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Amid Protests, Venezuela Sends Forces to Opposition Stronghold Government Sends Soldiers To a Protest Site in Caracas
(35 minutes later)
The government on Monday deployed hundreds of soldiers in a part of Caracas where weeks of often violent protests had taken place, and a top official boasted that the area had been “liberated.” The government on Monday deployed hundreds of soldiers in a part of Caracas where weeks of often violent protests have taken place, and a top official boasted that the area had been “liberated.”
The operation centered on a public square, Plaza Francia, in the city’s well-off Altamira district, where virtually every night up to hundreds of young protesters gathered to engage in battles with the police and National Guard troops, building barricades to block streets and throwing rocks and gas bombs at security forces, who responded with tear gas and plastic buckshot.The operation centered on a public square, Plaza Francia, in the city’s well-off Altamira district, where virtually every night up to hundreds of young protesters gathered to engage in battles with the police and National Guard troops, building barricades to block streets and throwing rocks and gas bombs at security forces, who responded with tear gas and plastic buckshot.
The deployment extended into other nearby neighborhoods where residents had been active in the protests and had barricaded many streets. Soldiers, some armed with assault weapons, were stationed in the plaza and on many of the major streets in the area, which has long been an opposition stronghold. Municipal workers removed barricades and cleaned up the trash and debris.The deployment extended into other nearby neighborhoods where residents had been active in the protests and had barricaded many streets. Soldiers, some armed with assault weapons, were stationed in the plaza and on many of the major streets in the area, which has long been an opposition stronghold. Municipal workers removed barricades and cleaned up the trash and debris.
People going to and from work or entering or leaving the subway station at the plaza, walked past the soldiers, who stood about in small groups. People going to and from work or entering or leaving the subway station at the plaza walked past the soldiers, who stood about in small groups.
“The soldiers should have come earlier,” said Neida Macuma, a government supporter whose daughters, government opponents, live in the area. “The students were getting out of control, and they had no right to be blocking the streets.”“The soldiers should have come earlier,” said Neida Macuma, a government supporter whose daughters, government opponents, live in the area. “The students were getting out of control, and they had no right to be blocking the streets.”
But Juan Carlos Salas, 28, an opposition supporter who works at a market, said the military presence was excessive, as the protesters were “students, armed only with rocks at the most, while they have tear gas, bulletproof vests, guns,” he said. But Juan Carlos Salas, 28, an opposition supporter who works at a market, said the military presence was excessive, as the protesters were “students, armed only with rocks at the most, while they have tear gas, bulletproof vests, guns.”
In the midafternoon protesters, most of them students, began arriving. About 30 young people walked around the plaza, chanting slogans, including one directed at the National Guard soldiers: “Brother guardsman, we are also fighting for you.”In the midafternoon protesters, most of them students, began arriving. About 30 young people walked around the plaza, chanting slogans, including one directed at the National Guard soldiers: “Brother guardsman, we are also fighting for you.”
At one point the soldiers surrounded the students as they stood on the corner of a main avenue, apparently to prevent them from trying to block the street.At one point the soldiers surrounded the students as they stood on the corner of a main avenue, apparently to prevent them from trying to block the street.
The protests, which started in early February, sprang from dissatisfaction with living standards, a hobbled economy, high crime and the frustration of government opponents who felt shut out of the political system. The protests, which started in February, sprang from dissatisfaction with living standards, a hobbled economy and high crime, as well as from the frustration of government opponents who felt shut out of the political system.
President Nicolás Maduro dismisses the protesters as coup-plotters and fascists.President Nicolás Maduro dismisses the protesters as coup-plotters and fascists.
Diosdado Cabello, the president of the National Assembly, said on Twitter post Monday that the plaza had been “liberated.”Diosdado Cabello, the president of the National Assembly, said on Twitter post Monday that the plaza had been “liberated.”
Also on Monday, government officials said that a National Guard soldier had died after being shot in the head a day earlier at a barricade set up by protesters on a street in the city of Maracay. The government says that 29 people have been killed in episodes linked to the protests.Also on Monday, government officials said that a National Guard soldier had died after being shot in the head a day earlier at a barricade set up by protesters on a street in the city of Maracay. The government says that 29 people have been killed in episodes linked to the protests.