麻豆传媒 - Caracas

Why Venezuela鈥檚 National Electoral Council must be defended

Arnold August — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 16:00:00 +1000

Venezuela solidarity activist Arnold August travelled from Canada to Venezuela to observe the July 28 election. He explains below how Venezuela鈥檚 National Electoral Council (CNE) was created through a popular democratic process following the election of Hugo Chavez in 1998.

US sanctions are killing Venezuelans

Andre铆na Ch谩vez Alava — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:30:00 +1100

Andre铆na Ch谩vez Alava writes that while it is not possible to fully grasp the damage caused by United States sanctions against the Venezuelan people, all the evidence points to one simple truth: sanctions kill and will continue to do so.

Venezuela condemns US coup plots as Bolton doubles down

Jos茅 Luis Granados Ceja — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:15:00 +1000

The Venezuelan National Assembly unanimously condemned recent comments by former US National Security Advisor John Bolton boasting about his involvement in coup plots against the government of Nicol谩s Maduro, reports Jos茅 Luis Granados Ceja.

US to renew Chevron鈥檚 Venezuela licence

Andre铆na Ch谩vez Alava — Thu, 26 May 2022 15:15:00 +1000

Andre铆na Ch谩vez Alava reports that United States President Joe Biden's administration has authorised Chevron to negotiate its licence and 鈥渢he terms of potential future activities in Venezuela鈥� with Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA.

Venezuela: Bolivarian Revolution stopping COVID-19 in its tracks

Nelson D谩vila — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:45:00 +1000

Venezuela is winning the war on COVID-19, writes Nelson D谩vila, despite being subjected to inhuman economic sanctions by the US and its European allies.

Venezuela: Community organisation key to fighting COVID-19

Federico Fuentes — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 18:15:00 +1000

Key to Venezuela's聽success to date in quashing the coronavirus聽have聽been the existing community organisations聽that permeate Venezuelan society. To get a sense of how the local communities聽are coping with the pandemic, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Federico Fuentes spoke to Altos de Lidice Commune spokesperson聽Gsus Garcia.

Venezuela: US imposes full-fledged embargo

Lucas Koerner — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 12:15:00 +1000

US President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration has imposed a sweeping economic embargo against Venezuela in its efforts to oust the Nicolas Maduro government.

Venezuela: Another coup fails

Ricardo Vaz — Fri, 03 May 2019 17:30:00 +1000

鈥淚nterim President鈥� Juan Guaido and right-wing opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez spearheaded an unsuccessful coup attempt in Caracas on April 30.

Coup in Venezuela: What next?

Marco Teruggi — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 10:15:00 +1100

The dice have been thrown and the game is on in Venezuela. This week has seen the country enter into new uncertain and dangerous terrain, although with some predictable elements. We have witnessed different variables develop, and now wait for new elements that may catalyse or justify an outcome.

Venezuela blasts new EU sanctions

Cira Pascual Marquina — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 15:15:00 +1000

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro responded rapidly to the European Union鈥檚 proposal to impose further sanctions on top government officials following the May 20 presidential and state council elections. The 28-country bloc alleges the vote failed to comply with "minimal democratic standards".

Maduro, who won the presidential election by a landslide despite low voter participation, said on May 28: "This is the European Union that arrogantly wants to put its nose in Venezuela's business." He added, "Enough of this old colonialism."

Venezuela slams new US sanctions

Cira Pascual Marquina — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:45:00 +1000

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza responded forcefully to the latest round of US sanctions, which follow hard on the heels of socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro鈥檚 electoral victory on May 20.

鈥淭here is no unilateral measure, no pressure from any foreign power that can intimidate the Venezuelan people,鈥� the top diplomat stated.

Venezuela rejects new US sanctions and demands to suspend elections

Cira Pascual Marquina — Thu, 10 May 2018 17:30:00 +1000

A new round of United States sanctions against Venezuela, this time directed against three individuals and their businesses, was rebuffed on May 7 by Samuel Moncada, the Bolivarian Republic鈥檚 Vice Minister for Foreign Relations.

Venezuela's municipal elections: much more than a few mayoralties

Reinaldo Iturriza — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 13:00:00 +1100

In view聽of the December 10 municipal elections, communards and revolutionary activists closely associated with some of the most important initiatives in communal organisation in the country have been put forward as candidates for mayor.

Although we cannot say this is a mass phenomenon, it is undoubtedly a deeply significant event for various reasons.

Venezuela: Radical candidates challenge ruling socialists

Lucas Koerner — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:30:00 +1100

It is no secret that in today鈥檚 corporate-dominated media landscape, Venezuela appears almost ubiquitously as a synonym of 鈥渄ictatorship鈥�.

This is why many may be surprised that Venezuela will hold its 23rd election in 18 years on December 10 when Venezuelans go to the polls to elect local mayors.

Venezuela's sex and gender diverse community: 'They can't deny our existence anymore'

Coral Wynter — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 11:30:00 +1100

Venezuela鈥檚 Revolutionary Sex and Gender Diversity Alliance (ASGDRe) was set up in 2009 as a collective to fight for gender diversity rights and against discrimination based on sexuality.

What separated ASGDRe from other similar groups was that they openly supported the revolutionary process taking place in Venezuela.

Speaking with members of ASGDRe, as part of the international solidarity delegation organised by Venezuela Analysis in August, they told us that the group began with about 10 members, mainly friends.

Venezuela: Constituent Assembly VP ousted amid controversy over economic inaction

Lucas Koerner — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 11:15:00 +1100

The second vice-president of Venezuela鈥檚 National Constituent Assembly (ANC) has been removed after he publicly criticised聽the body鈥檚 inaction in the face of the country鈥檚 deepening economic crisis.

Former Attorney- General Isaias Rodriguez penned an op-ed in Venezuela鈥檚 centre-left newspaper Ultimas Noticias on October 23 in which he warned Chavismo could lose next year鈥檚 presidential elections, 鈥渋f the government and the National Constituent Assembly do not offer timely responses to this problem [of inflation]鈥�.

Venezuela: Building computers for liberation

Coral Wynter — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 11:00:00 +1100

The Canaima Industries factory in Caracas is the assembly point for computers that are given to students for free across Venezuela. Its name comes from the huge Canaima National Park in the south of Venezuela, home to extraordinary landscapes and the highest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls.

We visited the small computer factory, located in the middle of a military base in the east of the capital, as part of the international solidarity delegation organised by Venezuela Analysis in August.

Venezuela: Maduro鈥檚 popularity increases, opposition expected to make gains in regional elections

Rachael Boothroyd Rojas — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +1100

The approval ratings of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rose to 23.2% at the end of September, according to a new poll conducted by private centre-right think tank聽Datanalisis.聽

The increase in the head of state鈥檚 popularity comes just weeks ahead of regional elections scheduled for October 15, when Venezuelans will choose their state governors for the next four years.聽

Venezuela: Opposition boycotts dialogue amid fresh violence

Lucas Koerner — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Venezuela鈥檚 right-wing opposition announced on September 26 that its representatives would not attend the upcoming round of exploratory talks that were set to be held in the Dominican Republic the following day.聽

The boycott came one day after a small group of masked opposition militants took to the streets of the wealthy eastern Caracas municipality of Chacao in renewed anti-government roadblocks.聽

A view of the other Caracas

Coral Wynter — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Using the Metro Cable car system built under former president Hugo Chavez, our solidarity delegation to the South American nation, organised by Venezuelanalysis.com, travelled high up into the mountain to the neighbourhood of San Agustin.

The Metro Cable system, the first of its kind in Venezuela, was inspired by a visit by Chavez to Austria where he saw dozens of chairlifts going up and down the mountains.

Venezuela: Chavez鈥檚 life commemorated amid new struggles

Coral Wynter — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Travelling past El Calvario Park, just a few blocks from the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, we see a familiar image: an outline of late former president Hugo Chavez鈥檚 eyes, painted across several stairs.

This image can be seen all over Caracas. The government of President Nicholas Maduro has converted it into a recognisable trademark, much like the iconic image of Che Guevara that is splashed across T-shirts, flags and walls the world over.

The international fight for Venezuela鈥檚 future

Coral Wynter — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

With the Venezuelan right-wing opposition in disarray after failing to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro through violent protest, and divided in the face of the upcoming October 15 regional elections, the frontline of the battle for Venezuela鈥檚 future has shifted outside its borders.

Amid crisis, Venezuelans continue to build new society

Coral Wynter — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Flying into Caracas, the plane was full of middle class Venezuelans travelling home from Miami. On board, no one spoke to the passenger next to them for fear of finding out they were on the opposite side of the political divide.

In highly polarised Venezuela, these things are best left unsaid.

US-Venezuelan activist: 'Trump will not succeed in isolating Venezuela'

Coral Wynter — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

鈥淭he US is doing the same thing as it did with the economic blockade on Cuba, to try and suffocate the Venezuelan economy鈥� explained Williams Camacaro, a long-time Venezuelan grassroots activist based in New York.

Speaking to 麻豆传媒 Weekly in Caracas, Camacaro said 鈥淭he sanctions will cause a lot of difficulties for Venezuela鈥�, but 鈥渢he reality is that a lot of time has passed since [the blockade was first imposed on Cuba]. Many things have changed.鈥�

The true face of Venezuela鈥檚 right-wing, violent guarimberos

Coral Wynter — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

A few days after arriving in Venezuela, we drive past La Carlota military base in the east of Caracas, which was a regular site for the violent street protests commonly known here as guarimbas.

The highway we were travelling on was often blockaded by protesters 鈥� guarimberos 鈥� who made up the backbone of the self-dubbed 鈥淟a Resistencia鈥�. They received glowing praise in the international media during the wave of protests that rocked the country from April to July.

Venezuela: Controversy and bloodshed mark start of election campaign

Emilio Torres — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Venezuelans were taken by surprise with the announcement that opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez would serve out his jail term under house arrest. The move is an unprecedented concession that seeks to calm the waters in the lead up to the July 30 Constituent Assembly elections.聽

But the conflict in the country is showing it has multiple faces. On July 10, a day after the official election campaign began, a candidate was assassinated in the middle of a campaign event.

Venezuela: Soldier killed, three more burned alive

Lucas Koerner — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +1000

One National Guardsperson was killed and three people set on fire across Venezuela as violent anti-government protests continue.聽

In Aragua, National Guard Sergeant Ronny Alberto Parra Araujo died on June 27 of wounds sustained during what the Public Prosecution (MP) described as an 鈥渋rregular situation鈥� the day before.

Journalist Ramon Camacho has聽reported聽that Parra was shot while attempting to prevent looting at the Walio Supermarket in Maracay on the evening on June 26.

Venezuela: Right wing accelerates coup plans

Marco Teruggi — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +1000

The right-wing opposition has put its foot down on the accelerator, it is moving all of its pieces at once, and aims to shatter the balance of forces through a coup. It has made it clear: the opposition has June and July to achieve its objective.

It has declared that, backed by article 350 of the constitution, it does not recognise the government. Nor does it recognise the call for a National Constituent Assembly and it is organising to impede the elections for the assembly going ahead on July 30.

Venezuela: Maternity hospital attacked as death toll rises

Lucas Koerner — Sat, 20 May 2017 10:00:00 +1000

A maternity hospital in Venezuela's Miranda state was attacked on May 17 as the death count in ongoing violent anti-government protests rose to 53.聽

The attack comes as violent opposition protests demanding early presidential elections enter their seventh week, with new deaths being reported as opposition supporters clash with authorities, attack public institutions and state security personnel, and blockade roads nationwide.聽

Venezuela: Maduro calls constituent assembly amid crisis

Rachael Boothroyd Rojas — Sat, 06 May 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro officially called for a national Constituent Assembly to be convened during a May Day march in Caracas on May 1. The call is a bid to bring an end to the political crisis between the national government and the opposition-held parliament.

Speaking to the hundreds of thousands of government supporters who took to the streets for International Workers鈥� Day, Maduro said he would invoke article 347 of the constitution to trigger the assembly, which will be responsible for re-drafting the 1999 Constitution.聽