Venezuelans Blocked on Twitter Amid Opposition’s Protests

[Bacchus4.0]

Twitter Inc. (TWTR) said the Venezuelan government blocked users’ online images as opposition groups marched through Caracas for a third day, demonstrating against record shortages and the world’s fastest inflation.

Nu Wexler, a Twitter spokesman, confirmed in an e-mail that the government was behind the disruption. President Nicolas Maduro banned protests Feb. 12 and has asked his supporters to counter with a “march against fascism” tomorrow, in a week of social unrest that has left at least three Venezuelans dead.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-14/twitter-says-venezuela-blocks-its-images-amid-protest-crackdown.html

[Marksman_91]

1. Just wondering what all the chavistas in this forum think about this

It's a clear affront to freedom of speech. And CONATEL warning TV channels to not air anything about the protests is an affront against freedom of press. Leftists were all raging about how the US censors and spies on its people, praising figures such as Snowden, but then when it comes to supposedly "leftist" governments (not at all what the chavista regime is, btw) themselves doing the same thing, they sure seem awfully quiet about it.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. they don't think, thats the problem n/t

[joshcryer]

3. Their paternalistic attitude would be fine with it.

They would go on about how showing violent images begets violence, etc.

Of course, they can't openly defend it because we live in the US and we have had our own protests that were squashed by tyrants (see: Occupy), they don't want to show their true colors.

[Marksman_91]

4. Guess that's the problem when one becomes so consumed by an ideology

It's kinda like that ultra-zealous Creationist dude Ken Ham: even if the facts are presented before them, they'll still deny them, because if not, then they would have accept that they were wrong all along, shattering their fantasies.

[rafeh1]

5. I m not a chavez supporter

I m not a chavez supporter but I m not blind either. This sort of de stabilization was done in chile prior to pinochet's coup. The shooting from a motorbike reminds of the prior coup attempt which included shooting at demonstrators from a pedestrian bridge.

[Marksman_91]

6. The only ones with guns in Venezuela are all pro-government thugs

This is different from 1970s Chile. People are increasingly becoming discontent with the situation in Venezuela. Most have to endure long lines to find products that might not even be available. The murder rate is 74 per 100000, one of the highest in the world, the government is trying to censor all media, and devaluation and inflation is through the roof due to the poor economic policies implemented by the government. Most food products have to be imported because all the lands taken away by the state have become virtually unproductive. And the US barely has any use for Venezuela's oil anyway. Some speculate that by 2015 the US will barely be even buying it. In fact, the only reason why the economy is even barely holding is due to the cash that Venezuela gets from the US buying their oil. If there's a destabilization happening, the one to blame is the Venezuelan government, especially after having been in power for over 15 years and after pretty much taking over all public institutions.

[Bacchus4.0]

7. the motorbikers are chavista gangs/paramilitaries n/t

[mecherosegarden]

8. And just a few hours ago there were reporters of a Cuban airplane

landing in Cumana with Cuban soldiers.

The situation is getting worse.

[Marksman_91]

9. A pro-chavista website is now using the race card to try to make the opposition look bad

http://laiguana.tv/noticias/2014/02/14/12293/FOTODETALLES-SE-SORPRENDERA-AL-VER-LO-QUE-ENCONTRAMOS-REALMENTE-EN-CONCENTRACION-DE-PLAZA-ALTAMIRA.html

As you can see, they basically chose portraits of only a few dozen students to show that only light-skinned, healthy-looking "rich kids" are the ones doing all the protesting. Because, you know, all the protests have consisted of only a few dozen people and not thousands, like this other picture might suggest:



And apparently they think that because you're more European-looking, then that automatically makes you a rich kid. Fucking pathetic. And I'm sure all the chavistas in this forum are probably gonna agree with this bullshit.

Also, here's another video of pro-government police brutality against the students:

#t=45

[joshcryer]

10. Yes, they are pushing racism even as Venezuela is majority mestizo.

They love to pull that shit.

[Marksman_91]

11. LOLOLOLOL This is the march that Maduro called for in response to the students' protests

http://www.lapatilla.com/site/2014/02/15/mientras-maduro-habla-asi-esta-la-av-bolivar/







They were barely able to cover a whole block. And I wouldn't be surprised if most people there were public employees who were threatened to be fired if they didn't participate. Pathetic

[joshcryer]

15. No free food and beer.

Or appliances, or TVs.

That's what kind of chavista turnout you get when you're not throwing stuff at them.

[mecherosegarden]

12. There are reports that the gas they are using against the students is Difenilaminoclorarsina

Situation is really getting worse !

[Marksman_91]

13. It's actually diphenylaminechlorarsine in English, and adamsite for short.

Sorry, I just thought that "Difenilaminoclorarsina" was a mouthful.

Anyway, here's the wiki about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adamsite

Here's some video evidence of its use:

[joshcryer]

14. They're using it again right now in Chacao!

Fucking totalitarian assholes.