NOVANEWS Sputnik  As clashes between the Maduro government in Venezuela and the opposition are getting more and more fierce, the US media is openly calling for an economic war against the Bolivarian Revolution government, blaming it for casualties on both sides of the conflict. Speaking to Radio Sputnik’s Brian Becker, author, journalist and lecturer Arnold August noted that the US media has a very clear stance: that Maduro and his Bolivarian Revolution government are responsible for everything bad that is happening in the country. Those who do not blame Maduro directly nonetheless report on the issue in such a way as to create the impression that Maduro is responsible, August said. ​For example, an April 24 opinion piece by the Washington Times is entitled “Venezuela’s coming civil war:...

NOVANEWS From the PSL: It is in the hands of the Venezuelan people to determine their path forward, not for Washington to dictate. And it is for the progressive forces in the United States and worldwide to stand with the Bolivarian government and people. U.S. hands off Venezuela! Apr 18, 2017 By Nick Pardee and Gloria La Riva Warning of a growing danger by the right-wing opposition’s attempts to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, he and other leaders of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) have issued a call for a giant rally of the people on April 19 to counter a planned right-wing rally. Alerting to the danger, in a rally of thousands of militia and soldiers to salute the seventh anniversary of the Bolivarian Militias of Venezuela, Maduro said, “If you ...

NOVANEWS President Hugo Chavez By Ricardo Vaz | Investig’Action  “Journalists” who want to write fake news about Venezuela, or about any other country or group that dares to stand up to US imperialism, only need to follow this simple recipe: Choose one or more countries/groups opposed to US imperialism If available, have a former official, now being paid by the US government, make the accusations Season well with doses of “war on terror” and/or “war on drugs” Sprinkle with opinions of “experts” who work in DC think tanks or US-funded NGOs While this looks like a very unsavoury mix, the results last very long and can be reheated with no problems. This recipe has been used and re-used plenty of times, either by US officials to justify policies or by media outlets. But given how ...

NOVANEWS Venezuelan ambassador Jorge Valero speaks at the U.N. | Photo: UN Many so-called political prisoners are high-ranking opposition leaders who have instigated violence in the country, leading to the deaths of many citizens. Venezuelan Ambassador Jorge Valero has called out a high-ranking U.N. official who demanded the release of "political prisoners" as acting in favor of imperial interests. RELATED: 74 Percent of Venezuelans Don’t Trust the Opposition: Survey U.N. official Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein expressed “concern about the extreme polarization in Venezuela with continued restrictions on freedom of movement, association, expression and peaceful protest," as Venezuela Analysis reported. He called for the alleged political prisoners’ release and parroted m...

NOVANEWS U.S. President Donald Trump has met with Lilian Tintori, an outspoken opponent of Nicolas Maduro. | Photo: Twitter / Donald Trump "Change is coming to Ecuador," Tintori said, referencing the campaign slogan of right-wing presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso. Ecuador denied entry Wednesday morning to Venezuelan opposition figure Lilian Tintori, traveling to meet and campaign with right-wing Ecuadorean presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso — an activity that is banned by the country’s immigration law. IN DEPTH: Ecuador Elections 2017 Tintori, wife of jailed Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, arrived at the airport in Guayaquil from Miami at 1:30 a.m. local time Wednesday morning. On her social media accounts she reported that immigration a...