Venezuela Protests News Update: Moves Toward Economic Reform Could Help As Maduro Accuses US Officials of Encouraging Violence
One month after the deadly mass protests began in the Venezuela capital, the opposition and government security forces continue to clash in streets all over Venezuela, and the death toll has reached 28. The government of Nicolás Maduro attempts to reestablish control over the nation and has begun to seek international help to counter the protestors. Yet, as they reach out to places like the United States, the opposition may claim a success.
The Venezuela government gave opposition protestors an ultimatum on Saturday: vacate Altamira Square or face the consequences. The Square, which has been the hub for protests this past month, sees violence every night, according to Reuters, as protestors battle security forces for control of nearby highways.
"I'm giving the Chuckys, the killers, just a few hours," Maduro said, naming the opposition protestors after the murderous doll. "If they don't retreat, I'm going to liberate those spaces with the security force...They have a few hours to go home ... Chuckys, get ready, we're coming for you."
While discussing possible violence in the future, Maduro has asked President Obama to join a peace commission. Organized by Union of South American Nations (Unasur), the meeting between the U.S., Venezuela and various other South American governments would discuss "peace and respect of sovereignty" in Venezuela, according to the BBC.
Maduro has accused the U.S. government of inciting protestors. Maduro, in his speech, address President Obama directly.
"President Obama: give peace, and respect, a chance and let's set the foundation for a new type of relations between the U.S., Venezuela and if possible, Latin America and the Caribbean," he said before warning against any assassination attempts towards his person.
Maduro touts that the right wing elements of the American government push for an assassination and want the overthrow of Maduro. The Foreign Minister Elias Jaua directly accused his American counterpart of provoking street clashes.
"We speak up to the world, Mr. Kerry, that you encourage violence in Venezuela ... We denounce you are a murderer of the Venezuelan people," he said, according to El Universal. "Every time we are about to isolate and reduce the violent groups, Mr. Kerry comes out and issues a statement, which leads to renewed guarimbas (street protests involving road blockades and burning of rubbish and tires) in the major pockets of violence."
But the U.S. government denies the allegations and writes them off as fabrications by the government to distract the people from the issues at hand. One of which could be a change in Venezuela's 10-year-old economic system.
Foreign Affairs reports that Venezuela recently passed Foreign Exchange Agreement No. 27. Unlike the previous government economic policies, this one could begin the process of liberalizing the economy. This would begin to solve several of Venezuela's economic problems, including high inflation and the lack of basic staples.
The old system relies on government control of the currency exchange rates, which restricts purchasing power. Called SICAD II, the new system will have fewer restrictions on who participates. It will also allow for Venezuelan debt to be bought and sold internally and overseas and allows exporters to hold their earnings in foreign currency, instead of requiring them to sell their profits to the government, explains Foreign Policy.
The change in policy can be claimed by the student protestors as a victory, which pushes the country away from the Chavista economic policies they deem is ruining the country. Though Maduro will not step down any time soon, the change in economic policy shows the influence the protests may have on the country, even indirectly.