Venezuela militia members killed by police amid political unrest

[Bacchus4.0]

Five people have been killed and four injured in a clash between Venezuelan police and members of a pro-government militia, raising fears of a surge in political violence.

The incident began on Tuesday when a police special forces unit raided the headquarters of the Shield of the Revolution colectivo in downtown Caracas. The initial confrontation – in which one colectivo member was killed – led to an eight-hour standoff during which police and militia members exchanged shots around the high-rise building while helicopters hovered overhead. Three policemen were taken hostage by the group.

During a lull in the shooting, another militia leader, José Odreman, told reporters that his comrade had been shot dead in his sleep. Odreman, a former policeman, also warned that if anything were to happen to him, the responsibility would be in the hands of the justice minister, Miguel Rodríguez Torres.

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Shortly afterwards, Odreman was shot dead. Photographs posted on social networks showed Odreman being held captive by security officers followed by videos where his dead body can be seen lying in a pool of blood.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/08/venezuela-militia-killed-police-violence-shield-revolution

[Judi Lynn]

1. Silence From the Media as the Paramilitaries Go Rogue: Terrorism and Assassinations in Venezuela

October 08, 2014

Silence From the Media as the Paramilitaries Go Rogue

Terrorism and Assassinations in Venezuela

by MARIA PAEZ VICTOR


Last Friday, the centre of Caracas was filled with thousands of mourning citizens as they accompanied two flag draped coffins loaded with flowers they had cast upon it in homage.

If a Member of Parliament representing the Venezuelan opposition had been brutally tortured and stabbed to death in his own home, the Western press –including Canada’s- would have splashed the news in headlines around the world.

Yet this has just happened to a Member of Parliament from the governing party of Venezuela, but the international press is mostly silent. International politicians have not wrung their hands with indignation or regret, as they have about the lawful incarceration of opposition leader Leopoldo López who publicly and repeatedly incited mobs to violence and caused has at least 47 deaths.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, Robert Serra, 27 years old, a lawyer and legislator from the governing party PSUV, the youngest Member of Parliament of Venezuela, and his partner Maria Herrera, were assassinated in their own home in a central area of Caracas. It was an outrageous and deliberate act of terror. Robert Serra and María Herrera were tortured, stabbed and then bled to death. He specialized in criminology, and was engaged in the task of helping to curb crime in the country. María Herrera assisted him in this vital work. Robert Serra came from a poor family; his mother worked as a street hawker to help him go to law school. He was famous for his insightful interventions in parliament and was much beloved, some referred to him as “ a future Chávez”.

Their deaths were carried out systematically. Ernesto Samper, ex-president of Colombia and current president of UNASUR, said: “This crime is evidence of the infiltration of Colombian paramilitary in Venezuela.”

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/10/08/terrorism-and-assassinations-in-venezuela/

[friendly_iconoclast]

2. Trying to downplay a loyalist's death *after* being taken into custody?

[Bacchus4.0]

4. Kind of odd the leadership is blaming Uribe and the US but the police are interrogating Serra's

own people.

[Bacchus4.0]

3. Six employees of late Deputy Robert Serra allegedly involved in his murder

Six people related to late Deputy Robert Serra remain in custody since Monday night in Caracas, in the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin), for their alleged involvement in the murder of the lawmaker and his assistant, María Herrera, on October 1 in downtown Caracas.

Off the record, authorities detained two police officers of Policaracas and four other people who worked directly with Serra and could be linked to his murder.

Government sources said that investigators have already confirmed that there was complicity between the perpetrators of the crime and people close to the deputy.

http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/141007/six-employees-of-late-deputy-robert-serra-allegedly-involved-in-his-mu