The repression inside and on the periphery has already caused 16 deaths during the demonstrations against Maduro

CARACAS – Demonstrations against President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela killed 16 people between Tuesday and Wednesday, denounced the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Most of the victims were shot in the capital, Caracas, as well as in the states of Táchira, Barinas, Portuguesa, Amazonas and Bolívar, on the border with Brazil. The murders were mainly reported in the poor neighborhoods of the capital and in the interior of the country, in a violent reaction of security forces that was not recorded during the major protests of the opposition. Wednesday afternoon.

According to the NGO Social Conflict Observatory, whose latest report states 13 deaths, most of the victims were shot dead. The Venezuelan portal Efecto Cocuyo said violent demonstrations took place in Palo Verde, Petare, Catia and San Martín, all the favelas and slums of Caracas on Wednesday night. The most critical situation occurred during the closure of the Palo Verde compound, after police reported that armed groups had left the surrounding neighborhoods and opened fire. The shooting lasted until 22:30, according to the portal. Two grenades were thrown in the José Félix Ribas district – only one exploded.

In addition to the clashes, the Venezuelan media point out that there was looting in the trade. A supermarket in La Venga and shops in Las Adjuntas and Avenida San Martín were targeted. To suppress the demonstrations, the Bolivian National Intelligence Service (Sebin), the Special Forces of Action (Faes), the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) and the Bolivarian National Guard – the main internal support base of Maduro, soldiers had been called by the opposition not to react violently against the protesters.

The episodes in which deaths were recorded occurred before and after the great marches organized by the opposition against Maduro, who does not recognize the new term of office of the President, for whom he took office on 10. who were not repressed, the President of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, declared himself acting president and was recognized by 13 countries, including Brazil and the United States. Maduro promised to resist power and severed diplomatic relations with the United States.