Final protest push ahead of ‘dictatorship’ election
Rock-throwing Venezuelans braved tear gas and rainstorms yesterday to block streets in protest against a legislative superbody to be elected today, which critics call an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to create a dictatorship.
The election of a constituent assembly has been broadly condemned by countries around the world as a weakening of democracy in a country whose economy has been crippled by recession despite its vast oil resources.
‘‘If this election happens on Sunday, we lose everything. We lose Venezuela,’’ said a 23-yearold-woman who identified herself only as a student, her face covered against the gas.
Confrontations with security forces, which have left more than 110 people dead over the last four months, were modest yesterday as protesters and police alike were doused by tropical downpours.
The government has banned protests from yesterday to Wednesday.
Few demonstrators heeded the call for a mass protest in the capital, Caracas, yesterday as a dramatic culmination of three days of protests that started with a 48-hour nationwide general strike.
There were isolated clashes between National Guard troops and small groups of young demonstrators who call themselves ‘‘The Resistance’’. A few protest barricades went up in oppositionfriendly eastern Caracas, but the city was relatively calm.
Maduro has deployed the military and police to protect a vote that he says is meant to end a power struggle with the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which he blames for Venezuela’s spiralling political, economic and social crisis. The opposition is boycotting the vote, saying the election rules have been rigged to favour the ruling socialist party and will only serve to tighten Maduro’s grip on power.
Maduro says the new 545-member assembly, which will have the power to dissolve state institutions and rewrite the constitution, will bring peace.
‘‘If the constituent assembly is activated, there will be no way out. It will be a legalised dictatorship,’’ said an 18-year-old chef, who declined to give his name. He said high inflation had rendered his monthly paycheque virtually worthless.
‘‘This protest has been urgent from the beginning, but these two days before the election will be decisive,’’ he said.
US Vice President Mike Pence spoke with opposition activist Leopoldo Lopez, who is under house arrest. Pence reiterated the White House’s pledge to impose ‘‘strong and swift economic actions’’ if today’s vote goes ahead.
The US this week sanctioned a group of ruling Socialist Party officials, and the US Embassy ordered family members of staff to leave the country.
Alfredo Romero, head of the Penal Forum rights group, said more than 4800 people had been arrested during the four months of unrest, with more than 1300 still detained.