NY Times Editorial: Conspiracy Claims in Venezuela
Listening to embattled President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela ramble for hours about an international right-wing conspiracy to oust him, it’s clear that he would use any fabricated pretext to jail opposition leaders and crack down on dissent.
In recent days, the government’s claims have become outlandish and its repression of critics even more vicious.
...snip...
Mr. Maduro’s fears of a coup appear to be a diversion strategy by a maniacal statesman who is unable to deal with the dismal state of his country’s economy and the rapidly deteriorating quality of life despite having the world’s largest oil reserves. The country’s inflation rate has topped 68 percent, the currency has been in a tailspin for months and the black market has become dominant as state-owned shops contend with chronic food shortages.
Mr. Ledezma, a democratically elected official who has, so far, responded with remarkable stoicism, is the latest mayor critical of the government embroiled in legal proceedings. Mr. Maduro’s government has opened cases against 33 of the 50 mayors in the country who have been critical of his leadership.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/24/opinion/conspiracy-claims-in-venezuela.html?_r=0
= new reply since forum marked as read
https://www.iiss.org/en/iiss%20voices/blogsections/iiss-voices-2014-b4d9/february-72f2/venezuela-violence-b3e7
The parliamentary elections are gamed to give rural areas an advantage. (I guess, the cities are hit hardest by shortages.)
Outcome 1:
- Maduro wins and exacts brutal revenge on his enemies.
- Venezuela descends into dictatorship.
Outcome 2:
- Maduro loses, claims that it was a US-backed coup like in Ukraine, confusion, riots, fighting in the streets.
- His colectivo-paramilitaries murder protestors, just like the iranian paramilitaries who killed people during the protests after the 2009 iranian election.
- Much confusion in the international community about what should be done. Russia and China say that this is an internal business of Venezuela. The US cannot intervene without looking guilty.
- Threads spring up on DU how the evil american empire destroyed yet another country who refused to do its bidding. ("Wake up, sheeple! That's what they always do!"
Every voice of discontent from the US-government is treated as an admission of guilt.
- Maduro eventually kills or arrests all of his opponents.
- Venezuela descends into dictatorship.
- The Maduro-apologists on DU agree to ignore the murders and dictatorship and move to the next topic.
They're probably just spreading US lies about the coup.
