Maduro, governors to meet amid Venezuela turmoil

Maduro, governors to meet amid Venezuela turmoil

President Nicolas Maduro was to meet with governors from across Venezuela on Monday, as a wave of protests that has engulfed the country showed no sign of ebbing.

A man passes by a barricade ser ablaze blocking a street during a protest against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas on February 24, 2014

The gathering of governors -- including some leaders opposed to Maduro's leftist regime -- had been scheduled before the nation was roiled by demonstrations that commenced in early February.

The protests, which have emerged as the biggest challenge to Maduro's nearly year-old government, seemed likely to figure prominently on Monday's agenda after his call for a dialogue aimed at tamping down public anger.

At least 10 people have been killed and scores wounded in daily anti-government demos that began on February 4.

Another two dozen people were injured during clashes that erupted late Saturday, as protesters skirmished with security forces after the daylong demonstrations.

- Call for live TV broadcast -

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles -- the lead organizer of the weekend's massive protests -- called for the governors' meeting to be broadcast on live television "so that the public can see and hear the truth," he wrote in a tweet on Sunday.

The rallies called Saturday by Capriles -- a governor and a former presidential candidate who narrowly lost to Maduro in last year's presidential polls -- drew hundreds of thousands of participants.

Protesters for nearly three weeks have been venting their anger over the soaring crime rate, high inflation, a shortage of food and commodities, and harassment of protesters by armed gangs allegedly acting on behalf of the government.

Maduro over the weekend called for "a national peace conference" to be held Wednesday "with all social, political, union and religious groups."

The leftist president also said he would ask the National Assembly to form a Truth Commission to look into the protests, which he claims are an attempt to "justify foreign intervention in Venezuela," in an interview on the Telesur TV network.

Political analyst John Magdaleno said the proposed talks are an attempt to improve the government's image as it attempts to ride out the protests.

- Protests exact 'high price' -

"The government has seen how high the price is, in terms of public opinion at home and abroad, for his security forces' actions," Magdaleno told AFP.

"With these crisis talks, he (Maduro) is looking for some kind of appeasement," said Magdaleno, adding however that he was skeptical the talks would succeed -- or that street protests could lead to his resignation.

A former bus driver and union activist, Maduro is grappling with his biggest crisis since his narrow election win in April 2013, making him the successor to his mentor, leftist icon Hugo Chavez.

Although it is under duress, Maduro's "Chavista" administration can still count on core support among the country's working class.

On Sunday, groups of elderly people marched to show their support for the socialist regime, in power since 1999.

Pro-government demonstrators dressed in red, waved Venezuelan flags and pro-Maduro banners, and protested what they called "fascist violence" by student opposition.

"That's enough youth violence. This is a country of peace. We want a future of peace," Cristina Marcos, 60, told reporters during a rally that began in the morning and headed to the Miraflores Palace, where the president spoke.

The daily anti-government protests began in the western city of San Cristobal and spread nationwide amid public discontent over high crime, and deteriorating economic conditions.

Protesters have clashed at night with security forces and initimidating swarms of civilians on motorcycles.

Maduro, who denies any links to armed pro-government groups, insists the protests are part of a coup d'etat plot instigated by Washington and conservative ex-Colombian president Alvaro Uribe.

Dozens of people, including Leopoldo Lopez -- an opposition leader who has advocated unrelenting street protests to pressure for change -- have been arrested or wounded.

Capriles could be a beneficiary of the talks, analysts said.

He has taken a more measured tone in challenging the government compared to other opponents and could be seen as a moderating influence, Magdaleno said.

"He could be the sort of middle ground, after Leopoldo Lopez pushed for an end to Maduro's government," Magdaleno opined.

The popular, charismatic Lopez, 42, a former borough mayor in Caracas and longtime opponent of Chavismo, has been in custody since his arrest last Tuesday.

He has been charged with instigating violence, property damage and criminal association after the shooting deaths of three people following an opposition protest earlier this month.

Maduro on Sunday also ordered the arrest of retired general Angel Vivas, saying he has trained radicals in the protests to battle police.

Vivas, a harsh critic of Maduro and what he calls "Cuban infiltration" of Venezuela's armed forces, said on Twitter he was resisting arrest, and climbed onto his rooftop with a weapon when police arrived to detain him. They left empty handed.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT