Democracies Talk, Tyrannies Act

The government of (T)Hugo Chavez today unleashed troops on the Venezuelan people who wanted to protest the constitutional "reforms" that are being rubber stamped in the lapdog legislature. Those "reforms" will allow Chavez to declare himself president-for-life. So the people marched and Chavez let slip his dogs of war.

CARACAS, Venezuela - Troops used tear gas and water cannons Thursday to disperse demonstrators who turned out by the tens of thousands to protest constitutional reforms that would permit President Hugo Chavez to run for re-election indefinitely.

Led by university students, demonstrators chanted "Freedom! Freedom!" and warned that 69 amendments drafted by Venezuela's Chavista-dominated National Assembly would violate civil liberties and derail democracy.

Authorities broke up the protest outside the electoral agency's office. There were no reports from authorities of arrests or serious injuries, but the local Globovision television channel showed footage of several students who suffered minor injuries.

Students also hurled rocks and bottles. A few lifted up sections of metal barricades and thrusted them against police holding riot shields. Students retreated later as police fired plastic bullets.

"Chavez wants to remain in power his entire life, and that's not democracy," said Gonzalo Rommer, a 20-year-old university student, who joined protesters as they marched to the National Elections Council.

Deputy Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami blamed students for the violence, saying they forced their way through police barricades. But Vicente Diaz, one of the National Election Council's five directors, criticized National Guardsmen and police for using excessive force to disperse protesters.

Yes, those vicious protesters crying for freedom brutally assaulted the iron fist of Chavez with their faces. They dared to attack the truncheons of the police with their skulls. Beasts.

Night has fallen in Venezuela. It will be a very long night.

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  By Lars Walker, Thursday, 1 November , 2007 @ 3:21 pm

  Can you smell “Nobel Peace Prize” in the Venezuelan air? All he has to do is publicly execute some dissidents, and he’ll be a shoo-in next year.

• 

  By Jamelle, Thursday, 1 November , 2007 @ 11:20 pm

  You don’t seriously believe that do you?

  Anyway.

  This is terrible, but I’m curious Gaius, what do you think the western democracies should do?

Other Links to this Post

1. JammieWearingFool — Friday, 2 November , 2007 @ 6:15 am