THE FAILURE OF THE
VENEZUELAN
EXPERIMENT
PROTOCOL-MAGAZINE
As the world turns its attention to events unfolding in
Eastern Europe, the despair of the Venezuelan nation is
forgotten, drowned out by the cacophony of military
mobilisation in Russia. With all eyes intently focused on
Ukraine, thousands continue to march defiantly through the
streets of Caracas, unyielding in their efforts to make their
voices heard. The Venezuelan government has proven
intransigent in the face of popular demands. Will the
international community continue to turn a blind eye as the
hopes and aspirations of the country are crushed?
Mass demonstrations started nearly three weeks ago in the
South American enclave, known globally as the carrier of
the world’s largest oil reserves. Sparked by the increasingly
dire economic and security situation, students, on February
12, courageously took to the streets, defying the authority of
a typically oppressive regime. Unrest has since spread
throughout the country, provoking the participation of
thousands in anti-government demonstrations that demand
the resignation of incumbent President Nicolas Maduro.
Characteristic of life under the present regime, opposition
attempts at peaceful protest have been futile. They have
instead become victims of the full force of state violence
viciously employed against them. Helicopters and jets fly
low over Caracas, projecting an Orwellian image of state
authority, whilst the national guard and government-backed
paramilitary groups march through the streets arresting,
intimidating and torturing protestors.
The media has borne the brunt of state repression with
international networks, such as CNN and Colombia’s
NTN24 being ordered to cease transmission, whilst local
news outlets have been placed under a media blackout. In
the words of one protestor: “We are under total and official
ARJUN
CHAUDHURI
BY
censorship. Right now, in Venezuela, the only mass media
are the streets”.
With reports of more than 500 arrests and 18 deaths
emerging since the outbreak of demonstrations, Human
Rights Watch has claimed, “the Venezuelan government has
openly embraced the classic tactics of an authoritarian
regime, jailing its opponents, muzzling the media, and
intimidating civil society”.
The depth of courage displayed by a population that
continues to demonstrate in the face of severe repression
raises a fundamental question: what is the source of such
discontent? Why are protestors willing to pit their lives so
asymmetrically against the overwhelming forces of the
current regime?
The reasons are found in the disastrous political and
economic conditions generated by the policies of Maduro
and his cronies. Venezuela is now subject to the world’s
highest rates of inflation, acute shortages of staple products,
and a chilling homicide rate that surpasses that of both
Colombia and Iraq. Blame can be placed squarely at the
feet of the current government, whose combination of
corruption, oil dependence and economically illogical
poverty reduction programs have contributed to – if not
generated – the majority of the problems. Whilst those in
extreme poverty have admittedly benefited from the wellintentioned, yet unsustainable populism of the present
government, ordinary people have suffered a catastrophic
decline in their quality of life, and are now rising up to
restore the hopes and aspirations of a country with such
great potential, rising up to reverse the calamity that has
resulted from 15 year rule by Chavez and his successor.
The question now is not whether the
government will fall. The administration
maintains absolute control of the entire state
security apparatus and has proven itself
willing to use all means at its dis