This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/20/venezuela-revolt-truth-not-terror-campaign
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The truth about Venezuela: a revolt of the well-off, not a 'terror campaign' | The truth about Venezuela: a revolt of the well-off, not a 'terror campaign' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Images forge reality, granting a | Images forge reality, granting a |
| power to television and video and even still photographs that can burrow deep | power to television and video and even still photographs that can burrow deep |
| into people’s consciousness without them even knowing it. I thought that I, too, was immune to the | into people’s consciousness without them even knowing it. I thought that I, too, was immune to the |
| repetitious portrayals of Venezuela as a failed state in the throes of a | repetitious portrayals of Venezuela as a failed state in the throes of a |
| popular rebellion. But I wasn’t | popular rebellion. But I wasn’t |
| prepared for what I saw in Caracas this | prepared for what I saw in Caracas this |
| month: how little of daily life appeared to be affected by the protests, | month: how little of daily life appeared to be affected by the protests, |
| the normality that prevailed in the vast majority of the city. I, too, had been | the normality that prevailed in the vast majority of the city. I, too, had been |
| taken in by media imagery. | taken in by media imagery. |
| Major media outlets have already reported that Venezuela’s poor have not joined the right-wing opposition | Major media outlets have already reported that Venezuela’s poor have not joined the right-wing opposition |
| protests, but that is an understatement: it’s not just the poor who are | protests, but that is an understatement: it’s not just the poor who are |
| abstaining – in Caracas, it’s almost everyone outside of a few rich areas like | abstaining – in Caracas, it’s almost everyone outside of a few rich areas like |
| Altamira, where small groups of protesters engage in nightly battles with | Altamira, where small groups of protesters engage in nightly battles with |
| security forces, throwing rocks and firebombs and running from tear gas. | security forces, throwing rocks and firebombs and running from tear gas. |
| Walking from the working-class | Walking from the working-class |
| neighborhood of Sabana Grande to the city center, there was no sign that Venezuela is in the grip of a “crisis” that | neighborhood of Sabana Grande to the city center, there was no sign that Venezuela is in the grip of a “crisis” that |
| requires intervention from the Organization of American States (OAS), no matter | requires intervention from the Organization of American States (OAS), no matter |
| what John Kerry tells you. The metro also ran very well, although I couldn’t get off at Alta Mira station, | what John Kerry tells you. The metro also ran very well, although I couldn’t get off at Alta Mira station, |
| where the rebels had set up their base of operations until their eviction this | where the rebels had set up their base of operations until their eviction this |
| week. | week. |
| I got my first glimpse of the barricades | I got my first glimpse of the barricades |
| in Los Palos Grandes, an upper-income area where the protesters do have popular | in Los Palos Grandes, an upper-income area where the protesters do have popular |
| support, and neighbors will yell at anyone trying to remove the barricades – | support, and neighbors will yell at anyone trying to remove the barricades – |
| which is a risky thing to attempt (at least four people have apparently | which is a risky thing to attempt (at least four people have apparently |
| been shot dead for doing so). But even here at the barricades, life was pretty much normal, save for some | been shot dead for doing so). But even here at the barricades, life was pretty much normal, save for some |
| snarled traffic. On the weekend, the Parque del Este was full of families and runners sweating in the 90-degree heat – before | snarled traffic. On the weekend, the Parque del Este was full of families and runners sweating in the 90-degree heat – before |
| Chávez, you had to pay to get in, and the residents here, I was told, were disappointed when the less | Chávez, you had to pay to get in, and the residents here, I was told, were disappointed when the less |
| well-to-do were allowed to enter for free. The restaurants are still crowded at night. | well-to-do were allowed to enter for free. The restaurants are still crowded at night. |
| Travel | Travel |
| provides little more than a | provides little more than a |
| reality check, of course, and I visited Caracas mainly to gather data | reality check, of course, and I visited Caracas mainly to gather data |
| on the economy. But I came away skeptical of the narrative, reported | on the economy. But I came away skeptical of the narrative, reported |
| daily in | daily in |
| the media, that increasing shortages of basic foods and consumer goods | the media, that increasing shortages of basic foods and consumer goods |
| are a | are a |
| serious motivation for the protests. The | serious motivation for the protests. The |
| people who are most inconvenienced by those | people who are most inconvenienced by those |
| shortages are, of course, the | shortages are, of course, the |
| poor and working classes. But the | poor and working classes. But the |
| residents of Los Palos Grandes and Altamira, where I saw real protests | residents of Los Palos Grandes and Altamira, where I saw real protests |
| happening – they have servants to stand in line for what they need, and | happening – they have servants to stand in line for what they need, and |
| they | they |
| have the income and storage space to accumulate some inventory. | have the income and storage space to accumulate some inventory. |
| These people are not hurting – they’re | These people are not hurting – they’re |
| doing very well. Their income has grown at a healthy pace since the Chávez | doing very well. Their income has grown at a healthy pace since the Chávez |
| government got control of the oil industry a decade ago. They even get an | government got control of the oil industry a decade ago. They even get an |
| expensive handout from the government: anyone with a credit card (which | expensive handout from the government: anyone with a credit card (which |
| excludes the poor and millions of working people) is entitled to $3,000 per | excludes the poor and millions of working people) is entitled to $3,000 per |
| year at a subsidized exchange rate. They can then sell the dollars for 6 times what they paid in what amounts to a multi-billion | year at a subsidized exchange rate. They can then sell the dollars for 6 times what they paid in what amounts to a multi-billion |
| dollar annual subsidy for the privileged – yet it is they | dollar annual subsidy for the privileged – yet it is they |
| who are supplying the base and the troops of the rebellion. | who are supplying the base and the troops of the rebellion. |
| The | The |
| class nature of this fight has always been stark and inescapable, now | class nature of this fight has always been stark and inescapable, now |
| more than ever. Walking past the crowd that showed up for the March 5 | more than ever. Walking past the crowd that showed up for the March 5 |
| ceremonies to mark the anniversary | ceremonies to mark the anniversary |
| of Chávez’s death, it was a sea of working-class Venezuelans, tens of | of Chávez’s death, it was a sea of working-class Venezuelans, tens of |
| thousands of them. There | thousands of them. There |
| were no expensive clothing or $300 shoes. What a contrast to the | were no expensive clothing or $300 shoes. What a contrast to the |
| disgruntled | disgruntled |
| masses of Los Palos Grandes, with $40,000 Grand Cherokee Jeeps bearing | masses of Los Palos Grandes, with $40,000 Grand Cherokee Jeeps bearing |
| the | the |
| slogan of the moment: SOS | slogan of the moment: SOS |
| VENEZUELA. | VENEZUELA. |
| When it | When it |
| comes to Venezuela, John | comes to Venezuela, John |
| Kerry knows | Kerry knows |
| which side of the class war he is on. Last week, just as I was leaving | which side of the class war he is on. Last week, just as I was leaving |
| town, the US Secretary of State doubled down in his fusillade of | town, the US Secretary of State doubled down in his fusillade of |
| rhetoric against the government, accusing President Nicolás Maduro of | rhetoric against the government, accusing President Nicolás Maduro of |
| waging a “terror campaign against his own people”. Kerry also threatened to invoke the Inter-American Democratic | waging a “terror campaign against his own people”. Kerry also threatened to invoke the Inter-American Democratic |
| Charter of the OAS against Venezuela, as well as implementing sanctions. | Charter of the OAS against Venezuela, as well as implementing sanctions. |
| Brandishing the Democratic Charter | Brandishing the Democratic Charter |
| against Venezuela is a bit like threatening Vladimir Putin with a UN-sponsored | against Venezuela is a bit like threatening Vladimir Putin with a UN-sponsored |
| vote on secession in Crimea. Perhaps Kerry didn’t notice, but just a few days | vote on secession in Crimea. Perhaps Kerry didn’t notice, but just a few days |
| before his threats, the OAS took a resolution that Washington brought against | before his threats, the OAS took a resolution that Washington brought against |
| Venezuela and turned it inside-out, declaring the regional body’s “solidarity” with the Maduro government. Twenty-nine countries approved | Venezuela and turned it inside-out, declaring the regional body’s “solidarity” with the Maduro government. Twenty-nine countries approved |
| it, with only the right-wing governments of Panama and Canada siding with the | it, with only the right-wing governments of Panama and Canada siding with the |
| US against it. | US against it. |
| Article 21 of the OAS’s Democratic Charter applies to the “unconstitutional interruption of the | Article 21 of the OAS’s Democratic Charter applies to the “unconstitutional interruption of the |
| democratic order of a member state” (like the 2009 military coup in Honduras that Washington helped to legitimize, or the 2002 military coup in Venezuela, aided even more by the US government). Given its recent vote, the OAS would | democratic order of a member state” (like the 2009 military coup in Honduras that Washington helped to legitimize, or the 2002 military coup in Venezuela, aided even more by the US government). Given its recent vote, the OAS would |
| be more likely to invoke the Democratic Charter against the US government for | be more likely to invoke the Democratic Charter against the US government for |
| its drone killings of US citizens without trial, than it would be to do so | its drone killings of US citizens without trial, than it would be to do so |
| against Venezuela. | against Venezuela. |
| Kerry’s “terror campaign” | Kerry’s “terror campaign” |
| rhetoric is equally divorced from reality, and predictably provoked an | rhetoric is equally divorced from reality, and predictably provoked an |
| equivalent response from Venezuela’s foreign minister, who called Kerry a “murderer”. Here’s the truth about those charges from Kerry: since the protests in Venezuela began, it appears that more people have died at the hands of protesters than security forces. According to deaths reported by CEPR in the last month, in | equivalent response from Venezuela’s foreign minister, who called Kerry a “murderer”. Here’s the truth about those charges from Kerry: since the protests in Venezuela began, it appears that more people have died at the hands of protesters than security forces. According to deaths reported by CEPR in the last month, in |
| addition to those killed for trying to remove protesters’ barricades, about | addition to those killed for trying to remove protesters’ barricades, about |
| seven have apparently been killed by protesters’ obstructions – including a motorcyclist beheaded by a | seven have apparently been killed by protesters’ obstructions – including a motorcyclist beheaded by a |
| wire stretched across the road – | wire stretched across the road – |
| and five National Guard officers have been killed. | |
| As for violence from law | As for violence from law |
| enforcement, at least three people appear to have been killed by the National Guard or | enforcement, at least three people appear to have been killed by the National Guard or |
| other security forces – including two protesters and a pro-government activist. Some | other security forces – including two protesters and a pro-government activist. Some |
| people blame the government for an | people blame the government for an |
| additional three killings by armed civilians; in a country with an average of more than 65 | additional three killings by armed civilians; in a country with an average of more than 65 |
| homicides per day, it is entirely possibly these people acted on their own. | homicides per day, it is entirely possibly these people acted on their own. |
| As for violence from law | As for violence from law |
| enforcement, five people appear to have been killed by the National Guard or | enforcement, five people appear to have been killed by the National Guard or |
| other security forces – including three protesters and one pro-government activist. Some people blame the government for an | other security forces – including three protesters and one pro-government activist. Some people blame the government for an |
| additional three or four killings by armed civilians; but there is no evidence | additional three or four killings by armed civilians; but there is no evidence |
| of government involvement, and in a country with an average of more than 65 | of government involvement, and in a country with an average of more than 65 |
| homicides per day, it is much more likely that these people acted on their own | homicides per day, it is much more likely that these people acted on their own |
| A full 21 members of the | A full 21 members of the |
| security forces are under arrest for alleged abuses, | security forces are under arrest for alleged abuses, |
| including some of the killings. | including some of the killings. |
| This is no “terror campaign”. | This is no “terror campaign”. |
| At the same time, it is difficult to | At the same time, it is difficult to |
| find any serious denunciation of opposition violence from major opposition leaders. Polling data finds the protests to be deeply unpopular in Venezuela, | find any serious denunciation of opposition violence from major opposition leaders. Polling data finds the protests to be deeply unpopular in Venezuela, |
| although they do much better abroad when they are promoted as “peaceful | although they do much better abroad when they are promoted as “peaceful |
| protests” by people like Kerry. The data also suggest that a majority of | protests” by people like Kerry. The data also suggest that a majority of |
| Venezuelans see these disturbances for what they are: an attempt to remove the | Venezuelans see these disturbances for what they are: an attempt to remove the |
| elected government from power. | elected government from power. |
| The domestic politics of Kerry’s | The domestic politics of Kerry’s |
| posturing are pretty simple. On the one hand, you have the right-wing Florida | posturing are pretty simple. On the one hand, you have the right-wing Florida |
| Cuban-American lobby and their neo-conservative allies screaming for overthrow. | Cuban-American lobby and their neo-conservative allies screaming for overthrow. |
| To the left of the far right there is, well, nothing. This White House cares very | To the left of the far right there is, well, nothing. This White House cares very |
| little about Latin America, and there are no electoral consequences | little about Latin America, and there are no electoral consequences |
| for | for |
| making most of the governments in the hemisphere more disgusted with | making most of the governments in the hemisphere more disgusted with |
| Washington. | Washington. |
| Perhaps Kerry thinks the Venezuelan economy is going to collapse and that will | Perhaps Kerry thinks the Venezuelan economy is going to collapse and that will |
| bring some of the non-rich Venezuelans into the streets against the government. | bring some of the non-rich Venezuelans into the streets against the government. |
| But the economic situation is actually stabilizing – monthly inflation fell in | But the economic situation is actually stabilizing – monthly inflation fell in |
| February, and the black-market dollar has fallen sharply on the news that the | February, and the black-market dollar has fallen sharply on the news that the |
| government is introducing a new, market-based exchange rate. Venezuela’s | government is introducing a new, market-based exchange rate. Venezuela’s |
| sovereign bonds returned 11.5% from 11 February (the day before the protests | sovereign bonds returned 11.5% from 11 February (the day before the protests |
| began) to 13 March, the highest returns in the Bloomberg dollar emerging market | began) to 13 March, the highest returns in the Bloomberg dollar emerging market |
| bond index. Shortages will most likely ease in the coming weeks and months. | bond index. Shortages will most likely ease in the coming weeks and months. |
| Of course, that is exactly the | Of course, that is exactly the |
| opposition’s main problem: the next election is a year-and-a-half away, and by | opposition’s main problem: the next election is a year-and-a-half away, and by |
| that time, it’s likely that the economic shortages and inflation that have so | that time, it’s likely that the economic shortages and inflation that have so |
| increased over the past 15 months will have abated. The opposition will then | increased over the past 15 months will have abated. The opposition will then |
| probably lose the parliamentary elections, as they have lost every election | probably lose the parliamentary elections, as they have lost every election |
| over the past 15 years. But their current insurrectionary strategy isn’t | over the past 15 years. But their current insurrectionary strategy isn’t |
| helping their own cause: it seems to have divided the opposition and | helping their own cause: it seems to have divided the opposition and |
| united the Chavistas. | united the Chavistas. |
| The | The |
| only place where the | only place where the |
| opposition seems to be garnering broad support is Washington. | opposition seems to be garnering broad support is Washington. |