Protests against Nicolás Maduro: Difference between revisions

Throughout the protests, a common tactic that has divided opinions among Venezuelans and the anti-government opposition has been erecting burning street barricades, colloquially known as ''guarimbas''. Initially, these barricades consisted of piles of trash and cardboard set on fire at night, and were easily removed by Venezuelan security forces. ''Guarimbas'' have since evolved into "fortress-like structures" of bricks, mattresses, wooden planks and barbed wire guarded by protesters, who "have to resort to guerrilla-style tactics to get a response from the government of President Nicolas Maduro". However, their use is controversial. Critics claim ''guarimbas'', which are primarily erected in residential areas, victimize local residents and businesses and have little political impact.<ref name=BBCStreetblockades>{{cite news|title=Street blockades divide opinion in Venezuela|work=BBC News|date=27 February 2014|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26366809|access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> President Maduro and poor sectors in some cities criticized barricades, with Maduro denouncing that “thousands of people are affected by a small group of ten or twenty persons”, and that “some of them don’t have access to health care, including children and elders”,<ref>"A la pregunta sobre si la motivación de las guarimbas es “protestar por unos problemas”, o sacar a Maduro del poder, 36,9% cree que lo hacen como protesta, pero 63,1% dijo que tienen como objetivo sacar del poder a Maduro. El porcentaje más alto (78,7%) corresponde a los más pobres, de las clases D y E. Como ven, en esos estratos socioeconómicos hay mayor conciencia de los verdaderos fines de la red de guarimbas, donde los niveles de rechazo son más altos." [http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/opinion/firmas/los-domingos-de-diaz-rangel---eleazar-diaz-rangel/repudio-a-las-guarimbas.aspx "Repudio a las guarimbas" at ''Ultimas Noticias''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702144645/http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/opinion/firmas/los-domingos-de-diaz-rangel---eleazar-diaz-rangel/repudio-a-las-guarimbas.aspx|date=2 July 2014}}</ref> although many opposition protesters argue that ''guarimbas'' are also used as a protection against armed groups, and not only as a form of protest.<ref name="OPPbarricade">{{cite web |title=noticiascentro.com |url=http://www.noticiascentro.com/2014/guarimbas-protejen-contra-motomalandros/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141901/http://www.noticiascentro.com/2014/guarimbas-protejen-contra-motomalandros/ |archive-date=13 April 2014 |access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>

President Maduro and poor sectors in some cities criticized barricades, with Maduro denouncing that “thousands of people are affected by a small group of ten or twenty persons”, and that “some of them don’t have access to health care, including children and elders”,<ref>"A la pregunta sobre si la motivación de las guarimbas es “protestar por unos problemas”, o sacar a Maduro del poder, 36,9% cree que lo hacen como protesta, pero 63,1% dijo que tienen como objetivo sacar del poder a Maduro. El porcentaje más alto (78,7%) corresponde a los más pobres, de las clases D y E. Como ven, en esos estratos socioeconómicos hay mayor conciencia de los verdaderos fines de la red de guarimbas, donde los niveles de rechazo son más altos." [http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/opinion/firmas/los-domingos-de-diaz-rangel---eleazar-diaz-rangel/repudio-a-las-guarimbas.aspx "Repudio a las guarimbas" at ''Ultimas Noticias''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702144645/http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/opinion/firmas/los-domingos-de-diaz-rangel---eleazar-diaz-rangel/repudio-a-las-guarimbas.aspx |date=2 July 2014 }}</ref> although many opposition protesters argue that ''guarimbas'' are also used as a protection against armed groups, and not only as a form of protest.<ref name=OPPbarricade>{{cite web|url=http://www.noticiascentro.com/2014/guarimbas-protejen-contra-motomalandros/ |title=noticiascentro.com |access-date=7 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141901/http://www.noticiascentro.com/2014/guarimbas-protejen-contra-motomalandros/ |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref> Contested statements claim that at least thirteen deaths had been attributed to opposition supporters at these barricades.<ref name=Milne/> It has also been reported that protestersDemonstrators have used homemade [[caltrop]]s made of hose pieces and nails, colloquially known in Spanish as “miguelitos” or "chinas", to deflate motorbike tires.<ref>[http://panorama.com.ve/portal/app/push/noticia101591.php Hallan “miguelitos” y clavos en barricadas de Ciudad Ojeda: FOTOS+VIDEO] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143317/http://panorama.com.ve/portal/app/push/noticia101591.php |date=13 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lta.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idLTASIEA1O06A20140225?sp=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143459/http://lta.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idLTASIEA1O06A20140225?sp=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2014|title=Guarimbas con miguelitos y chinas: el idioma de las protestas venezolanas- América Latina- Reuters|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> The government has also condemned their usage.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoXRpddyfRI|title=Guarimberos en Altamira ponen alambres,aporrea tvi, feberero 2014|date=22 February 2014|access-date=7 March 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noticiasdiarias.informe25.com/2014/02/presidente-maduro-presenta-video-donde.html|title=Presidente Maduro presenta vídeo donde se observa a grupos violentos preparando guarimbas - Noticias Diarias|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> Some protestersProtesters have cited videos of protests in Ukraine and Egypt as inspiration for their tactics in defending barricades and repelling government forces, such as using common items such as beer bottles, metal tubing, and gasoline to construct fire bombs and mortars, while using bottles filled with paint to block the views of tank and armored riot vehicle drivers. Common protective gear for protesters include motorcycle helmets, construction dust masks, and gloves.<ref name=NeumanNYT>{{cite news|last=Neuman|first=William|title=Crude Weapons Help Fuel Unrest in Bastion of Venezuelan Opposition|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/world/americas/crude-weapons-help-fuel-unrest-in-bastion-of-venezuelan-opposition.html?_r=2|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 February 2014 |access-date=12 April 2014}}</ref> President Maduro claimed that barricades had resulted in more than 50 deaths.<ref name="barricades_50deaths">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpp.com.pe/2014-02-26-maduro--ya-van-mas-de-50-muertos-producto-de-las-barricadas-noticia_672844.html|title=´Ya van más de 50 muertos producto de las barricadas´|work=rpp.pe|date=26 February 2014|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>