Troops Seize Venezuelan Police Station

Venezuelan National Guard troops seized a police station in the town of Curiepe this week. The state police fall under control of the governor of Miranda state, Henrique Capriles, who is a member of the opposition.

Hundreds of citizens gathered at the police station and threw rocks, bottles and homemade bombs. The troops responded with tear gas. Eight were injured in the riot. "It looks like a battlefield," Police Chief Elisio Guzman told the Miami Herald.

Governor Capriles said that the actions were premeditated and were headed up by the minister of the interior. President Chavez maintains that it was a necessary action in order to improve public services and reduce rampant corruption.

Online sources-New York Times, Miami Herald, Associated Press

Image-Associated Press

Chavez Threatens Media Outlet

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is threatening to shut down the television station Globovision for announcing an earthquake in the country before the government. He has stated that they caused unnecessary panic and accused the station of "media terrorism", according to the AFP. ''You are playing with fire, manipulating, inciting hate and much more. All of you: television networks, radio stations, papers,'' President Chávez said. "Don't make a mistake with me.''

''They are trying to shut us because we gave good information before they did,'' Alberto Ravelli, Globovision's general manager, told the Miami Herald. `"This is crazy. They don't want any information on the air inside or outside of the country on what's really happening.''

Image: Miami Herald
Online sources: AFP, Miami Herald

Opposition to Ortega grows

A Miami Herald article last week profiled the “cyber savvy” youth movement growing in energy both offline and on. The facebook group “Daniel Oretga no me representa!!!” has attracted over 1600 members and been the organizing site for other online campaigns.

The rejuvenated youth movement was in part catalyzed by the 12 day hunger strike by Dora Maria Tellez, who protested the government disqualification of 2 opposition political parties (the ALN and MRS) and their candidates from the November local elections – a move that parallels the similar actions the Chavez government in Venezuela.

Sofia Montenegro, former Sandinista and coordinator of the Nicaraguan Autonomous Women’s Movement, has recently declared the united front of women’s groups in opposition to the government, citing government sponsored abuses of women activists, and the recent criminalization of therapeutic abortion.

As the opposition grows in number and variety, it remains unclear how united the opposition can become or what tangible goals they will set. Last week’s Bloggings by Boz suggests that despite the growing opposition, Ortega’s continued cabal with Aleman and his institutional control will remain undeterred for the time being.



Sources: IPS, Miami Herald Reuters, Facebook, Bloggings by Boz