Human rights group say more Venezuelans turning to hunger strikes as form of protest

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelans are increasingly resorting to hunger strikes as a form of protest or a way to press grievances against President Hugo Chavez's government, the representative of a human rights group said Thursday.

Marco Antonio Ponce of the Provea rights group said the organization had counted 35 hunger strikes so far this year — compared to 105 in all of 2010 and five during 2009.

He said the increase appears to stem from the government's failure to address or even discuss demands of Venezuelans who have staged traditional street protests and marches.

"Venezuela's population has been turning to more radical forms of peaceful protest," Ponce said in a telephone interview.

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