Venezuela se respeta RESPECT Venezuela

Ministerio del Poder Popular APRIL 2014 para la Comunicación y la Información Venezuela se respeta RESPECT Venezuela

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Respect Venezuela Democracy is threatened

The passing away of Venezuelan President Co- During the second half of 2013, unscrupulous Nicolás Maduro Moros mandante Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías - the top businessmen, traders, and shopkeepers lead by President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela leader of the Bolivarian Revolution- on March the trade-oriented Fedecámaras (Federation of Delcy Rodríguez 5 2013 was perceived by Venezuelan people Chambers and Trade and Production Associa- Minister of People’s Power for Communication and Information as an irreparable loss, one of historical dimen- tions of Venezuela), counting on the active par- sions. During 14 years, President Chávez led ticipation of Consecomercio (National Council Venezuela along a victorious political process of Commerce), and Venamcham (The Venezu- Rolando Corao that pursued the recovery of the nation’s dig- elan-American Chamber of industry and Com- Vice-Minister for Communication and Information nity and the construction of social justice. The merce), carried out a series of indiscriminate William Castillo affectionate warrior who with his accurate price increases in all segments of the economy, Vice-Minister for Television words guided Venezuelans through the tran- reaching in some cases up to 2,000 percent of Francisco Pérez Santana sition between two centuries, and despite big increase; they also proceeded to stock up es- Vice-Minister for Radio obstacles was able to take society to an upper sential goods. Besides, a brutal attack to the Felipe Saldivia level regarding satisfaction of people’s needs, national currency took place by means of Vice-Minister for Printed Media suddenly wasn’t there anymore to lead the path Internet sites located in Miami, where an as- José Miguel España of the nation. sumed exchange rate was calculated parallel to Vice-Minister for Social Networking In the middle of the grief caused by such a the prices increase, setting the stage for trad- loss, Venezuelan people decided to keep on ers and shopkeepers to calculate their prices walking the revolutionary way and elected Nico- based on the above mentioned rate. lás Maduro as their president on April 14, 2013. Those measures were oriented to arise But one day after the presidential elections, the feeling of nonconformity towards the opposition supporters of the candidate Hen- Government among the population and rique Capriles took to the streets complying mobilized the mood against the President, with his call to drain their repressed anger, and to whom the media systematically attribute the spread death and destruction in opposition responsibility for the problems generated by bastions governed by right wing’s mayors. the conspirational actions. A new stage of the conspirational plan began The Government of President Nicolás then: the economic war that, according to the Maduro responded to the economic war coup script, would act as a pressure cooker with an inspections plan carried out in thou- by accumulating frustrations in wide sectors sands of companies and trades all around of the society, which with the passage of time the country, in order to force them to low Printed in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela would lead to a sudden counter-revolutionary the prices and sell their merchandises accord- April, 2014 explosion. ing to what is established by the Venezuelan 5 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela laws, which forbid usury and speculation ting this way a stage for an emergence against The slow wick of this continuous coup was the constituted power. The wide victory of the supposed to explode on the day of the munici- revolutionary forces in the municipal elections, pality elections on December 8, 2013, which with a difference in votes of more than 11 points were invested with a plesbicite character by compared to the opposition, cooled the coup’s the opposition. The righ-wing leaders stated re- wick and allowed Venezuelans to have a quite peatedly during the whole campaign that a defeat Christmas time. President Nicolás Maduro com- on the side of the chavistas by means of popular fortably won the December’s “plesbicite” and the elections on 8D would lead to a sudden end of country finished the year with a political pause the government of President Nicolás Maduro, set- that wouldn’t last long.

The Bolivarian Government keeps on carrying out special operatives for the distribution of basic goods at affordable prices.

The Government carried out inspections in factories and stores all around the country in order to adjust the excessively high prices. Due to the prices low, people did massive shopping in regulated stores, as it was the case of Ms. Cleotilde Palomino, one of the people accused for “plundering” by the Spanish newspaper ABC, in a media campaign of international discredit. 6 7 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

Attacks to the Headquarters of the Public Ministry in Caracas on February 12, 2014. Session of the Government’s Federal Council in Miraflores on December 18, 2014, called by President Nicolás Maduro; Governors and mayors of both revolutionary and right-winged parties attended.

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Terrorism franchise: the Gene Sharp method

Gene Sharp is a former American military 2. DELEGITIMIsing: manipulation on anti- who nowadays teaches political sciences communist or antipopulist prejudices; propel of at the University of Massachusetts. He advertising campaigns to defend freedom founded the Albert Einstein Institute and is of press, human rights, and public freedom; the author of an essay entitled From dicta- accusations of totalitarianism and single sys- torship to democracy, which is the result of tems of values; ethical-politic fracture. a pragmatic and political analysis of sup- posedly non-violent actions as a means to 3. STREETS WARMUPS: promote of street undermine the stability of the constituted mobilization; creation of a fighting platform power. The work, translated in more than 30 that globalizes political and social de- languages, describes methods to overthrow mands; generalization of all kind of protests, governments; these methods are divided into propel of government failures and mistakes; three big stages: the protest, the non-cooper- coordination of protests, blockage, and take of ation, and the intervention, which are always public institutions (disrespect towards institu- carried out after electoral processes. These tions) that turn the confrontation into radical. three stages are subdivided into five stages that, as it will be seen, have been rigorously 4. COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT AYS OF applied in Venezuela after the lack of acknowl- FIGHTING: organization of loutishes and edgment from the opposition of the results take of emblematic institutions, with the aim obtained during the presidential elections on to turn them into advertising platforms; devel- April 14, 2013. opment of operations of psychological war and armed actions in order to justify repres- 1. SOFTENING (by means of 4th Generation sive measures and create an atmosphere of War): development of opinion matrix fo- ungovernability; propel of rumors campaigns cused on real o potential deficit; promo- among military forces and try to demoralize tion of conflicts and dissatisfaction; promo- the security bodies; promotion of internation- tion of uneasiness factors, mainly: shortage, al isolation and economic siege. criminality, citizens’ safety, dollar manip- ulation, lockout strikes, corruption com- 5. institutional fracture: based on plaints; promotion of sectarian intrigues, street actions, take of institutions, and military and unity fracture. uprising, the President is forced to quit. In the 10 11 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

case of failure, the pressure on the streets older than 40 years) who have made student is maintained and armed resistance is as- representation in the universities their way of sumed, preparing the stage for a military in- living and have studied endlessly in their insti- tervention or a prolonged civil war. tutions, as are the cases of Gaby Arellano and This coup protocol has been applied several Vilcar Fernández; these two are experts in de- times around the world against governments stabilization thanks to the advices received in that oppose Washington’s rulings with different training sessions on the soft coup designed by levels of success. It is clear that in Venezuela Gene Sharp. this plan is currently in its fourth stage, the Those are the “students” that, by late January most powerful of all since it includes violence 2014, began a series of so called aggressive by means of armed actions and permanent actions simultaneously in different regions of provocation towards the police forces in order the country, which lead to violent actions near to promote repression. the universities chosen to activate the street The main protagonists of this subversive warm-ups stage of the coup plot. The white script in Venezuela are the members of a var- hands had received the express order of ied group of students referred to as manitas mobilize from the right-winged leaders Leo- blancas (white hands), made up of youth of poldo López and María Corina Machado in the extreme right wing, mainly of private uni- a bizarre press conference that took place versities. The students of public universities in on January 23, and that, at that moment, Venezuela, which surpass the private universi- was seen by distracted analysts as an un- ties in enrolments, have had little or none par- timely, politically incompressible act. “The ticipation in the violent actions, despite their streets must be set on fire”, Machado said to her traditions of fight and historical sense of their supporters, while López urged them to keep communities. the protest actions until Nicolás Maduro would The visible heads of the movement known leave the Presidency; it happened in a moment as manitas blancas (their hands are painted of quietness after the widely positive results for white according to the soft coup handbook) the Government during the “plebiscite” that had are supposedly young people (some of them taken place on December 8.

They destroyed and burned a service hut of superficial transportation – Metrobús – in the municipality of Chacao, Miranda.

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The President’s forced exit: the López case

The non-declared timeout in the Venezuelan team discussed with López the possible media political scenario that took place after the mu- strategies and methods to translate his mes- nicipal elections in December set the condi- sage efficiently to the audience in the US.” tions for President Maduro to call to a national Leopoldo López’ records include his ac- dialogue. tive participation in the actions that lead to Nevertheless, within the frame of this political the coup against President Hugo Chávez distension in Venezuela, a new adventure of on April 2002. López, who was back then the the Venezuelan right wing showed up: the call mayor of the opulent municipality of Chacao, made by Leopoldo López and María Corina in the Eastern part of the city, took advantage Machado to warm up the streets until president of his authority to begin the haunting of chavis- Maduro leaves the post. tas leaders, among them Chávez’s Ministry of This was the first event of a series of actions Interior, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, and the that make up the soft coup. revolutionary deputee Tarek William Saab, It is a violation against the principles estab- who were arrested the day after the coup by lished in the Caracas Declaration of the Celac officers of the Chacao Police lead by Leopoldo Principles, the Unasur Constituent Treaty, the López himself. Democratic Letter of the Organization of Ameri- During a TV interview broadcasted on April can States, the Mercosur Ushuaia Protocol, in 12, López publically confessed that he had which the duty of the states to defend and pre- lead an action by means of which officers of serve the democratic institutions is stated. the Chacao Police Department were autho- The call made by López is the expression of rized by him to take the cars keys of civil driv- a criminal plan against Venezuela: documents ers and use those vehicles to prevent the ar- filtered by the web site Wikileaks revealed rival at Caracas of troops and tanks loyal to that Leopoldo López, related to the extreme President Chávez. right wing in Latin America and sponsored Leopoldo López conspirative history in- Attacks to the Headquarters of the Public Ministry in Caracas on February 12, 2014. by Álvaro Uribe Vélez, is mentioned at least cludes his active participation in the violent 77 times in the diplomatic cables of the protests of the so called Plan Guarimba, in United States on Venezuela. 2004. Besides, he didn’t acknowledge the re- A cable dated March 28, 2008 informs about sult of the repeal referendum that favored Presi- a meeting between US senator Ron Wyden dent Chávez in 2004. and López, pointing that “the senator and his This was the person who set the begin of 14 15 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

the insurrectional plan against the demo- corded telephone conversation between the cratic government of Venezuela that takes former Venezuelan ambassador in Colombia, place nowadays and began with his call to Fernando Gerbasi, and the vice-admiral Iván remain on the streets until President Nico- Carratú Molina, chief officer of Carlos Andrés lás Maduro is overthrown. “Venezuelans are Pérez Military House, both known opposition forced to demand the exit of a corrupt govern- members, revealed the warning made by Ger- ment.” basi to Carratú regarding a plan similar to that Then, on February 6 began the actions aimed of April 12 that would take place the following at “heating up the streets” with vandalism car- day, and how careful they should be. ried out by small groups in the states of Mérida As predicted by Fernando Gerbasi, the op- and Táchira. In San Cristóbal, the capital city of position concentration on February 12 was Táchira state, the protesters besieged for hours shooted after having finished in a peaceful way the house of the city governor, endangering the in front of the headquarters of the General Dis- lives of dozens of children that receive social trict Attorney of the Republic. Two people died aid in those facilities. Several of those protest- as a result of the violence produced by the gun ers were arrested, which served as an excuse shots. The participation on Sebin (Sebin) offi- for the white hands to keep on protesting. cers who arrived armed despite the order given The loutish actions spread all over the coun- to them by their director to remain in quarters is try and set the stage for the opposition to call still being investigated. for a loutish that was to take place in Caracas, The violent end of the loutish actions resulted on February 12, the date of the Venezuelan in the “necessary dead” to warm up the mood festivity called “Youth Day”. of opposition groups and spread the revenge The day before the opposition loutish, a re- mood all over the country.

The loutish actions spread all over the country after the call to go on the streets made by Leopoldo López and María Corina.

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The terrorist guarimba

Since the tragic events of the Youth Day (Febru- curves on highways, which has resulted in in- ary 12) the conspiration against the legitimate jured and murdered people. Venezuelan Government passed to the fourth It is about a terrorist action used by upper stage of the soft coup outlined by Gene Sharp layers of the society as a way of violent street strategy’s team. The street actions that began protests, block of streets and avenues, trees developing since, in isolated focal points of the demolitions, forests fires, murder of people country are carried out following the terrorist and animals, damages to the public patrimony, agitation pattern known as guarimba (a riot banging on post and pans, menaces, and ag- that blocks the streets and avenues with any- gressions against the population in general, thing at hand) used by the same opposition particularly the chavista people. actors in 2004, during the months previous the Its ultímate aim is to overthrow the Govern- presidential referendum that confirmed Hugo ment by generating a feeling of ungovernability Chávez in his post. “Block your street un- and collective terror. til Maduro leaves”, is the only slogan used The guarimbero follows the pattern of by guarimberos, which aims at creating a un- a terrorist: anyone who uses force or sustainable situation for the Government by violence, menace or terror to carry out multiplying the focal points of terrorist violence a criminal project, whether individually that would saturate the ability to control public or collectively, with the aim to alter pub- order by the authorities. lic order or to expose society’s safety to The rights to life, education and health have the danger, if this way damages people or been infringed by the guarimbas and the vio- fills them with terror; who causes serious lence they produce, so much that the right to damages or losses to the environment, free passage, as established in the 13th article communications, transportation, goods, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, private property; or who blocks public au- in the 12th article of the International Pact of thorities, cult places, learning institutions, the Civic and Political Rights, and in the 50th or prevents them to carry out their work; article of the National Constitution, has been or who prevents the laws and rules to be limited to its maximum. implemented. The guarimbas are criminal focal points com- Several international treaties and agree- The guarimbero follows the pattern of a terrorist: anyone who uses force or violence, menace or terror pletely outside the law. They are traps to hunt ments have been created in order to protect to carry out a criminal project, whether individually o collectively. human beings by using barbed wire, glasses, the people from terrorism, among them the steel cables between lights posts, oil spread Geneve Convention against Terrorism of on the roads, obstacles set at few meters from 1937 can be named, which defines terrorism

18 19 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela as “criminal actions carried out against a systems, public places, or private proper- State, with the aim to expose specific per- ties that endanger human lives; economic sonalities, specific groups of people, or a damages; take of public or merchandise trans- specific public to terror.” portation means; the use of fire guns or explo- The Organic Law against Organized De- sives; liberation of dangerous substances; the linquency and Funding of Terrorism of 2012 setting of fires or explosions that endanger hu- describes the following as terrorist actions: man lives; perturbation of water or electricity attempts against people’s lives, attempts supplies, or of any other essential resource. against physical integrity; massive destruc- Despite categorizations, the practice of guar- tion of public facilities, transportation sys- imbas uses young people as a key tool of ter- tems, infrastructures including information rorist violence by manipulating their emotions,

Telephone network interface boxes, as well as transportation vehicles, have been burnt, putting at risk the life of workers and interrupting the service

due to the characteristic features of this age Robert Alonso was a key character of the as- group: less patience, greatest openness to sasination plan against President Chávez re- take lead and less self-control boldness. vealed on May 9, 2004. That day in Daktari, a The head behind the guarimbas is extreme fundo of his property in the Miranda state, 153 right-winged Robert Alonso, a Cuban-Venezue- Colombian paramilitars, who had been hired lan businessman who lives in Miami, and took and transferred to Venezuela to participate in a part of the “Plan Guarimba” and of the right- murder plan against the Venezuelan president, winged coalition Democratic Coordination, pre- where captured. decessor of the MUD (Democratic Unit Table). Back then, and according to Rafael García, Alonso explained that this terrorist prac- former Director of Informatics at the Colombian tice’s “only aim is – besides completely par- DAS, Alonso was the contact person in Ven- alyzing the country – to create an anarchic ezuela so that paramilitars related to the gov- chaos at national level… with the purpose ernment of Álvaro Uribe would enter the coun- of forcing the castro-communist regime in try with the support of the DAS Director those Venezuela to order the ‘Plan Ávila’… [and days, Jorge Noguera. provoque] a constitutional insubordination Robert Alonso, who created the Movement by creating the need for a civic-military ac- of National Resistance of Venezuela in the Second meeting held by President Maduro with the mayors and states’ governors both of opposition and tion.” To Alonso, ‘the guarimba is absolutely United States, declares: “Behind me, let’s revolutionary parties on January 8, 2014 in Miraflores, Caracas. anarchic and everyone does whatever they say in my group, there are people special- want depending on their frustration degree ized in this matter. Even more, we get as- and guts.” sessment from international personalities 20 21 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela who have dedicated for years to study the they have not affected the popular areas where • 10 stations have been destroyed or closed • 23 vehicles were destroyed in different parts behavior of peoples, such politologists and the revolutionary Government is firmly support- by attacks: Bellas Artes, Parque Central, of the country. sociologists. I can mention one of them: Dr. ed. Only 18 out of the 335 Venezuelan munici- Sabana Grande, Chacaíto, Chacao, Altami- • An investment of USD 14.8 million is need- Gene Sharp.” palities have been affected by an arrogant op- ra, Los Cortijos y La California. Chacao, Al- ed to restore the damaged infrastructure In this way, the actions of these guarimberos position that pursues to become a government tamira and Los Cortijos stations are under- and replace the destroyed vehicles. have reached the terrorist level to attack firemen, after having lost four elections in one year. sieged almost every day. paramedics, policemen, and national guards Multitudinary popular concentrations orga- • 6 trains have been destroyed (3 of Line 2 Telephone System with the sole purpose to give their mentors the nized by workers, women, elder people, land- and 3 of Line 3) • The CANTV central station in Morán (Lara necessary graphic tools that would serve to ac- workers have arrived at the Miraflores Palace • Escalators, security cameras, gates, fire sys- state) was destroyed. cuse the government of violating the human of Government in order to show their firm sup- tems, glasses and furniture have been broken. • Seven CANTV vehicles were set on fire af- rights. This action has graded to the point that port to President Maduro and to the Bolivarian • The Metrobus control station in Altamira ter the attack to the Morán central station. they would shut security staff members. Revolution; nevertheless, these demonstra- Square has been destroyed and set on fire. • The headquarters of CANTV in Barquisime- tions have been ignored by the national and • National Electric System to (Torre Lara) was attack. Computers and EcocidE AND CRUELTY AGAINST ANIMALS international press that have decided to play • Two regional substations of Corpoelec (Na- other equipment were stolen. The ecocide and the cruelty against animals along with the conspiration, and become per- tional Electric Corporation) in Carabobo • Violent groups set on fire two Movilnet are other indicators of the terrorist and de- manent agitators of the conflict. (Prebo and El Viñedo) were attacked. trucks carrying cell phones to be distributed structive nature of the guarimbas. It happened The communicational siege imposed by the • Sabotage attempts against substations Los in Maracaibo, Zulia state. in 2004, after the public dissemination on the biggest media corporations have achieved Olivos (Bolívar state) and San Cristóbal • The CANTV customer service in Santa Ele- Internet of a script that pointed “the use of bar- to position Venezuela as a nation with gover- (Táchira state). na (Lara state) was attacked. ricades made up of cars, trash, furniture, trees’ nance issues at international level, when in trunks… whatever is available,” also in 2007, fact more than 90 percent of the national terri- with the burning of trees at the Av. Bolívar in tory remains in peace. Caracas, and in 2009, with the fire in the Na- tional Park Warairarepano (Caracas) carried VioleNCE AGAINST PUBLIC SERVICES out by members of the opposition, devastating The aggressions of the guarimberos have a surface of 3.5 Hectares of green areas at the been especially addressed to the public ser- main vegetal lung of the capital city. vices provided by the national Government. Between February and March 2014, more Electricity, telephone services, and transporta- than 5,000 trees have been indiscriminately tion, among other services, have been target cut down and mutilated to be used in guar- of attacks by the loutish groups that pursue to imbas and prevent the transit of vehicles on destabilize the country. streets and avenues. This is seen by the In- ternational Penal Court as a crime against Metro de Caracas humanity. (CARACAS SUBWAY SYSTEM) In February this year, the Nevado Collective pointed that different crimes of animal violence • More than 200 passengers have received have been registered in the states of Zulia, medical care as victims of violent actions.16 Aragua, and Capital District, i.e. the burning of out of them were injured by the impact of street dogs. stones. Althoug the guarimbas have taken place in the • More than 40 workers have been injured. very few high-class municipalities dominated by • Theft of uniforms to four workers. the opposition, their consequences have been • 95 transport units have been broken. tragic. Most of the victims of the vandalism result • Metrobus service has been suspended in 12 of this wage of riots have been innocent people; routes due to guarimbas and violent attacks.

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• A CANTV radio-base station located in Al- state was burned. Ordaz (Bolívar state) were set on fire. the education zone of Zulia state, located tamira Subway station was attacked. • Radio station 106.5 ULA FM, property of • The office of the Ministry of the Environment in Maracaibo, were set on fire by unknown the University of Los Andes in San Cris- was attacked and looted. Three vehicles people who threw Molotov bombs. Oil industry tóbal, Táchira state, was set on fire. and two trucks were set on fire. • Extreme right-wing groups attacked the • Two articulated PDVSA fuel tankers were • The headquarters of the Ministry of Hous- • Slaughterhouse Sabana de Carabobo was headquarters of the Ministry of Housing, kidnapped by a group of hooded men in ing and Habitat, in Chacao, was attacked. attacked and looted. in Chacao, a municipality in Caracas’ East. Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar state. Losses amount to more than USD 954,244. • Company Carnes Venezuela, in Carabobo The hooded offenders threw Molotov bombs • At the PDVSA headquarters in Valencia, • The Torre Británica, located in Chacao, was state, was looted. and set the building’s façade on fire. They Carabobo state, a group of hooded men de- attacked. Offices of the National Institute of • A PDVAL articulated truck was burned in affected a nursery school with 89 children stroyed the façade of offices and set on fire Civil Aviation was looted and destroyed. The Carabobo state. between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. a convoy of the Bolivarian National Guard headquarters of Seguros Ávila, the mainte- • Traffic lights and road signs on Bello Monte that was protecting the facilities. nance office, and the parking lot box office Main Avenue Were destroyed. Ecocides • The future headquarters of PDVSA Maturín were attacked. • Mission Barrio Adentro clinic in Barquisime- • In the states of Zulia, Aragua and Capital was attacked. The security booth, fences, • A fire was started in the Botanic Garden of the to, Lara state, was set on fire. District, actions of cruelty against animals glasses and other structures were de- Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. • The Hotel Management School of Los An- have been registered. Street dogs have stroyed. • A fire affected 80% of the infrastructure of the des in Mérida was attacked. been set on fire. • The headquarters of Petro Regional del Bolivarian University of Venezuela in Táchira. • The headquarters of the Experimental Uni- • More than 5,000 trees have been cut down Lago in Maracaibo, Zulia state, was also at- • A bus of the Corporación Tachirense de Tur- versity of the Armed Forces (UNEFA) in Los nationwide, more than 500 only in Maracaibo. tacked. ismo (Táchira’s Corporation of Tourism) was Teques was burned. More than 74 acres of the Waraira Repano • The Regional Office of the Ministry of Peo- destroyed. • The office of the Ministry of the Environment National Park, Caracas, were charred by a ple’s Power for Oil and Mining in Maracaibo • The headquarters of Salud Ambiental in in San Cristóbal, Táchira, was attacked with fire caused by offenders who tried to affect was attacked. Táchira was attacked. Molotov bombs and other objects. the electricity transmission lines along the • The regional headquarters in Lecherías, • A truck carrying liquid asphalt in Carabobo • Six official vehicles, which were parked in park. Anzoátegui state, was attacked. state was set on fire. • PDVSA Barinas was sabotaged and at- • They tried to set on fire the Governor’s Of- tacked. fice of Aragua state. • The Museum of Science and Technology in Other state-owned facilities Mérida was attacked and looted. • The headquarters of the Public Ministry in • Two regional offices of the Ministry of Sci- La Candelaria, Caracas, was destroyed. ence and Technology were attacked in • The Parque Carabobo Square in La Cande- Táchira and Carabobo. laria, Caracas, was destroyed. • Mercal grocery stores in Táriba, Táchira, • Six vehicles of the Scientific, Penal and were attacked. Criminal Investigations (CICPC) were set • The PDVAL fleet of vehicles in Naguanagua on fire in La Candelaria, Caracas. (Carabobo state) was destroyed. Five ve- • The athletics track of the Villa Olímpica Ri- hicles were set on fire. cardo Tulio Maya was set on fire. Losses • A truck carrying 10 tons of food to be dis- caused by the fire amount to USD 3.2 million. tributed to Abasto Bicentenario in Maturín • A statue of President Hugo Chávez in San (Monagas state) was set on fire. Pablo, Yaracuy state, was burned. • An articulated truck carrying 26 tons of meat • The Labor Inspectorate and the office of to be distributed to the Gran Abasto Bicen- the Public Ministry in Táchira state were at- tenario in Maracaibo was attacked, looted tacked. and burned. • A truck that was going to distribute 8 tons of • An articulated truck carrying corn and The food to Abastos Bicentenario in Carabobo Abasto Bicentenario of Altavista in Puerto

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Media complot The tasks regarding rumors dissemination and carry-out of psychological war operations included in soft coup the handbook have been carried out in detail by the Venezuelan private media, which have distorted the reality without scrupulous by means of rough manipulation mechanisms,

using methods for misinformation as is the not take place in Caracas, abuse of protesters, case of inventions, misrepresentation, and images of injured and murdered people that do omission. not correspond to any fact known in the coun- A sample of such a behavior has been the try, tortures and vexatious to people who have use of dozens of photos and videos of violent been arrested: all fake images that circulate on events that took place in other countries of the Internet as a result of a maquination ad- the world, as if they would have happened in dressed against the social and emotional sta- Venezuela. Images from Syria, Egypt, Brazil, bility of Venezuelans. Spain, Chile, Colombia, among others, have In this sense, the main opinion matrix spread been used by digital media and newspapers to by the enemies of Venezuela from the private illustrate the situation in Venezuela fraudulently. media and social networking are: Similar has been the task of international media, which have gathered together in a 1. The National Government violates the hu- fest block to describe the Venezuela of the man rights of pacific protesters. Innumer- current days as a country on the edge of a able murders and tortures are being carried civil war, demanding an international inter- out by the Government. vention that might protect Venezuelan citizens from the fierce dictatorship that violates the FALSE: Only one out of the 36 deceased peo- most essential human rights. ple so far is under investigation by supposedly The work of the laboratories dirty war sums excessive use of public force. The other de- up here, using social networking to increase ceases, of both citizens and security officers, the misinformation and create instability among occurred as a direct result of actions connected the population. to the violent protests. Not even one case of In a compassed way, a psychological war has denounces due to supposed torture to arrested developed in the social network Twitter to draw citizens has been introduced in any instance or a fake country. Messages with photos of vio- tribunal of the Republic. All the “tortures” have lent actions and human rights violations corre- been created and disseminated by the media. sponding to other countries or circumstances 2. Massive protests are taking place all over The cover of El Clarín, from Buenos Aires, of date February 12 mentions “armed chavistas” have been used to try to portray the actions the country. during the wave of riots, even if the image service of the international news agency EFE, which taking place in Venezuela with the sole pur- provided them with the image, pointed next to the image: “Members of the scientific police pose to provoke indignation among people and FALSE: In the times of greater boom there (CICPC) walk in front of a vehicle on fire”. Even more, the reality was that the scientific policemen to denigrate the Government. have been violent protests in 18 of the 335 were running away from the flames since their vehicles were set on fire by the violent protesters. Photos of magnified concentrations that did municipalities of the country, and within those, 26 27 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

only in reduced areas o middle and upper excessive use of force by security agents has class, besides Táchira state, at the border with been detected, they have been arrested and Colombia. No more than 50 people participate taken to tribunals. Only 17 out of the 12,000 mil- in the more relevant focal points of violence. itary and police officers that have participated all over the orders country in the control of order 3. Protests are led by students. are being investigated by the prosecutor office, which represents a very little percentage when FALSE: According to data provided by the Pub- compared to the general behavior of the forces lic Ministry, only 39 percent of the 1,084 people of order, always respectful of the human rights. arrested during the first days of violence were students. 6. The media have been censured or are strongly limited by the Government. 4. The protests are pacific. Violence is gen- erated by the repression of the security FALSE: No media has been censured in Ven- bodies. ezuela. Only a Colombian channel that shame- lessly violated Venezuelan laws by means of FALSE: The protests are violent in nature and editorial aggression and the spreading of war generally fire guns are present. They consist on propaganda was taken out of the list of pro- the block of streets; attacks to public transpor- grams of cable TV. An international reporter tation, buildings, and services; and the setting representing CNN en Español got her license of a chaos environment that serve perfectly briefly suspended since she was constantly to the creation of spectacular images for the accompanying and replicating the violence press. The protests intensify at nighttime, which events, amplifying their real dimension. makes it harder for the public order and adds more drama to videos and images. 7. Internet is being censured by the Venezu- These protests have resulted in the appall- elan Government. ing death of at least three motorcycle drivers, whose throats have been slit by hidden wires, FALSE: Venezuela is being target of a cyber- and of people who have crushed against ob- war, a series of cybernetic attacks that pursue stacles. They have also caused the death of the penetration and destruction of the coun- people who needed urgent medical assistance try’s information platform. Since February 12, and could not get to hospitals and other health more than 160 public websites of high sensi- centers on time. tivity (PDVSA, Ministry of Defense; Ministry of Finances, and CANTV, among others) have 5. The Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) is in been attacked. These attacks have endan- responsible for repression and violation of gered more than 266,000 sites registered with human rights. the domain Venezuela (.ve).

FALSE: The security bodies, led by the GNB, On the other hand, transnational software have been in charge of controlling and avoid the companies have released apps that are being The social networks have dedicated to systematically collect images of violent events in spread of violent focal points. More than 40 of- used to commit crimes and organize violent pro- countries and make them look as if they were taking place in Venezuela. It is a characteristic ficers have been injured and at least three have test and attacks; therefore the access to some method of misinformation during a soft coup. died due to attacks from buildings or by snipers of those sites has been temporarily limited. during the concentrations. In the cases where The State telecommunications company

28 29 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

and its workers have been attacked. Transport NTN24 reporter in site was remarkable since he units, radio bases, wiring, and telephone cen- constantly highlighted the supposed censorship trals were attacked with bombs and gunshots to of the media in Venezuela in order to state that, damage the Internet service, blaming this way facing that “censorship”, NTN24 was the only the Government of a supposed “censorship”. channel transmitting the events. It can be said that NTN24 played a role similar 8. The Government sets violent groups of to that of CNN in April 2002, when they anticipat- motorists (collectives) that attack students ed violent events and recorded statements about and pacific protesters. deceased people before anyone had died. The National Council of Telecommunications FALSE: The media have criminalized the made the decision to eliminate the signal of chavistas collectives without having presented NTN24 since it violated the 57th article of the proofs of such statements. The citizens that Constitution according to which war propa- support the government have summed up the ganda is prohibited, as well as the 58th article, to the peace call made by President Maduro. which establishes the ulterior responsibility In those cases where irregular action has been in communications. Likewise, the 27th article detected, investigation processes have started. of the Law of Responsibility in Radio and TV, On the contrary, it is motorists who have been which forbids messages of hate and those that It is pursued to make believe that a protest takes place in Táchira state, when it actually takes place in Spain. victims of agressions, 4 deceased people so far might cause fear or might make a call not to as a result of the violence used by the armed acknowledge the authorities. groups of the extreme right wing. The NTN24 coverage could actually be con- sidered as war propaganda or justification con- In the creation of those matrixes have es- trary to the interests of the Venezuelan people, pecially participated as actors of the com- due to the sensationalist and alarmist treatment plot the following TV stations: the North of the events, the bias against the national au- American CNN en Español and the Colom- thorities, the blame-game of the Government bian NTN24, which have had a wide cover- for what had happened, and the language and age of the facts with the intention of increas- time devoted to this coverage. ing the feeling of unrest in the country, and Among the considerations made to take it out of demonstrating a state of commotion, or a of the air, it was also taken into account that non-existent civil war. NTN24 is a foreign cannel, and with respect to In the case of the coverage made by NTN24 the national souveranity the informative treat- of the facts that took place on February 12, ment can be categorized as a violation towards it is interesting to highlight that despite being the peace of the Republic and the safety of the an international cannel, that day it dedicated nation. six continuous hours to broadcast news about CNN en Español in this opportunity posi- Venezuela. The coverage was absolutely bi- tioned the image of Venezuela as a country ased: the time dedicated to the opposition was on fire, dominated by a violent conflict, with of 4 hours, 24 minutes, 40 seconds, while the no governance, where human rights are vio- time dedicated to representatives of the Gov- lated, and the Government reacts aggressively ernment was of 23 minutes, 24 seconds. against pacific protesters. Chaos and violence were promoted, while The Venezuelan opposition is presented as a loutish actions of the extreme right-wing groups victim of the Government, and as a civil sector all over the country were not made public. that fights for democracy. A religious manifestation in the city of Barquisimeto is falsely presented as a protest against the Government. During that coverage, the presence of the The recent protests are shown as a peace- 30 31 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

ful exercise of a group of apolitical students censorship as a political method of the Boli- that are being attacked by armed collectives varian Revolution, presenting Venezuela as a supported by the Government, while the blocked country, dangerous for journalism, and loutish actions and the terrorist guarimbas with very few channels of access to informa- are shown in a confusing way as a part of tion. the chaos reigning in a country that is out All of this deepens with the information of control. unbalance: from Februar 12 y to March 6 The declarations of President Nicolás Maduro of the time dedicated to Venezuela in CNN are minimized and reduced in time and hierar- en Español, 83% was focused on the op- chy. Generally, his declarations are carefully ed- position. ited and commented; they also minimize and do Despite this media campaign overstepping not make public the critics made to the opposi- the national borders, dozens of Governments, tion and the statements made by the spokesper- 232 social movements, and 52 political parties sons of the Government in general, or by those have shown their solidarity to Venezuela the who defend the Bolivarian Revolution, while the National Government. opposition leaders, especially Leopoldo López, Perhaps many citizens of the world have assimi- are shown as “civic heroes” that lead a protest lated this uninformative campaign against Ven- against a despotic regime. ezuela and truly believe that the country needs It is insisted in the existence of “armed col- external help to overcome the current crisis. But lectives”, violent groups that act as para-policial we Venezuelans are used to dismantle the fake forces following the orders of the Government, opinion matrixes after 15 years of experience deal- or of its political alleys. ing with the perverse mechanisms of information Besides, it is insisted in the supposed control manipulation developed by international commu- of the Government on the media sector and in nications corporations.

In the TV broadcast as well as in social networking, the Colombian NTN24 has become a tool of the enemies of Venezuela.

Between February 12 and March 6 the time in minutes dedicated by CNN en Español to the opposition (blue) was daily a lot greater than the information of the supporters of the Bolivarian Revolution (red).

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An event that took place in Argentina in 2001 was published in the social networks as if it recently took place in Venezuela.

This is how CCN en Español presents its information on Venezuela.

A torture complaint in Spain is turned into a Venezuelan case by the psychological war laboratories.

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A journalist is injured by a violent group in a municipality whose mayor is oppositor.

Part of the psychological war took some people to express hate messages in social networking.

The Miami Nuevo Herald makes up news and portrays an old tank, nowadays Death menaces were seen in some of the municipalities controlled by the right wing. ornamental, as weapons that would have been used against protesters

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Cybernetic attack Imperial interference

As a part of the soft coup, and accompanying registries on the Internet (.nic, .ve) are at- The participation of the United States in the US visas to students. Curiously, it was in the the terrorist violence, Venezuela is a victim of tacked on a daily base, with the aim to gain cop plot was exposed by means of a tele- universities visited by the US diplomatic of- a strategy of cyber war; a series of cybernetic control on the database. This situation endan- phone call made to the Venezuelan ambas- ficers where the wage of riots began. and informatics attacks pursues to penetrate and gered some 266 thousand public and private sador before the OEA, Roy Chaderton, by The foreign interference has counted this destroy the communication and information plat- domains (web sites). Alex Lee, sub-secretary attached to the De- time with the precious help of artists from all form of the Government and of the country as Some public websites have received up partment of State. In this communication, over the world who, without knowing the reality a whole. Not only anti-Venezuela activist groups to 10 million attacks within a few hours. Lee read to Chaderton a document with a of the country, have expressed their solidarity in the social networking are taking part of this Facilities, systems, and workers of the tele- series of demands from the government of towards the guarimberos. Singers, Hollywood strategy, but also companies and media corpo- phone company CANTV have been damaged Barack Obama to Venezuela that would be actors and actresses, and other personalities rations. and injured, attacking transport units, radio- considered as unacceptable by any sover- of the show business have taken part of the According to international laws, the cyber- bases, telephonic offices, and service net- eign country. misinformation campaign against Venezuela attack is considered as informatics terrorism. works, making difficult the provision of Internet Within the set of demands of the US Govern- thanks to the massive diffusion of their opin- In Venezuela there is a Special Law against services in some places of the country. ment to Venezuela, can be highlighted: the call ions by international media corporations. Informatics Crimes that states in articles 6, 7, The false new of a supposed statement of to the Venezuelan Government to begin a dia- The coordination of the international cam- and 9 that actions criminal against the comput- the company Twitter Inc. denounced the block logue process with the Venezuelan opposition; paign against Venezuela was evidenced at the ers systems of the State as indictable. of its images systems from Venezuela was the freedom of those arrested due to the violent Oscars Academy Awards, which was the stage Criminal actions of this kind have taken spread. The company never confirmed the events on February 12, 2014 and the days after; for more attacks against the country. The words place since 12 February. According to the false statement, but the new spread around and avoiding the arrest of Mr. Leopoldo López, pronounced by Jared Leto, who compared Ven- numbers provided by the Ministry of the Pop- the world. “since it could cause many problems and inter- ezuela with Ucraine during the ceremony, were ular Power for Science, Technology, and Inno- Opposition activist groups have denounced national consequences.” part of the script prepared by events transna- vation, more than 160 public Internet sites Venezuela for the supposed censorship on As a response, the Venezuelan canceller tional companies to vilify the Revolutionary of high sensitivity like Pdvsa, the minis- the Internet before international organizations, Elías Jaua declared that such demands of the Government in front of millions of spectators tries of Defense and Finances, CANTV, and hiding all those criminal events that go beyond US constitute a threaten to Venezuela’s sougn- across the world. the National Council of Telecommunica- the neutral use of the web. eranity, as well as to the Independence of the Previously, show business stars like Madon- tions have been objects of systematic at- Revolutionary software activist groups have Juiciary of the country, which is in charge to na and Cher had pronounced strong epithets tacks to dissable them and penetrate their dismantled such lies and have responded tell- determine the responsibilities of the case. against President Nicolás Maduro via Twitter. information systems. ing how Venezuela is suffering from those at- Afterwards, President Nicolás Maduro ordered The singer Rihanna also expressed unfavor- The databases of the Venezuela domains tacks and manipulations. the expulsion of the three second US secretar- ably against the country; then, dozens of Latin ies, Breeann Marie Mccusker, Jeffrey Gordon American singers and actors summed up. Elsen, and Kristofer Lee Clark, for conspiration- All the campaign against the country pre- al activities in Venezuelan universities. These sented a new chapter with a demand of the officers travelled around the country to visit high government of Panamá – US alley -before the education centers with the excuse of offering OEA, to convoke the cancellers of the member 38 39 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela countries to analyze the situation in Venezu- ration expressing its solidarity with Venezuela, ela, with a clear interventionist attitude. asking to continue with the dialogue and re- Nevertheless, in an event classified as his- gretting the deceases in the country. torical, the demand was rejected by 29 votes With this declaration, the OEA condemn the against the three of Panamá, US, and Canadá, violence and dismisses the possibility to inter- and the organization prepared a group decla- vene in Venezuela inner businesses.

Peace for Venezuela

On February 23, President Nicolás Maduro an- the most reactionary sector of the opposition, nounced the call to a National Conference for the among them its most outstanding leaders, like Peace, with the aim to reestablish the tranquility the Miranda governor, Henrique Capriles, who atmosphere in the country, altered by the guar- rejected the invitation made by the President. imbas. The mandatary explained that he would So far, the new conspiracy against the Ven- ask the making-up of a Commission of the Truth ezuelan Government seems disassembled before the National Assembly, which should in- since it has not managed to sum up the popu- vestigate the violence promoted by opposition lar sectors to the violent actions; without them, groups that so far has caused the death of 18 there is no possible insurrection in any place of people and injuries in hundreds of people. the world. The guarimbas have been left iso- “I am convening the whole country to the lated in a few areas of the country, where in- Conference, to see each other in the eyes, habitants of the middle and high classes begin to acknowledge each other as Venezuelan, to show their rejection to these actions, which to say: we want peace, let’s build the peace,” represent a risk to their families and leave said President Maduro. them isolated from the rest of the country. So far, two meetings of the Conference Undoubtedly, Venezuela will overcome this test, for the Peace have taken place, which have as it has done in the past, when it has defeated been attended by high representatives of the conspiracy set with resources and strategies from church, by businessmen, and by sectors of Washington. Venezuelan people will move on; the the opposition who do not support violence work and the studies will prevail sooner than later, as a means of public protest. The absence of and the wild vandalism of the irrational opposition representatives of the Democratic Unit Table will be a bad memory in the history of the Venezu- (MUD) has been notorious; this group gathers ela of the 21st century.

A torture complaint in Spain is turned into a Venezuelan case by the psychological war laboratories

40 41 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

December we are going after you and your ter- February 2, 2014 Chronology of a coup attemp rible Government.” From the Brión square in Chacaíto, Caracas, Leopoldo López, María Corina Machado, and April 10, 2013 the note it is also affirmed that the Venezuelan By the end of that year, the municipalities’ elec- Antonio Ledezma ratified the call for 12 Febru- A conversation between a scort and the driver President has decided to make up an armed tions took place, which the right wing pretend- ary, to a march departing from Plaza Venezu- of Capriles Radonsky goes public revealing body of “working militias”. ed to turn into a plebiscite against the Presi- ela. López, main propeller of the mobilization the destabilization plan of the right wing not to dent, despite there not being such a statute in pointed that “We need to go on the streets to- acknowledge the results of the elections to be July 17, 2013 the Constitution. In the elections, the forces of gether. The fight of all is the fight of one, and carried out on 14 Abril 2013. The US ambassador in the United Nations, the Bolivarian Revolution obtained a wide vic- the fight of one is the fight of all.” Samantha Power, declares that Venezuela is tory with the 58.5 percent, gaining the 76 per- April 14, 2013 a repressive nation and that her management cent of the municipalities, losing the right sec- February 6, 2014 The presidential elections take place, and as ambassador would “respond the repression tors this way the last electoral action to achieve Supposed students of Catholic University of the Revolution candidate, Nicolás Maduro, is to the civil society that is taking place in coun- their goal. Táchira state, besiege and attack the residence elected with a 50.61percent of the votes. The tries like Cuba, Irán, Russia, and Venezuela.” of Governor Vielma Mora, with the first lady of Venezuelan right wing does not acknowledge December 18, 2013 the state and their children inside. After these the results and makes a call to violence on the Since the presidential elections, President The Government of Nicolás Maduro has a meet- events, four people are arrested; such deten- streets. Eleven people died as a result of the Maduro has been attacked in different ways by ing with the mayors and governors of the op- tions are taken as an excuse for the right sec- fascist actions. The National Electoral Council the national and international right wing. One position, aiming at finding formulas to develop tors to include a new slogan for the march on 12 recounted the votes and ratified the results fa- of the strategies has been the economic war, different projects. The entirety of the opposition February, and the final destination of the march voring the candidate Nicolás Maduro. with the drift of divisas provided by CADIVI, mayors attends the meeting. that day would be the surroundings of the Pub- and an overwhelming speculation with the lic Ministry. April 18, 2013 consumption goods, especially food. The Ven- January 1, 2014 The United States joins the attempt to destabi- ezuelan Government responds with force, ob- The Nuevo Herald newspaper of the United February 10, 2014 lize the country, and the US Secretary of State, taining the popular support. States publishes another strange note with- During visits made by Leopoldo López, the call John Kerry, announced that his Government out referring to any particular event, entitled: to the “great march” was ratified in Caracas would not acknowledge Venezuelan President, September 26, 2013 “The collectives, chavista order and terror in to be held on 12 February, against President Nicolás Maduro, as long as a recount of the President Nicolás Maduro announced the ex- Venezuela,” without bases nor background, Maduro and authorities of other powers of the votes isn’t made. pulsion of three officers of the US Embassy the newspaper imposes the matrix of armed State. In that occasion, López pointed: “Let due to constant meetings with the Venezuelan groups at the outside the law, affirming: “they them all go, a total and deep change of those May 4, 2013 extreme right wing “to finance their sabotage are the violent face of the Bolivarian Revolu- who conduct the National Power. It is clear Barack Obama attacks Venezuela and impos- actions against the electric system and the tion, gangers sustained by the regime to intimi- now that the problem is no longer Maduro by es matrixes that are stronger nowadays: “the Venezuelan economy.” date the civil society and, occasionally, do its himself; it is all the heads of the Public Powers entire region has seen the violence in Venezu- dirty job.” that have kidnapped the State,” this way, the ela, the manifestations, the repression towards November 20, 2013 representative of the Voluntad Popular party the opposition.” Likewise, Obama does not ac- The Venezuelan right wing threatens the sta- January 23, 2014 makes an open call to the rupture of the con- knowledge the legitimacy of the presidential bility of the democratically elected Govern- The political party Voluntad Popular calls to stitutional thread. elections that took place on 14 April 2013. ment taking advantage of the stage provided actions on the streets aiming at the “exit” of the by new municipality elections that would take President. The call was made for the actions to February 11, 2014 May 24, 2013 place in the country. Among the destabilizing be held on 12 F ebruary 2014. The summoner, From the State cannel, Venezolana de Tele- The Spanish newspaper ABC publishes a was the former presidential candidate Hen- Leopoldo López, pointed that: “We don’t know visión, the recording of a telephonic conversa- strange press note undermined what Presi- rique Capriles, who addressed to the Venezu- when the change is going to happen, but if we tion between the opposition leaders Iván Car- dent Nicolás Maduro had expressed; the note elan President, Nicolás Maduro, threatening don’t begin right now, it will never happen.” He ratú Molina and Fernando Gerbasi is spread, was entitled “Maduro will arm millions of Ven- him this way: “I’m telling you clearly, Nicolás, made also a call to “set the streets on the fire in which they reveal that during the march on ezuelan workers to defend the revolution.” On for you to record it in your mind, after the 8 of fight.” 12 February violent events similar to those of 11 April 2002 would begin with the aim to over- 42 43 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela throw the legitimate Government of Nicolás eas of the city to assault and destroy public and sage regarding the situation in Venezuela, as- worker, Carlos Luis Mayora. Maduro. In the recording, it is made public that private properties; during these events dies Ro- suming that the violence was being carried out the summoner groups had put together more berto Redman, a student attacked in Chacao. by the Government, alarmed by the detention Public transport units Unidades of los Teques, than 120 thousand million bolivars to finance of the opposition leader Leopoldo López, pre- Miranda state, were attacked with hard objects the distabilization actions and the overthrown That same night, a station of radio base of the venting people from protesting pacifically. while carrying passengers. Likewise, a trans- of the National Government. country’s telephone company is attacked, and port unit was kidnapped in El Marqués, and a technician of the company is also attacked. February 16, 2014 other unit was attacked at the subway station Leopoldo López declares to the CNN chan- Likewise, violent groups attack the Parque Violent groups attack the Chacao and Altamira Los Cortijos. nel that “the manifestation tomorrow pursues Carabobo, Bellas Artes, Parque Central, and stations again. Damages on the facade, the us to get on the streets and say here we are Chacao subway stations. Armed people cap- fire systems, structures, ventilation systems, Barack Obama manifested regarding Venezu- (…) they will not defeat us, tomorrow we will tured and threatened two subway operators air conditioning ducts, and turnstile are part of ela, saying he condemned the violence arrising take a firm step that will allow us to keep on and a patrimonial guard, and hurt a security the results. from the protests against the Government, and moving forward, we will loutish irreverently. The chief with a white weapon. exhorted the liberation of those who had been Government wants to set a violent agenda and A worker was brutally beaten by those who pre- arrested. hide it, as it manages the monopoly of commu- February 13, 2014 vented the Altamira station from being closed. nications in Venezuela (…) The call that has A detenction order against Leopoldo López is dic- February 22, 2014 been made is to be on the streets.” tated, who is accused by the following crime: public Febrero 17, 2014 The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, at- instigation, damages to properties, determiner in President Maduro shows evidence of activities tacked Venezuela one more time and asked 12 February 2014 the felony of intentional fire (intelectual autor), and carried out by three officers of the US Embas- for repressions against the dissidents to stop. A march called by the Venezuelan right sectors association to commit crime. sy who had had meetings with students of the is carried out. At the end of the march organized right wings, financing the violent actions in the February 23, 2014 by Leopoldo López party, Voluntad Popular, a In Zulia state, violent groups tried to set on fire country. Leopoldo López, leader of the violence, hands group of hooded assaulted the headquarters of two truck carrying cellphones of the State’s Units of the Charallave-Ocumare and Santa himself to the Venezuelan authorities after the de- the General Prosecution of the Republic. Two company, Movilnet. Mónica routes were beaten by hard objects tention order dictated by the Public Ministry, after people were murdered and 23 resulted injured. February 14, 2014 At the Altamira station, violent protesters at- having confirmed that he was a mortal target of President Nicolás Maduro addressed the Already a fugitive of justice, the responsible tacked again. the extreme right wing. The Government warrant- country informing that the material authors of for violent actions, Leopoldo López, incomp- ed all his rights, acknowledged by his family. the deaths and injuries had been identified. rensively – since he was already hidden from February 18, 2014 Among the damages produced by the violent justice – challenges President Nicolás Maduro In Mérida, several units of public transpor- February 26, 2014 actions of the right sectors, five patrols of the telling him he was afraid of him and had no tation were attacked. President Nicolás Maduro opens the Peace CICPC were destroyed and set on fire. Among guts to put him in jail. On his side, the Presi- Conference, attended by different members of the deceased persons was Juan Montoya, dent expressed that the justice system sooner Leopoldo López addressed the crowd from a the political, cultural, social, sports, and eco- chavista leader who was in the surroundings, or later would catch and judge the intellectual square in the capital city where he invited his nomic sectors. The Peace Conference baceme and Bassil Dacosta, a young worker who ac- author of the violent events that had taken followers to take take the streets, since “there permanent from 28 February, and has agreed companied his cousin to the students’ march. place last 12 February. are no free media to express ourselves in to deal the subjects on work tables, as well Venezuela... This way out needs to be pacific, as to carry out Regional Peace Conferences. After the event, Leopoldo López sets again the Aggressions to buses of Metrobus transporta- within the frame of the Constitution, but has Among the proposals, a Commission for the thesis of armed groups outside the law, and tion service keep on happening; objects to set also to be on the streets.” Truth is approved to investigate who are the with no proof in hand, he declares: “There are them on fire with the drivers inside are thrown responsables for the murders since 12 Febru- the images of the armed collectives; there are against them. Also the aggressions against the February 19, 2014 ary 2014. the videos of those who starred as spectators subway stations Chacao, Altamira, and Los In Lara seven vehicles were set on fire by vi- while the Prosecution was being destroyed.” Cortijos continued. olent groups of the state. A truck of the tele- February 27, 2014 phone company CANTV was also attacked. A national march commemorates the 25 years During nighttime, the violent bands that called February 15, 2014 In Caracas, violent groups attacked a CANTV of the popular rebellion, during February 1989. themselves pacific protesters, moved to other ar- The US Secretary of State send his first mes- 44 45 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

During the previous days, huge marches of imbas have also caused millionaire losses in March 2014 that president Obama “freezes actives of those women, students, land workers, and workers properties of public and private use: squares, Violent opposition groups destroyed the Brit- people involved in repressions during the pro- in general from all over the country expressed buildings, trees, streets, facades, and walls, ish Tower (Torre Británica) of the Chacao mu- tests on the streets of Caracas, as well as to their support to the Bolivarian Revolution and among others. nicipality, located in Altamira, where public or- revoke the visas.” their repulsion to the violence that began on 12 ganisms have their offices. The headquarters February in several focal points of the country. Two gas trucks of the State company Petróleos of the Seguros Ávila insurance company, the March 14, 2014 In the international area, the Bolivarian Revolu- de Venezuela (PDVSA) were kidnapped by a condominium office, and the parking lot office President Nicolás Maduro accuses the US tion receives the support of social movements group of 70 hooded in Ciudad Bolívar. box were also attacked. Likewise, the office of Government of openly assuming the lead- from America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, from the National Institute of Aeronautics (Inac), lo- ership of the overthrow. “This is how the US the UNASUR, The CELAC, and the ALBA. In March 9, 2014 cated in the basement of the building, was also Government is, at this moment, hostage of the contrast, the government of the United States A Violent group set on fire the statue of President attacked, causing terror among the people republican lobbies’ politics, and of the right- reveals its interventionist strategy against Ven- Hugo Chávez in San Pablo, Yaracuy state. who use the building. There is also evidence of wings lobbies of Miami.” ezuela; to do so, it looks for support in his in- theft and damages to equipment on the side of ternational allied in America and Europe. March 10, 2014 loutish groups. The State Chief, Nicolás Maduro, stated that The office of the Work Inspectorship in Táchira 1,529 detentions have been carried out, of February 28, 2014 was set on fire. The entire ground floor was They also caused damages to the infrastruc- which only 558 are students. One hundred five The Public Ministry had counted 18 victims of completely calcinated. ture of the University City of Caracas – UNES- derivations of liberty have demonstrated firm the guarimbas, not including the direct death CO World Inheritance; the Tamanaco Gate of against violent protesters who were captured in of people who suffered from asphyxia or heart Violent groups set on fire a truck that was to the university was also damaged; they opened possession of fire guns. attacks when not being able to reach hospitals distribute 8 tons of food to the Abastos Bicen- holes in the fence of the Botanical Garden. or health centers. tenario in Carabobo state. A new threath from the US: the State Secretary, March 17, 2014 John Kerry, pointed during an audience at the US Military and police officers took control of the President Nicolás Maduro orders the expul- Violent protesters violently acceced and set Congress that Washington is preparing to impose Altamira square of Caracas, located in Cha- sion of three US diplomatic officers who were on fire the university facilities where radio sta- sanctions to Caracas if there are no advances in cao municipality, in order to give back tranquil- proved to act with interference and in alliance tion 106.5 ULA FM broadcasts, property of the the efforts for mediation in the region. “If necessary, ity to inhabitants of the area after one month with right wings groups. A few days after, the University of Los Andes in San Cristóbal. we are ready to invoke an InterAmerican Demo- of continuous incendiary violence perpetrated US would take retaliation measures with Ven- cratic Letter before the OAE, and to seriously get by guarimberos. After taking control of Altamira ezuelan diplomatic officers in their country. March 11, 2014 involved by means of sanctions.” Square and pacifying it, many peaceful anti- As a part of the imperial attack Venezuela, the government demonstrations have been orga- March 4, 2014 commission of foreign relations of the Senate The mail and citizen attention offices of the nized and concluded without any incident. The US Chamber of Representatives approved approved a resolution that exhorts President Ministry of Housing were ruined; three com- The Supreme Court of Justice ordered the the H.R. 488 resolution, by means of which the Barack Obama to deny visas and freeze ac- puters were stolen, a fridge and a microwave Mayors of Chacao, Ramón Muchacho, San Di- violence taking place in Venezuela against op- tives belonging to those responsible for violat- got broken, and, more importantly, they en- ego, Vicencio Scarano, San Cristobal, Daniel position leaders and protesters, as well as intimi- ing human rights in Venezuela. dangered the workers lives. Ceballos, El Hatillo, David Smolanski; Baruta, dations to the political opposition in the country Gerardo Blyde and Lecherías, Gustavo Mar- are deplored. A similar resolution, although with To date, 95 units of Metrobús public transporta- March 13, 2014 cano to act to ensure the right to free transit in individual sanctions is to be approved by the US tion have been attacked, provoking injuries to 200 In Caracas, some guarimberos ecocides of the their municipalities, established in the Constitu- Chamber of Senators. passengers and 40 workers. Besides, violence Montalban I community cut five trees. The in- tion. In these areas, there have been recurrent has forced the closure of ten subway stations; tention was to use the trees for the guarimbas. events, as part of the opposition campaign of March 7, 2014 ten have been damaged and there have been violence, that have kept people trapped in their Since 12 February, extremist groups in munici- broken trains as a consequence of the attacks. The democrat Senators, Robert Menéndez and homes and caused permanent anxiety due to palities governed by the opposition have been Bill Nelson, and the republican Marco Rubio, the blockage of main roads and barricades. The blocking streets and avenues, using fascist The headquarters of the Ministry for Housing and attack Venezuela and present a law project so Supreme Court of Justice ordered the Mayors and terrorist methods that have provoked the Habitat was attacked by violent opposition groups, that the US can set direct sanctions to the Ven- to use all resources at their disposal to prevent direct and indirect death of citizens. The guar- who set the ground floor of the building on fire. ezuelan Governments. It is directly demanded the setting up of obstacles in the streets. 46 47 Venezuela se respeta Respect Venezuela

March 18, 2014 against the Venezuelan opposition due to its group of 30 hooded people who threw rocks and terrorist actions during violent protests that A group of hooded men torched the headquar- violent actions. The head of State asked Min- Molotov bombs at the building. Two vehicles, one took place in the municipalities of Chacao and ters of the National Experimental University of ister Jaua to present proof of the burning of public library and an ATM were set on fire. Baruta, in Caracas’ East. An armored vehicle the Armed Forces (UNEFA, Spanish acronym) libraries, squares, cultural centers and other equipped with anti gas masks, a gun, night in San Cristobal, Táchira state. The dean of institutions to international bodies. March 31, 2014 googles and fuel drums. the UNEFA, Colonel Vilme Ramirez, said the The city of San Cristóbal, capital of Táchira In San Cristóbal, Gabriel Alejandro Reyes flames caused a total loss and explained that March 24, 2014 state, went back to normal after being be- Beltrán was arrested. He was one of the orga- they destroyed the library, the Secretariat and Unknown people set on fire a bush area in the sieged for six weeks by guarimberos who set nizers of guarimbas in Táchira state and was Dean’s offices, as well as student files. One Waraira Repano National Park in Caracas. up barricades and encouraged violence on wanted for drug trafficking by the Interpol. National Guard officer died during the event This action caused a huge fire in the main nat- main roads and threatened traders and driv- while watching over the educational facility. ural reserve of the Venezuelan capital city. ers to try to shut down the city. The barricades April 3, 2014 were removed by officers of the National Guard President Nicolás Maduro decreed the cre- March 19, 2014 Due to a fire in the Waraira Repano National and the Army. ation of the Human Rights Council, a body Mayor of San Cristobal, Daniel Ceballos, was Park, electric service in different areas of Ca- created by the Government to strengthen the captured by the Bolivarian Intelligence Ser- racas was interrupted. Two main transmission April 2, 2014 respect for human rights established by the vice, serving an arrest warrant issued by the lines along the Park were affected by the fire. Thirty people were arrested for perpetrating Constitution. 1st Court of Control. Ceballos was accused of civil rebellion and conspiracy for his partici- March 25, 2014 pation in the events occurred in the capital of Three air force generals were arrested for their Táchira, which has been one of the states with participation in a coup attempt, said the Presi- more violence generated during the attempted dent of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro. The coup perpetrated by the Venezuelan right. head of State said that the officers have direct So far, the terrorist actions that started on February 12, 2014 have The Supreme Court of Justice sentenced the links with opposition groups. caused 39 deaths, including 6 officers of the Bolivarian National Mayor of San Diego municipality, in Carabobo state, Vicencio Scarano, to 10 months and 15 In Maracaibo, a group of opposition offenders Guard. The number of injured people surpasses 600, out of which days of jail, for having flouted the sentence of set on fire the headquarters of the National 145 are police or military officers who have been the target of vio- the Constitutional Court, which ordered to take Electoral Council of Zulia state. Before setting it the necessary actions to prevent the setting on fire, the offenders tore down the door, broke lence while they were fulfilling their duties to endure the guarim- up of guarimbas in his jurisdiction. As a result into the place and stole computer equipment. bas and protect the people. of the decision, Vicencio Scarano ceased his mayoral duties. March 26, 2014 A commission of foreign affairs ministers from March 20, 2014 the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) Vandals set on fire the Hiper Lider Supermar- met in Caracas with different political sectors to ket in San Diego. It is one of the largest retail- favor a dialogue between the government and ers in Carabobo state. The supermarket was the opposition. The Unasur representatives looted by hooded groups that set on fire its fa- were received by President Nicolás Maduro cilities causing a total damage. and held meetings with MUD representatives and Bolivarian and opposition students. March 23, 2014 President Nicolás Maduro gave instructions to March 27, 2014 Foreign Affairs Minister Elías Jaua to prepare The Mayor’s Office of the Girardot municipal- and submit a complaint to international bodies ity, located in Aragua state, was attacked by a

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