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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 2 May 2017

Venezuela’s Maduro calls for new constitution amid crisis

HANNAH DREIER give itself the power to pick
Associated Press a majority of delegates to a
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) constitutional convention.
— Venezuela’s increasingly Maduro could then use the
embattled president called writing of a new constitu-
Monday for a new constitu- tion as an excuse to put off
tion as an intensifying pro- regional elections sched-
test movement entered a uled for this year and presi-
second month with clashes dential elections that were
between police and anti- to be held in 2018, political
government demonstra- analyst Luis Vicente Leon
tors. said.
After hundreds of thou- Polling has suggested the
sands took to the streets socialists would lose both
again to call for his ouster, those elections badly.
President Nicolas Maduro Opposition leaders have
announced that he was pledged to put top govern-
calling for a citizens assem-
bly and a new constitution ment officials in jail if they
for the economically flailing win power.
South American nation. He If the constitutional process
said the move was needed goes forward, opposition
to restore peace and stop leaders will need to focus Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, left, takes part in anti-government protests in Caracas, Ven-
his political opponents from on getting at least some ezuela. Police and demonstrators clashed in the streets of Venezuela’s capital Monday as an
trying to carry out a coup. sympathetic figures includ- intensifying protest movement opposing the socialist government entered its second month.
Opposition leaders imme- ed in the citizens assembly. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
diately objected, charging That could distract them possibility of elections this in downtown Caracas, Olivares was hit in the head
that Maduro was seeking from the drumbeat of near year and probably next but police blocked their with a tear gas canister and
to further erode Venezu- daily street protests that year as well.” path — just as authorities was led away with blood
ela’s constitutional order. they have managed to The constitution was last re- have done more than a streaming down his face.
Maduro was expected keep up for weeks. written in 1999, early in the dozen times in four weeks Some demonstrators threw
to later give more details “It’s a way of calling elec- 14-year presidency of the of near-daily protests. Of- stones and gasoline bombs
about his plan, which is tions that uses up energy late Hugo Chavez, who be- ficers launched tear gas and dragged trash into the
likely to ratchet up tensions but does not carry risk, be- gan Venezuela’s socialist and chased people away streets to make barricades.
even more in a country al- cause it’s not a universal, transformation. from main thoroughfares as A separate government-
ready on edge. direct and secret vote,” Earlier Monday, anti-Madu- the peaceful march turned sponsored march celebrat-
Many people expect the Leon said. “And it has the ro protesters tried to march into chaos. ing May Day went off with-
socialist administration to effect of pushing out the on government buildings Opposition lawmaker Jose out incident in the city. q

Aussie’s arrest in Colombia aims light on foreign drug mules

JOSHUA GOODMAN in 18 different packages fund her defense. eling to South America to says exactly the same
Associated Press stashed in her luggage. The “Our hearts break, be- buy headphones for her thing,” said Triana, who
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) 22-year-old was preparing cause we know she is in- upcoming wedding party. added that many foreign-
— The family of an Austra- to board a flight to London nocent, but stands little The merchandise was pur- ers are lured by false prom-
lian woman arrested in Co- on her way back to Austra- chance of proving it in such chased from a contact in ises of fast fortunes. “But
lombia for trying to board lia. a corrupt country,” her sis- a pre-wrapped package, they know what they’re
a flight with almost 6 kilo- Her family contends she ter Khala Sainsbury said in her sister said. doing.”
grams of cocaine is mount- was set up, but Colombian an online post. Sainsbury Lt. Col. Jorge Triana, head Colombia is the world’s
ing a campaign to defend police said her arrest was said her sister, a personal of the antinarcotics police largest producer of co-
her against what they con- undistinguishable from a trainer and volunteer fire- at Bogota’s international caine and its police among
sider trumped-up charges. growing number of drug fighter, was in Colombia airport, said Sainsbury’s the best-trained to detect
Cassandra Sainsbury was cases involving foreigners. on a working holiday. She claims that she was de- and stop drug smuggling
arrested April 12 at Bogo- The case has garnered me- told The Australian newspa- ceived are probably untrue thanks in part to billions of
ta’s international airport dia attention in Australia per that while in Colombia, and in any case don’t ex- dollars in U.S. anti-narcotics
after an X-ray machine de- and her family has raised her sister went with a male cuse her actions. aid that has strengthened
tected the cocaine hidden almost $2,000 online to friend she met before trav- “Everyone who is caught law enforcement. q