“Mother of all marches” [7] [8] [9] ( Spanish: La madre de todas las marchas ), also “Mother of all protests” [10] - a series of mass anti-government protests against President Nicolas Maduro and the socialist government on April 19 2017 in Venezuela .
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The reason for the start of the protests was the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela of March 29, 2017 on the dissolution of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Venezuela. The decision allowed President Maduro to actually circumvent the current Constitution, which was regarded by the public as a coup . Soon after April 1, 2017, the decision to dissolve the parliament was canceled, but the protests still took place.
On April 19, up to six million people across the country took part in the protest rally, and up to two and a half million people in the capital. The clashes killed three people, among them - one soldier [11] . The total number of protesters amounted to about six million people [1] , which made it the largest protest of the Venezuelan democratic opposition since the start of anti-government protests in 2014 .
Content
Background
After the death of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela faced a socio-economic crisis due to the policies of the new president, Nicolas Maduro [12] [13] [14] [15] . Protests in Venezuela began in February 2014, when hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets because of the high crime rate, inflation, and shortages of essential products [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] . The protests lasted several years, their intensity depended on the level of the crisis in the country and the threat of suppressing the protest [21] [22] [23] [24] .
In early 2017, the Venezuelan Supreme Court tried to establish control over the National Assembly, headed by the opposition, removing immunity from deputies. This decision was canceled a few days later, but it still caused a series of protests [25] [26] [27] [28] . These protests escalated into massive anti-government protests, called the “Mother of All Marches.” By April 14, 2017, the opposition announced a “grand march in all states,” the march took place on April 19 [29] [30] .
On the eve of the rally, Maduro announced the creation of two thousand checkpoints across the country [31] , ordered the expansion of the Venezuelan National Police, recruiting 500 thousand people loyal to the regime. He said that every policeman would be armed with a rifle to suppress an attempted coup, as in 2002 [32] . Diosdado Cabello , a high-ranking official loyal to the authorities, promised to form 60 thousand motorized “ Collectivos ” to deter the opposition, calling the actions of the latter “terrorism” [33] .
Protests
On the morning of April 19, demonstrations began throughout the country. In Caracas, protesters on 26 different routes moved to the office of the Ombudsman Tarek Saab [34] . The National Guard blocked roads in their path, used tear gas and fired with rubber bullets; Despite all this, the march continued [35] [34] .
At about 12:30 in the morning, protesters and pro-government Venezuelans fill out the avenues of Caracas [34] . Soon after 12:45, protesters begin to leave the Francisco Fajardo Highway, withstanding tear gas for an hour, many began to jump to the Guer River , which is used for wastewater to avoid gas [36] [37] . At 2:10 a.m., a 17-year-old was wounded in the head and died [34] [11] . At about 4:35 a.m., a pro-government member of the Kolektivs shot and killed 23-year-old protester Paola Ramirez [34] [11] .
A little later, in the south of Caracas, the National Guard was killed, the first representative of the authorities, who was killed during the year of protests. At that time, the number of victims of protests in 2017 reached 8 people [38] . By 9 pm, the criminal forum announced the number of people arrested on the march; there were 521 of them; in total, as of April 2017, 1,000 people were arrested in total [39] .
Consequences
After the protests, President Maduro tweeted a tweet on Twitter in which a pro-government journalist jokes about protesters who have to hide in the sewers from tear gas [40] .
The next day, April 20, people were called to a new protest rally, thousands of people took to the streets. However, in the early hours of April 21, riots broke out, with looters and clashes with authorities in different parts of Caracas. Tear gas was also used against the protesters, which led to the evacuation of the maternity hospital , in order to avoid poisoning by vapor. By the end of the night, about 12 people died [41] .
During the funeral of Paola Ramirez on the 21st of April, who died on March 19, Ramirez’s parents were taken for interrogation to the Department of the Scientific, Criminal and Investigative Actions, after their comment that she called them a few minutes before her death with the message that members of the “collective” pursue her. Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said that Paolo was not killed by a member of the “collective”, a member of the opposition party [42] .
Woman Tank
The image of an elderly woman blocking a VN-4 combat vehicle was compared with a photograph of an unknown rebel who held back a tank column during the events on Tiananmen Square , and it became a symbol of protest. The woman saw a convoy of military vehicles riding, and stood in front of them to prevent progress. Despite the fact that the National Guard guards threw tear gas cylinders in her direction and pushed her with a vehicle, she continued to stand. She was later arrested [43] [44] [8] .
Reactions
- European Union - The European Union condemned the violence on the march and called on all Venezuelans to unite to find a democratic and constitutional solution to the problem [45] .
- Colombia - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos shared his comments on social networks: “I warned Chavez that the Bolivarian revolution is over,” and that there was serious concern about the expansion of the National Police by the president [46] .
- Germany - The German Foreign Ministry regretted the deaths during the march, condemned the violence by the authorities and stated that the president should release political prisoners , recognize the National Assembly and set an election schedule, the Foreign Ministry also said that these steps “will create conditions for the resumption of national dialogue” [47] .
- Peru - Peruvian President Pablo Kuczynski said: “We do not want to interfere in the affairs of another country, but there should be no political prisoners and deaths in the protests, we will help you, we are always with you” [48] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 El país grito: "Maduro, no te queremos" (Spanish) , El Nacional (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ El conforms de de SEMANA en Caracas relata cómo la madre de todas las marchas que convocó la oposición venezolana, terminó como se esperaba con represión con violencia. Análisis del duro panorama en el vecino país. , Semana (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Noticias de América - Día de violencia en las marchas a favor y en contra de Maduro (es-ES), Radio France Internationale (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ At Least 3 Die in Venezuela Protests Against Nicolás Maduro , The New York Times (April 19, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ MP confirma muerte de tres personas y 62 heridos en protestas de este # 19Abr (es-ES), La Patilla (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Foro Penal reporta más de 1000 arrestos tras protestas desde el 4-A | En la Agenda | 2001.com.ve , Diario 2001 (April 19, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ RT . "Mother of all marches" and government rallies: mass rallies in Venezuela . Russia Today (April 20, 2017).
- ↑ 1 2 REN TV . Mother of all marches: a woman stopped military equipment in Venezuela (April 24, 2017).
- ↑ MOTHER OF ALL MARCHES: A MASS PROTEST OF THE OPPOSITION AGAINST MADURO BEGAN IN KARAKAS . TSN (April 19, 2017).
- ↑ Tens of thousands of Venezuelans went to the "mother of all protests" . BBC Russian Service (April 19, 2017).
- ↑ 1 2 3 Three people died in an opposition demonstration in Venezuela . Interfax (April 20, 2017).
- ↑ Kevin Voigt . Chavez leaves Venezuelan economy more equal, less stable , CNN (March 6, 2013). Date of treatment March 6, 2013.
- ↑ The House That Chavez Built , Foreign Policy (March 7, 2013). Date of treatment February 6, 2015.
- ↑ For Venezuela, Drop In Global Oil Prices Could Be Catastrophic , NPR (December 25, 2014). Date of treatment January 4, 2015.
- ↑ Volver a ser pobre en Venezuela , El Pais (February 1, 2015). Date of treatment February 3, 2015.
- ↑ Lopez, Linette . Why The United States Has Done Nothing About Venezuela (April 11, 2014). Date of appeal April 12, 2014.
- ↑ Protesters in Venezuela Press Government (February 23, 2014). Date of appeal April 12, 2014.
- ↑ Venezuelans protest en masse in rival rallies (February 24, 2014). Date of appeal April 12, 2014.
- ↑ Venezuela's Maduro says 2013 annual inflation was 56.2 pct (December 30, 2013). Date of treatment January 19, 2014.
- ↑ Venezuela Inflation Hits 16-Year High as Shortages Rise (November 7, 2013). Date of treatment February 16, 2014.
- ↑ En 2014 se registraron 9.286 protestas, cifra inédita en Venezuela , La Patilla (January 19, 2015). Date of treatment January 25, 2015.
- ↑ Despite the Government Obstacles, Over a Million Venezuelans March on Caracas , PanAm Post (September 1, 2016). Date of treatment September 2, 2016.
- ↑ Thousands March Against Socialist President in Venezuela , International New York Times (January 24, 2015). Date of treatment August 8, 2015.
- ↑ Conflictividad Social en Venezuela en Octubre 2016 . Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict . Date of treatment November 19, 2016.
- ↑ Venezuela accused of 'self-coup' after Supreme Court shuts down National Assembly , Buenos Aires Herald (March 31, 2017). Date of treatment April 1, 2017.
- ↑ Venezuela's Descent Into Dictatorship , The New York Times (March 31, 2017). Date of treatment April 1, 2017.
- ↑ Venezuela clashes 'self-inflicted coup': OAS , Sky News Australia (1 April 2017). Date of treatment April 1, 2017.
- ↑ Venezuela's Maduro blasts foe for chemical attack comments , ABC News (April 9, 2017). Date of treatment April 10, 2017.
- ↑ Oposición invita a ejercer la mayor presión "desbordando Venezuela" contra la dictadura este # 19Abr (es-ES), La Patilla (April 14, 2017). Date of appeal April 18, 2017.
- ↑ Unidad marcha este # 19Abr hacia la Defensoría y establece agenda para días próximos (+ Puntos) (es-ES), La Patilla (April 15, 2017). Date of appeal April 18, 2017.
- ↑ Maduro dejará en las calles de Venezuela 2.026 puntos de control hasta el # 19Abr (es-ES), La Patilla (April 15, 2017). Date of appeal April 18, 2017.
- ↑ En un país sin medicinas, ni comida ... Maduro aprueba recursos para "garantizar un fusil para cada miliciano" (es-ES), La Patilla (April 17, 2017). Date of appeal April 18, 2017.
- ↑ Diosdado Cabello: La oposición no va a entrar a Caracas este # 19Abr (es-ES), La Patilla (April 17, 2017). Date of appeal April 18, 2017.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 The Latest: US official expresses concern over Venezuela (English) , ABC News (April 19, 2017). Date of appeal April 19, 2017.
- ↑ Angelica Basisini. March to a standstill: why the opposition in Venezuela is unable to gain the upper hand . RBC (April 22, 2017).
- ↑ Manifestantes se lanzan al río Guaire para huir de los gases lacrimógenos (Spanish) , El Nacional (April 19, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ Venezuela: opositores saltan al río Guaire para escapar de la represión (Spanish) , El Comercio (April 19, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ Venezuela crisis: Three killed at anti-government protests , BBC News (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ Foro Penal reporta más de 1000 arrestos tras protestas desde el 4-A | En la Agenda | 2001.com.ve , Diario 2001 (April 19, 2017). Date of appeal April 20, 2017.
- ↑ ¡Tremendo presidente! ... Nicolás aplaudió que la GNB echara al contaminado Guaire a manifestantes (es-ES), La Patilla (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ At Least 12 Die as Rioting Breaks Out in Venezuela , The New York Times (April 21, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Cicpc se llevó a padres de Paola Ramírez durante su velorio (Spanish) , El Nacional (April 21, 2017). Date of treatment April 22, 2017.
- ↑ Lo que se sabe de la mujer que paró una tanqueta y se convirtió en la imagen de las protestas contra el gobierno de Venezuela , BBC Mundo (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Foto de mujer que desafía una tanqueta en Venezuela da la vuelta al mundo , CNN Español (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ La Unión Europea condena actos de violencia en Venezuela y pide hallar soluciones constitucionales (es-ES), La Patilla (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Santos dice que hace seis años le advirtió a Chávez que la revolución bolivariana fracasó (es-ES), La Patilla (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Alemania exige a gobierno venezolano garantizar derecho de manifestación y evitar violencia (es-ES), La Patilla (April 20, 2017). Date of appeal April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Kuczynski critica a Venezuela por presos políticos y muertes en protestas (es-ES), La Patilla (April 21, 2017). Date of treatment April 22, 2017.