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THE DEATH TOLL in three weeks of violence at anti-government protests in Venezuela has jumped to 20 people after a night of clashes and pillaging on Friday left 12 people dead in Caracas.
Socialist President Nicolas Maduro is fighting off efforts to oust him as his country’s citizens battle food and medicine shortages. On 30 March, the Supreme Court took over legislative powers and was accused of attempting a coup – it later partially reversed these rulings after international condemnation. It did still keep in place other measures limiting the assembly’s powers.
Maduro has continued resisting opposition efforts to hold a vote on removing him, vowing to continue the “socialist revolution” launched by his late predecessor Hugo Chavez. Protests have escalated in recent weeks and have left Venezuelans living elsewhere around the world fearful about the people and the home they have left behind.
TheJournal.iespoke to three Venezuelans living in Galway this week about how their families in Venezuela have been affected and about their worries that there may never be a safe and stable life for them in their home country.
‘It’s so scary’
Aura Pacheco’S father, sisters, brother and three cousins remain in the capital city of Caracas.
“The violence now is just unbelievable. We’ve never passed through something like this before.”
Her cousin was taking part in a protest in the city on Wednesday when police began firing tear gas at them. She fell and was injured when other protesters stood on her.
People in Venezuela have been protesting for years and when I spoke to her she said to me, ‘Aura, you have been with me many times and on Wednesday it was the first time that I thought I would die’.
“When you hear family are going through that, it’s so scary – it’s so scary,” she said.
Pacheco, who has lived in Ireland for five years, returned to visit her family around Christmas last year and she said Venezuela was a very different country to the one she grew up in.
“I went to see my dad, he had lost about 10kg and my sister was more or less the same. I said to them ‘are you actually starving?’”.
She said her family does have earnings coming in and so they can afford to eat, though it is a struggle to get food even when people have the money to buy it.
The economic crisis has reduced millions of people in the country to poverty, with reports coming out of Venezeula that people are forced to sort through rubbish for food just to survive.
“Every single time I see the news I cry and cry and cry”, Pacheco said. “That was the place I grew up.”
‘Trying to survive’
Edward Buenees has been living in Ireland for three and a half years and currently works part-time in a restaurant in Galway.
His father, two sisters and his closest friend are still living in Venezuela and they have told him the “situation is getting worse and worse”.
One of his sisters took part in a protest six months ago that was attended by hundreds of thousands of people. However, he said when nothing changed, “people started losing hope”.
The people who are protesting are “trying to figure out how to get food and medicine, trying to manage, to survive”, according to the 32-year-old.
Venezuelans back home have to queue for up to seven hours sometimes to get into a supermarket.
“You could spend a whole day just to get basic products like milk or rice. And you don’t really go in with a plan about what to get. If there is rice, you probably don’t even want rice but you buy it anyway because you know you will use it in the future or there is someone you can trade with.”
He worries for his family.
“I feel really sad. I left the country because I couldn’t live in that situation anymore.”
When you start seeing what is normal outside of that, you don’t want to go back to the situation you left. I haven’t been there since I left and I would like to go back for a few weeks or months but not to work. The salary wouldn’t be enough to rent a room or buy food. For my family, emotionally it would be better with me there, but I know I can help them more from the outside.
‘They’re so vulnerable over there’
Maritza Rodriguez has been living in Ireland since 2014 and works as a childminder in Galway.
Her elderly parents are living on pensions of around €28 a month.
“How can you survive on that?”
I’m sending boxes with food they cannot buy in the country and medicines as well. It’s very difficult to get medcine – and even things like toilet paper.
If they are “lucky”, she said they manage to buy a chicken on one of their designated days to get into the supermarket, but that will usually have to last them for a week.
One of her biggest concerns is her parents’ health, as she knows how hard it is to get proper treatment due to medicine shortages. Her mother contracted the Zika virus last year and Rodriguez had to rely on a friend who visited Spain to procure the antibiotics her mother needed.
She also worries about the violence that is happening all around them.
“This week we had a big massive protest and it’s so upsetting – the fact that at least three people died and the fact that you are not even safe now,” she said. “The military, they’re supposed to take care of you and they don’t, they just don’t let you protest, they just shoot people”
“I’m here and thinking my family are so vulnerable there.”
The 30-year-old is not hopeful about being able to return home.
“Even if tomorrow we get an election, society and all the problems happening – that’s not going to change in one day,” she said.
“If did go back, I’d like in the future to bring my babies with me – but to see another Venezuela, not this one.”
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This is the hard socailist ideology in practice in the real world and the result is horrendous.No amount of academic maxrist therory can excuse this.
@Mark Murphy:
So even when (yet another) socialist country becomes a failed state it’s still capitalism’s fault??
Wow, just wow…
@Robert Woodward:
It is tolatorisamim and dictatorism
@ktsiwot:
Agreed but then show me a hardline socialist state that hasn’t decended into tolatorisamim and dictatorism.
Everything in moderation
@P.J. Nolan:
It’s the only way hardline socialists can stay in power – democracy is their enemy.
As I pointed out the other day, almost all democracies end up with a sensible mixture of both socialism and capitalism.
@Avina Laaf: Read a book mate. You clearly do not have a clue.
@P.J. Nolan: Monaco is a socialist state.
@Seamus McKenzie:
Monaco…….
I literally burst out laughing when I read that.
LET THE WORLD REJOICE, Our Seamus has solved the world’s problems…….
Copy Monaco
@Seamus McKenzie:
Monaco??
Are you for real??
And you say I haven’t got a clue!
@Avina L
@Mark Murphy: Blame the Americans again, eh? Capitalism must be pretty great if one capitalist country can single handedly destabilise every Socialist country ever.
@Mark Murphy: its silly people who think like you, that puts these stupid dictators into power. While Oil was $150 a barrel it was possible to implement some successes in their socialism agenda. Since Oil is less than a 3rd of that price, its now not possible to even feed people properly.
The US does help Venezuela by buying oil from them, but they have enough of their own. Vz president Maduro who regularly claims on TV that the problems are caused by the US… donated $500m to Trumps Inauguration ceremony!
Biggest oil reserves on earth what is happening!
@Philip McLoughlin: greed as per usual. Surprised the Yanks haven’t gone in yet if they have the biggest oil reserves !!
@Philip McLoughlin: Not enough Socialism apparently.
@Philip McLoughlin: socialism
@Philip McLoughlin: what is happening is that another country that voted a socialist government in and literally bankrupted the country. It’s like the aaa getting in here.
Here in IRL we had a 20 billion pension reserve and suddenly it was gone and we are 200 billion euro in debt and borrowing 9 billion just to pay interest on that and every which way we are paying new taxes charge and levies that coupled with indirects means middle-earners are effectively paying between 70 and 80% of their incomes in taxes and charges and levies. All to bail out bankster and bondholders.
How did that happen?
Capitalism.
@John O’Driscoll:
We have everyone of the things you listed, but guess what, I’m not going to swop.
@Philip McLoughlin: US sanctions and continuing.
Quick quiz: Which party passed this motion at their Ard Fheis? “Motion 116 which commends Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro “and his comrades” for their continued success in implementing the Bolivarian Revolution in the trying circumstances after the death of Hugo Chavez” Answers on a postcard to the usual address.
@Mark Murphy: Ireland to come under street politics populist politicians.
Provisional Sinn Féin has a long history of supporting despots and terrorist organisations…. Farc, ETA, Castro, Chavez, Gaddaffi…
Wally, where are you? You are needed in Venezuela to explain economics to them. They obviously don’t understand that all they need to do is print more money and everything will be rosy.
@Nick Allen:
Maybe he is already there….
Do you know i miss Wally, the place is no fun without him
@P.J. Nolan: don’t worry. Wally and Jammin and their comrades in AAA/PBP are monitoring comments and writing your names on a list.
Come the revolution, you guys will be put up against a wall and shot.
@P.J. Nolan: Who is wally?
@Matty kinevan:
Hardline AAA supporter frequent commenter who used to tell us the problem with Venezuela was not enough socialism.
@Matty kinevan: Here is a good example of Wally (also known as Billy, Waddler, Coddler, and many other names):
““Market forces” is just a euphemism for worker exploitation and the workers aren’t buying it anymore as the Luas and Dublin bus workers have shown.
The multinationals are doing us no favours. Precisely the opposite in fact. The corporates always take more from society than they contribute. That’s how they make their profits and profit maximization is the sole reason for their existence.
The multinationals only operate in Ireland in order to exploit our workers, infrastructure and our tax haven status etc. It’s us who are bestowing favors on them and they’ll be gone as soon as another nation offers a sweeter deal as the Dell abdication to Poland shows.
The collective society bears the cost of providing the labour force for the multinationals and also its customers. We feed, clothe and care for our children, we build the schools and colleges, and employ the teachers to educate them, construct the hospitals and hire the medical staff to care for them etc until they reach adulthood. At this point the multinationals step in and cherry pick which people they choose to employ.”
It’s raining where I live !!!. Is it America fault as well ?
Socialism.
This is the direction Ireland is heading.
The welfare state expands every year.
Taxes, levies and charges rise and are created every year to pay for it.
Every time there is the slightest problem the vast majority of Irish people (socialists) demand that the government “do something”.
Yes, Venezuela here we come.
The US has its dirty fingers all over this. They have been trying to destabilize that country for years in order to install some muppet leader so they can get their hands on their oil. Wake Up The US is an evil Empire , and like all empires they will eventually fall. Its terrible what the US will do to get their hands on something that is not theirs.
@Stephen: haven’t read a book lately eh Stephen.
@Stephen:
No no no Stephen we have got it completely wrong,
Monaco, that true socialism state (according to Seamus McKenzie) is the example of sucessfull socialism so all we have to do is copy them.
@P.J. Nolan:
Apparently he read a book about it…
:0D
@Seamus McKenzie: Your must be crazy! Where did you get such an idiotic idea???
Socialism build in the price of oil is the main reason.
@Seamus McKenzie: Wake up leftie… Socialism now under a dictator is the problem. The people are STARVING
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=963503290452049&id=100003771602284
Sinn Fein support this corrupt gang but that’s hardly a surprise
@Mike Cantwell: another thicko. Go read a book.
The damage, the US has caused in central and south America is simply unforgivable and now they are trying to squeeze China with their naval ships attempting to block Chinese exports. More and More US bases are opening in the pacific region than ever before.
@Seamus McKenzie: Although I would have thought this a crazy idea before, I recently read a book called “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” which sheds light on US involvement in a campaign to destabilize countries so big American companies can gain billion dollar contracts in the aftermath of the upheaval. Nothing should be taken at face value.
@Seamus McKenzie: your gripe is with the US & try to nail them for any issues you can. This is not an article about the US. Keep to the point please.
@James Maloney: keep sticking your head in the sand mate . The world must be better there
@Seamus McKenzie: The problem is Socialism which can be seen by the results of photos, videos & personal statements which are coming out of Venezuela. You can only go to a supermarket on 1 day a week, decided by your ID number. You queue for 3 to 12 hours to enter the shop & hope there is food which you need. For the stuff you need, the shelves are empty.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=963503290452049&id=100003771602284
@James Maloney: Here is an article that debunks your crap. How the business elite with the full backing of the US have been withholding food in fraudulent practices. It was quite easy debunking your one eyed propaganda.http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Blaming-Socialism-US-Media-Distorts-Venezuelas-Food-Crisis-20170223-0053.html
Changing regimes in Venezuela will not economically improve things. The problem is objective not subjective. Much of the political opposition is merely exploiting the economic crisis for its own ends. Its special interests!
@Paddy Hackett: Socialism is the problem in Venezuela… along with currency controls, unrealistic price controls, inflation @ about 800%. Once the 20th richest country in the world, Venezuela is now unable to feed its people. Socialism Paddy and the promises & expectations it brings.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10212278684263505&id=1270399876
@James Maloney: your an idiot here and can’t see the bigger picture. The US are grabbing oil all over the world . Somehow in your logic , the US are squeaky clean.?
@Seamus McKenzie: The days if grabbing oil are gone Seamus. We are starting the end period of Oil reliance! US is opening up all their oil fields… to get rid of the stuff before its virtually worthless. Oil price has been low for the past 3+ years, new energy technologies being developed frequently. Tesla for all vehicle types, geo-thermal heating, passive houses, solar panels… & these inventions are almost outdated at this stage!
Anyway, this is off-point & a different debate to Venezuela collapsing country.
Venezuela is in this condition because of Socialism… internal decisions to move an economy is a socialist direction. Current decisions being made by criminals… eg Vice President is international drug exporter, Presidents wife’s nephews under diplomatic status caught with cases loads of coke in the US, Vz military caught loading drugs on international passenger flights to Paris, weapons made by Sweden – delivered to Vz military – Colombian military seized from FARC gorillas.
@James Maloney: wrong on two fronts here. . Your argument on oil is wrong and factually incorrect. America and its allies are aggressively stealing oil on every continent. Examples are numerous. Secondly , it was not 18 years ago . It was within the last 7 years . Not once , but several times the Americans were caught trying to stage a coup . It also stands to reason, they will destabilise the country. Only a blind man can’t see what the US are up to.
@James Maloney: Socialism is not the problem here. But American interference . Only right wing , self serving captilists will think differently . America has a long and dirty history of destabilising central and south America in pursuit of its own imperialist agenda .
@Seamus McKenzie: The last Coup was on 11 April 2002… this was when the Irish journalists were creating a documentary. Actually 15 years ago. Here’s a link about it:
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0363510/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Venezuelan_coup_d%27état_attempt
PS. If you are a believer of the Left wing Socialist dictator Maduro… he has fantasies about Coup’s every few months. Maduro’s was a Union leader for bus drivers!!
@Seamus McKenzie: Socialism is the problem in Venezuela… along with currency controls, unrealistic price controls, inflation @ about 800%. Once the 20th richest country in the world, Venezuela is now unable to feed its people. Socialism Paddy and the promises & expectations it brings. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10212278684263505&id=1270399876
@James Maloney: You miss my point. A conservative government will not be able to improve the economy for the majority of the Venezuelan people. The economy, under the given circumstances, will have to get worse before it can get better. This means more hardship for the masses either by the Left or Right.
@Paddy Hackett: Yes Paddy… I agree. One can only imagine the damage & lack of funding to all government departments, infrastructure, hospitals, etc. It will probably take 10-20years before things are stable. Another lost generation unfortunately
@James Maloney: The reformist or social democratic regime that has been the government of Venezuela is a product of the acute contradictions ramping through that capitalist country. The Chavaz regime is a symptom of these contradiction as is the mass popular right wing opposition to it. Neither forms of politics are a solution. Chavaz was produced by these capitalist contradictions. It is not a a matter of a naive binary choice of right or left. It is not a Manichean process. Both choices are unsatisfactory as history has been highlighting.
@James Maloney: it’s clear you have a misguided agenda against socialism .which is about spreading wealth. Your capitalist right wing policies have failed everywhere and only heaped misery on the poor. If the Americans tried A coup once , how do you know they haven’t been trying ever since . The bus driver is probably right. The US is evil mate. Why are you blind to that .
@Seamus McKenzie: I’m dealing with the facts about Venezuela. Where are you getting these crazy ideas?? From bus drivers like Maduro???
So Seamus, if, as you say, the US is the big bad wolf… they caused Socialism to fail in Venezuela, they’ve caused all the trouble & hardship for the Venezuelans, their President Maduro & his government. If its the US that’s to blame… can you tell my WHY Maduro gave Donald Trump $500,000 for his Inauguration ceremony???
Isn’t the US his no.1 enemy???
@James Maloney: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/Tracking-US-Intervention-in-Venezuela-Since-2002-20151117-0045.html Good article detailing US led sanctions from Bush to bomber Obama. You are in complete denial about US involvement, its all about the oil.
@James Maloney: https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/12732 More evidence of US led interfernece backed by the business elite in Venezuela.https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11939
@James Maloney: Not alone have the US being trying to destabilise a democratically elected socialist country, they also have been engaging in military intimidation disguised as drug co-operation. https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11702
@James Maloney: More evidence of sanctions and interference from the most evil country on the planet . https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/11259 I keep posting evidence of US interference and sanctions while you keep living in la la land
If the US wins this destabilisation, the three Venezuelans who can fly over and back to Ireland will be well off under the new Western-backed regime. The rest of the Venezuelans will have Haiti-style freedom to starve.
@Bramley Hawthorne: Seems like they are already starving
@Bramley Hawthorne: Socialism destabilised Venezuela… along with currency controls, unrealistic price controls, inflation @ about 800%. Once the 20th richest country in the world, Venezuela is now unable to feed its people.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=963503290452049&id=100003771602284
@James Maloney: socialism did not destabilise Venezuela .stop with the US led propaganda .
@Seamus McKenzie: I’m no lover of Trumps US and I would imagine most people in Ireland are the same… according to any poll that’s done is the US lately Trump & his policies are way off the spectrum.
SOCIALISM has FAILED. Its been tested in Venezuela & has failed. Sorry to burst you bobble!
If a country with the biggest oil reserves in the world & which was once the 20th richest country in the world… has failed… how can it ever be a success??
If you believe its a success, go there and live out your life (in this early death rate country)
PS. Monaco is not a Socialist country!!!! Where on Gods earth did you get that idea from
Should serve as a warning for all those who want hard left in power here
@Stephen Kearon: idiot comment and devoid of all facts as per from the slimy right.
@Stephen Kearon: Yes Stephen… the Socialist experiment… backed by the biggest oil reserves in the world & once the 20th richest country in the world… proved Socialism is a failure
@James Maloney: Ever hear of sanctions. F…k you are a muppet for US propaganda.
I can’t help but think that we will soon be told that this is our fault and that we have take in as many Venezuelan refugees as can come ….
@ÉireBarbarian: The majority of Venezuelans who can immigrate have moved to neighbouring countries… mainly Colombia & Chile, some to Ecuador but economy is poor. Chile is the best performing economy in South America. I believe the US are giving refuge, not sure if its refugee status, eitherway the are helping with visas (not sure if Trump is aware!). To be honest, we are losing out massively by not allowing easy access for them here… reason: they almost all have Degrees or Masters and would be a huge benefit to our economy. Socially & religiously they are the same as us. They work extremely hard & are not entitled to social welfare so no sponging.
El Presidente Nicolas Maduro Should follow advise of Lenin in similar situation
“Crush the Saboteurs”
It is very sad reading all the right wing propaganda posts against Venezuela from people who have clearly been brainwashed and live in a comfortable sheltered existence. America has spent most of its existence in wars or raping and pillaging other countries of its natural resources. Very similar to our illustrious neighbour across the water. Considering our history, we have more in common with countries like Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba who have all suffered from Imperialism in some shape or form. It disgusts me and saddens me deeply that so called Irish people ??? on here engage in propaganda supporting an evil empire. America, is a virus that only exists to look after the one/ ten per cent that controls all the wealth in that country. As the song goes ”there is no profit in peace ” Peace is an alien concept to the US and all over the world they are looking to start a war on dubious grounds . China and N. Korea to name two.http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-coming-war-on-china-pilger-says-us-is-real-threat-in-the-pacific-not-china-20170209-gu96bp.html We have all seen the film the Matrix ? Red or blue pill folks ??
http://www.mintpressnews.com/us-led-economic-war-not-socialism-tearing-venezuela-apart/218335/ Another good article.
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