This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuelan-protest-leader-taken-into-custody/2014/02/18/b3382952-98ca-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Venezuelan protest leader taken into custody Venezuelan protest leader taken into custody
(about 3 hours later)
CARACAS, Venezuela — The Venezuelan government arrested the country’s most prominent opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, after he addressed a large anti-government demonstration Tuesday, a move that could potentially inflame the tumultuous political situation here. CARACAS, Venezuela — The man who has aroused Venezuela’s latest protest movement against a decade and a half of socialist rule surrendered himself to authorities Tuesday after an impassioned speech to thousands of his followers.
The arrest added momentum to the most intense political crisis facing President Nicolas Maduro since he took over in April after the death of his mentor, Hugo Chavez. The socialist country’s rising inflation and failing economy have led to greater opposition and demonstrations that have turned violent in recent days. Leopoldo Lopez, a Harvard-educated former mayor whom the government has accused of inciting violence, emerged from hiding and scaled a statue of Cuban leader José Martí to warn Venezuelans about their corrupt government and economic stagnation. When his brief speech ended, Venezuelan authorities hauled him away.
Speaking to a crowd in Caracas next to a statue of Cuban leader Jose Marti, Lopez said that his fight was for the country’s youths, its students, “for the repressed, for the imprisoned, for all the Venezuelan people that today are suffering” from shortages of food and basic goods. The arrest has intensified the most serious political crisis that President Nicholas Maduro has faced since he took over last April after the death of his mentor, Hugo Chavez. For a week, anti-government prostesters have staged rallies and clashed with authorities, leaving at least three dead and dozens wounded.
Afterward, the 42-year-old former mayor of a Caracas municipality gave himself up to authorities. Lopez has been charged with “terrorism” and described by Maduro as a “fascist” in cahoots with the United States. After last week’s bloodshed, Lopez had been charged with terrorism by the government and accused of inciting violence. Maduro has described him as a “fascist” in cahoots with the United States.
Earlier this week, Maduro expelled three U.S. diplomats from the country, accusing them of conspiring against his government. “I would be a coward, I would be a traitor to Chavez’s memory, if I let myself be intimidated by the empire or any of its regional lackeys,” Maduro told the country Tuesday after Lopez’s arrest. “The one who can mess with Venezuela hasn’t been born, because this is the nation of Bolivar. These are the people of Chavez.”
The State Department called the allegations “baseless and false.” Maduro said Lopez would be taken to a prison outside Caracas to pay for his actions.
Before Tuesday’s demonstration, Lopez issued a video challenge to authorities, saying he would lead the anti-government rally to the ministry of justice, then offer himself up to be arrested, even as he declared his innocence.
Residents awoke Tuesday to find that the subway in the neighborhood of Chacaito, an opposition stronghold, had stopped running, and police blocking the planned protest route. So the protesters held the rally there — an estimated 5,000 people, according to the Associated Press — many of the dressed in white to signify non-violence. Those who attended said they were angry with the country’s failing economy, rising inflation and rampant crime.
Lopez, wearing a white long-sleeve T-shirt and holding a Venezuelan flag, said into a megaphone that his fight was for the country’s youths, its students, “for the repressed, for the imprisoned, for all the Venezuelan people that today are suffering” from shortages of food and basic goods.
Before he ended, Lopez cautioned the crowd to remain calm after his arrest. “I beg you that when I go and give myself to the authorities, I ask you to be cautious. With no confrontation,” he said.
When Lopez finished speaking, Venezuelan soldiers approached. As the crowd chanted “We are not afraid!” Lopez gave himself up without resisting.
Earlier this week, Maduro expelled three U.S. diplomats from the country — the third time in the past year such action has been taken — and accused them of conspiring against his government with opposition protesters. The State Department called the claims “baseless and false.”
“We have seen many times that the Venezuelan government tries to distract from its own actions by blaming the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela,” a State Department spokeswoman said in a statement Tuesday. “These efforts reflect a lack of seriousness on the part of the Venezuelan government to deal with the grave situation it faces.”“We have seen many times that the Venezuelan government tries to distract from its own actions by blaming the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela,” a State Department spokeswoman said in a statement Tuesday. “These efforts reflect a lack of seriousness on the part of the Venezuelan government to deal with the grave situation it faces.”
Lopez has emerged as the leading critic of Maduro’s government. Last week, violent clashes in the street left three people dead and dozens injured. In a video before Tuesday’s march, Lopez said he had “nothing to fear” and offered himself up for arrest. Lopez has emerged as the leading critic of Maduro’s socialist government. His supporters praised his courage for standing up to the authoritarian government.
On Tuesday, Lopez cautioned the crowd to remain peaceful after his arrest. “I beg you that when I go and give myself to the authorities, I ask you to be cautious. With no confrontation,” he said. “He is our voice. He is the voice of us all,” said Maria Zafra, a 22-year-old university student who attended the rally.
Lopez, who was taken away in a military vehicle, was accused by the Venezuelan government of promoting violence in last week’s demonstrations. Protesters began to follow the vehicle, after which he was transferred to a different car and taken away. Not all of the protestors are aligned with Lopez, and some described themselves as politically independent. Computer science student Alejandro Lopez said that he wants a future where he can study and live freely in Venezuela. “I’m sick of this,” he said.
The protest had been scheduled to start at 10 a.m. in front of the ministry of interior where Lopez planned to turn himself in. But police blocked various streets to the government building so the protest happened elsewhere. Across town, a pro-government march took place at the same time as workers from the state oil company walked accompanied by music and drumming.
“I’m marching to support Mr. President and all the measures that he is taking to stop violent groups,” said Juan Hernandez, a 40-year-old oil worker.