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Tag: Venezuela protests

  • Venezuela Beauty Queen Killed During Protests

    It was in her name. Genesis Carmona.

    A new beginning.

    A promising start.

    The 22-year-old was a college student studying marketing and a locally famous beauty queen in her home state of Carabobo, Venezuela. She had looks, brains, and a world of promise.

    Then with a cowardly sniper’s bullet, it was all gone, and Carmona’s short life was over.

    Having been shot on February 18th, Carmona becomes the latest of several people who have been killed so far amid violent clashes occurring in Venezuela. The ongoing protests are a challenge to almost a decade and a half of a socialist government rule. Much of the anger has arisen over astronomical inflation, shortage of goods, and government corruption. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

    The animosity within the troubled nation became even more intense following the arrest of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. The 42-year-old former mayor has been accused by Maduro of attempting a coup. He could be charged with homicide and causing grievous bodily harm. Lopez surrendered to authorities amid thousands of cheering supporters.

    This matter is a world away from the grieving friends and family of Genesis Carmona. It is not known what Carmona was doing prior to being caught up in the turmoil on Tuesday. It is known that without warning, a sniper shot Carmona in the head. She was described as immediately “slumping to the ground”. In a desperate attempt to save her life, Carmona was rushed to a hospital via motorcycle.

    The effort would prove to be in vain as she would be pronounced dead the next day.

    Carmona’s death is not merely tragic because she was beautiful in a country that prizes beauty queens.

    It’s also terrible that perhaps this poor young woman, by her promise and by her very name, represented a new, hopeful beginning for citizens of Venezuela. Rather than hopeful beginnings, it may be a signal of the downward spiral facing the deeply divided nation as the struggle to control the fate of Venezuela continues.

    Image via Youtube

  • Venezuela Protests Leave 3 People Dead

    Venezuela Protests Leave 3 People Dead

    Youth Day marches in Caracas, Venezuela turned violent with at least three people dead from gunshot wounds. Protests against the government have been escalating since the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro in April 2013. The violent events were another cry from the opposition hardliners, who have been denouncing Maduro through demonstrations in provinces weeks prior to the latest incident.

    According to the government, the opposition is trying to use violence to spark a coup against the president – the same scenario former president Hugo Chavez faced in 2002.

    Over a hundred student protesters in downtown Caracas were clashing with the security service when the event happened. The area was filled with gunfire coming from a vigilante group of government supporters who arrived on motorcycles. The startled crowd fled in alarm as 24-year-old Bazil D’Acosta fell to the ground bleeding with a gunshot wound to the head. A revolutionary and leader of the government support-group, 23rd of January Collective, known as Juancho was also killed in the incident. The third death happened on the streets of Chacao just after nightfall.

    The turmoil arose just after a day of peaceful protests by the opposition. Some students vented out their frustration and denounced the president for not being able to control the crime and violence. They also complained about the product shortages and inflation that has been rampant in the country.

    After the riot, both the opposition and government supporters pointed the blame at each other. Leopoldo Lopez, the opposition leader, says that the students were peacefully protesting and the government supporters were responsible for the violence, which was done to make it appear as if the students were at fault. The fighting that occurred will be investigated further, as it was caught on video, according to Attorney General Luisa Ortega.

    Amidst the controversy, President Maduro says that he will do everything he can to bring back peace. He also said that no one will be exempt from the consequences of illegal protesting.

    Reports say 4 police vehicles were burned, 25 were arrested, and 23 were injured in the protest.

    Image via YouTube