Police shot in Venezuela demonstrations

Washington Times:

Four police officers were shot and wounded during student protests yesterday in the city of Merida in an escalation of violent demonstrations against President Hugo Chavez's plan to scrap term limits and extend his rule indefinitely.

Antonio Rivero, head of Venezuela's Civil Protection agency, told the Reuters news agency by telephone that the officers were shot while trying to break up clashes between opposing student groups in the Andean city.

Recent demonstrations against Mr. Chavez's campaign have heightened fears of violence in the coming weeks as the OPEC nation prepares for a Dec. 2 referendum on a raft of constitutional proposals sought by the leftist leader.

"Up to now, four [officer shootings] have been reported to me. ... The number could have increased, but I am still waiting for information," Mr. Rivero said without giving details of the condition of the wounded officers.

Mr. Rivero said the clashes involved students "of either side," apparently referring to Chavez supporters and anti-Chavez demonstrators.

One official from the area, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a gunman on a motorcycle had opened fire on a line of police officers.

On Wednesday, hooded Chavez supporters shot at least two anti-Chavez students at a university in a clash that erupted after thousands marched through the capital calling for the vote to be postponed, witnesses and hospital officials said.

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Earlier yesterday, Mr. Chavez charged his opponents with resorting to "fascist violence" in protesting the constitutional changes that would greatly expand his power.

But he did not respond to accusations that his government is responsible for the upheaval.

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University leaders have accused the Chavez government of arming the groups who opened fire on students returning from a peaceful march Wednesday.

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Higher Education Minister Luis Acuna offered to send in troops to quell the violence, but university authorities quickly rejected the offer as an attempted power grab.

"We won't fall into the trap," Eleazar Narvaez, the university's rector, said Thursday.

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I think they have good cause to think the violence is a trap and an excuse for Chavez to use force. It is very likely that those responsible for the violence are Chavez supporters and the shooting of the police is just an escalation by this group in order to ratchet up the excuse for a crack down.

While the demonstrations are an expression of opposition, such huge demonstrations have happened the the past yet Chavez is always able to stuff the ballot boxes with votes for whatever he wants.