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A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 2 March 2020
Socialist hardliner aims gun on Guaidó march in Venezuela

Associated Press strong support. It lasted
CARACAS, Venezuela about an hour with the
(AP) — Socialist hardliners armed groups meeting
in Venezuela opened fire them at various points, he
during a march headed said. They pressed on be-
by Juan Guaidó, injuring a lieving the gunfire was go-
16-year-old demonstrator ing into the air — until learn-
and adding to tensions in ing that the teen was shot.
the country as the opposi- "They won't be able to stop
tion leader seeks to revive an entire country that is
his campaign to oust Nico- starving and that under-
lás Maduro. stands the only way to
A photo of the confronta- progress is through democ-
tion shows a masked man racy and liberty," said Ante-
brandishing a pistol point- quera, who visited the boy
ed toward a group of op- in the hospital.
position activists, including Dimitris Pantoulas, a Cara-
Guaidó, who can be seen cas-based political analyst,
staring down the unidenti- said the incident under-
fied man. scores the forceful role be-
The confusing incident Sat- ing played in Venezuela by
urday in the central city of the colectivos.
Barquisimeto is believed to As political turmoil has
be the first time pro-gov- In this photo released by the Juan Guaido's Press Office, an unidentified man aims a gun at a swept over Venezuela the
ernment vigilantes known crowd as opposition leader Juan Guaido, center right, meets with supporters during a rally in past year, armed groups
Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020.
as colectivos have aimed Associated Press loyal to Maduro have been
a weapon at Guaidó, who increasingly deployed by a
the U.S. and more than Ramos said worse blood- aides while their caravan comment from the Maduro government determined to
50 other countries recog- shed was avoided be- headed back to Caracas. government. resist domestic opposition
nize as Venezuela's rightful cause the unidentified "We're going to achieve The AP was not present at and mounting international
leader following Maduro's man did not open fire at freedom for our country." the rally so was unable to pressure, Pantoulas said.
re-election in 2018 in a race that moment. Later, the opposition lead- verify the lawmakers' ac- "This is a tactic by the gov-
the opposition says was But later, as the crowd er reiterated a call for sup- count. The photo of the ernment to use violence by
marred by irregularities. swelled, a 16-year-old dem- porters to take to the streets gunman aiming at Guaido colectivos to intimidate its
The city's former mayor and onstrator was shot in the leg on March 10. was provided to The Asso- opponents," said Pantou-
opposition activist Alfredo and several others were "It's time to increase de- ciated Press by the opposi- las. "Every day the colec-
Ramos said the march- roughed up as the colec- cisively and without fear tion leader's team. tivos are feeling stronger
ers led by Guaidó were tivos harassed participants. the actions and pressure An opposition lawmaker inside the Maduro gov-
"ambushed"by about 200 "Courage and strength," on the tyranny headed by from the region, Daniel An- ernment. One day, the
colectivo members and Guaidó said in a conversa- Maduro," he said in a state- tequera, said the march situation could easily get
government security forces tion with the injured activist ment. through poor neighbor- out of hand and lead to
loyal to Maduro. that was videotaped by his There was no immediate hoods drew surprisingly bloodshed."q

El Salvador reconciliation law vetoed Protesting gender

over impunity fears violence, activists hold

By MARCOS ALEMÁN school buildings
Associated Press
SAN SALVADOR, El Sal- By MARIA VERZA The on-and-off occupa-
vador (AP) — President Associated Press tion, which began in Oc-
Nayib Bukele said Friday MEXICO CITY (AP) — An- tober, has disrupted class-
he has vetoed a nation- ger at increasing violence es, frustrating some other
al reconciliation bill ap- against woman — and at students. But they have
proved earlier this week seeing abusers go unpun- also won some conces-
by lawmakers, arguing ished — has led students sions from university ad-
that it would result in im- to take over at least 10 ministrators, who on Friday
punity for crimes against schools or departments at announced plans to get
humanity from El Salva- El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, accompanied by Latin America's largest uni- up special units to handle
dor’s 1980-1992 civil war. members of the armed forces, speaks to his supporters versity. complaints of gender vio-
In a news conference at outside Congress in San Salvador, El Salvador, Sunday, Feb. The young women oc- lence in each department
the presidential residence, 9, 2020. cupying the Department and to create a coordina-
Bukele said he would not Associated Press of Political and Social Sci- tor to oversee the issue.
support any measure that law beginning with its very unconstitutional and in ences at the National Au- Feminist slogans are spray
doesn’t contain three fun- name, because it is simply violation of international tonomous University have painted on the walls and
damental elements: truth, an amnesty to make pun- treaties and accords. blockaded the doors and the woman sleep on
justice and reparations. ishments for those who The law was backed by armed themselves with couches pulled from fac-
“This Special Law for Tran- committed war crimes go 44 deputies in the 84-seat metal bars against possible ulty offices. Well-wishers
sitional Justice, Repara- away,” Bukele said. Legislative Assembly. Elev- intruders. So far, however, have donated food —
tion and National Rec- He added that he consid- en voted against it and authorities have made no sandwiches, cookies, in-
onciliation is a fraud of a ers it “de facto impunity,” one deputy abstained.q move to oust them. stant soup.q