{"id":33071,"date":"2017-05-08T07:01:45","date_gmt":"2017-05-08T07:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=33071"},"modified":"2017-05-08T07:01:45","modified_gmt":"2017-05-08T07:01:45","slug":"roses-in-hand-venezuelan-women-protesters-face-security-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=33071","title":{"rendered":"Roses in hand, Venezuelan women protesters face security forces"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A demonstrator holds up a flower in front of riot policemen during a women's march to protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, May 6, 2017. REUTERS\/Carlos Garcia Rawlins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The women's marches, which took place in most major cities around the South American oil producer, were the latest in five weeks of sustained protests against Maduro whom opponents decry as a dictator who has ruined the economy<\/h2>\n
Dressed in white and chanting \u201cLiberty!\u201d, tens of thousands of women opposed to Venezuela\u2019s socialist President Nicolas Maduro marched on Saturday, proffering roses to security forces who blocked their way.<\/div>\n
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The women\u2019s marches, which took place in most major cities around the South American oil producer, were the latest in five weeks of sustained protests against Maduro whom opponents decry as a dictator who has ruined the economy.<\/p>\n

In Caracas, marchers sang the national anthem and shouted \u201cWe want elections!\u201d They were halted at various points by lines of policewomen and National Guard troops with armoured cars.<\/p>\n

The opposition, which has majority support in Venezuela after years of being in the shadow of the ruling Socialist Party, is demanding that delayed state elections be held and the 2018 presidential vote be brought forward.<\/p>\n

They also want the government to free scores of jailed activists, allow humanitarian aid from abroad to offset a brutal economic crisis, and respect the independence of the legislature where the opposition won a majority in 2015.<\/p>\n

Highlighting vandalism and violence by young masked protesters, Maduro says opponents are seeking a coup with US support and harbour \u201cterrorists\u201d and \u201cmurderers\u201d in their ranks.<\/p>\n

In response to the crisis, the 54-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez is setting up a super body known as a \u201cconstituent assembly\u201d with powers to rewrite the constitution, shake up public powers, and potentially replace the legislature.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis march is against opposition terrorism, they are destroying everything,\u201d said cook Fredesvilda Paulino, 54, at a pro-government rally also in Caracas on Saturday where red-shirted women waved pro-Maduro flags and banners.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s marches were organised as part of an opposition attempt to vary tactics and keep momentum against Maduro.<\/p>\n

Women have often been feeling the brunt of Venezuela\u2019s economic crisis due to widespread food and medicine shortages, huge lines at shops, soaring prices, and increasing hunger in the nation of 30 million people.<\/p>\n

Thirty-seven deaths<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Since the anti-Maduro protests began in early April, at least 37 people have died, with victims including supporters of both sides, bystanders and members of the security forces.<\/p>\n

Opposition leaders say the constituent assembly is a biased mechanism designed to keep an unpopular leader in power.<\/p>\n

They say the government is to blame for violence by young protesters as authorities are refusing a free vote to resolve the crisis and are needlessly blocking and repressing marches.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust let us vote, and this will all end,\u201d said teacher Anlerisky Rosales, 22, in the opposition women\u2019s march in Caracas. \u201cThere is too much suffering in Venezuela. If we have to, we will give our lives in the street until Maduro goes.\u201d
\nVarious female protesters marched topless with black face masks in mourning for the fatalities.<\/p>\n

At one point, a female government official emerged from the security lines to receive a petition and talk with the demonstration leaders.<\/p>\n

With Maduro\u2019s approval ratings at around 24 percent \u2013 less than half the level at the time of his narrow election victory in 2013 \u2013 and Venezuela suffering a fourth year of harrowing recession, the opposition\u2019s challenge is to keep up street pressure and draw in support from poor former \u201cChavista\u201d sectors.<\/p>\n

Officials are hoping they become exhausted and disillusioned, while highlighting the violence of young opposition hotheads to try to discredit the whole opposition.<\/p>\n

Many Venezuelans are closely watching the armed forces, who have the potential to tip the balance if they disobey government instructions or give Maduro a nudge behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

Top armed forces officials have been pledging loyalty in public, though opposition leader Henrique Capriles said on Friday that 85 military officials had been arrested for dissent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The women’s marches, which took place in most major cities around the South American oil producer, were the latest in five weeks of sustained protests against Maduro whom opponents decry as a dictator who has ruined the economy Dressed in white and chanting \u201cLiberty!\u201d, tens of thousands of women opposed to Venezuela\u2019s socialist President Nicolas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":33072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n