The South American country of Venezuela is reeling under massive protests as the people have lost faith in the government led by President Nicholas Maduro. The latest protest started after the President decided to shut down the media which showcased the government in bad light and was critical of its policies.
The protestors are out there on the roads not only to oppose the rise in criminal activities and poor economic condition but also because the government is trying to take away the people’s right to oppose the government.
The latest victim of this government crackdown was a former beauty queen who died in a hospital a day after being shot in the head. According to the interior minister, the girl died because she was shot by her own people but there was a clear indication of the role of a riot police in that incident. President Maduro seems to have lost control as he took some bizarre steps which included expelling some American diplomats and also having the opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez arrested by accusing him of training youths to act against his government.
The protestors are becoming more violent each passing day and even the opposition are finding it difficult to direct this outrage of the people into a meaningful rally. The government is quick to blame the protestors for the deaths but uniformed men who are working under the command of the President are also equally responsible for the killings.
The President is threatening to take severe action especially in the region of Tachira – the stronghold of the opposition. Pressure is mounting on the President to resolve the situation quickly as the international community is watching the events unfold in Venezuela. The US administration is thinking of taking stern action against this oil-rich nation if things spiral out of control.