Page 12 - aruba-today-20170513

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 13 May 2017

Police block “March of the Grandparents” in Venezuela

embattled government of pez, previously secretary of
President Nicolas Maduro. health in the state of Ara-
Many of the elderly march- gua. Officials gave no rea-
ers said it made them an- son, though opposition fig-
gry to see a once prosper- ures alleged Caprole had
ous nation devolve into a been fired for releasing the
country with triple-digit in- data.
flation, shortages of basic At least 38 people have
necessities like food and killed in a wave of unrest
medicine and one of the that has followed a Su-
world’s highest homicide preme Court ruling strip-
rates. A report released by ping congress of its last
the Ministry of Health this powers, a decision it later
week underlined Venezu- reversed amidst a torrent
ela’s deteriorating public of international criticism.
health. According to the Most of those killed in pro-
study, 756 women died tests and overnight looting
while pregnant or shortly af- have been young men in
ter giving birth in 2016, a 66 their 20s and 30s.
percent increase over the Maduro has vowed to re-
previous year. The deaths solve the crisis by convok-
were caused by hemor- ing a special assembly to
Anti-government protesters call for the oust of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, rhages, high blood pres- rewrite the nation’s consti-
Friday, May 12, 2017. The protest billed as the “March of the Grandparents” comes on the heels of sure and infections. Cases tution, a proposition that
six weeks of political unrest that have left some three dozens killed. of infant mortality rose 30 has further infuriated the
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
percent. Health workers opposition.
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ manding elections Friday. yelled at the young officers have been warning about Some of those attending
Associated Press Lines of police officers standing shoulder-to-shoul- rises in infant and maternal Friday’s marches in cit-
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) blocked thousands of pro- der with plastic shields. deaths, but the data were ies around the nation said
— Elderly Venezuelans testers from advancing in The protest organized by the first official statistics to they have barely enough
frustrated with medical the capital city of Caracas. the country’s opposition be released publicly since food to eat. Others said
shortages and the flight of White-haired demonstra- coalition was billed as the 2012. Vice President Tareck they were marching for
grandchildren from their tors with raspy voices be- “March of the Grandpar- El Aissami announced late their children and grand-
troubled South American rated officers for not letting ents” and comes on the Thursday that Health Minis- children. One man with
country joined anti-gov- them through. heels of six weeks of dem- ter Antonieta Caprole was a full white beard wore a
ernment street protests de- “Respect the elderly!” one onstrations against the being replaced by Luis Lo- Santa Claus cap.
Protesters were trying to
make their way to the of-
Brazil: fice of the national om-
budsman, whose job is to
Temer celebrates first year, expressing optimism stand up for citizens’ rights
but who the opposition has
By MAURICIO SAVARESE in the path of growth. He approve his job perfor- dent Dilma Rousseff for tagged the “defender of
Associated Press promised to deliver labor, mance a year into office — breaking fiscal laws. the dictator.” Protesters
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — pension and tax overhauls four points below Rousseff’s “We are on the right track, have tried to reach the
Brazilian President Michel before his term ends in De- standing at the time she with a long recession com- office on several previous
Temer celebrated his first cember 2018. was suspended. ing to an end,” the em- marches but have been
year in office on Friday with Brazil’s economy has strug- If Temer ran for re-election battled president said. consistently pushed back
a discreet ceremony, ex- gled in recent years and is in 2018, 2 percent said they “We started preparing the with tear gas and rubber
pressing optimism about expected to grow by less would vote for him, ac- country for a new phase of bullets. “We are their fa-
the weak economy and than 1 percent this year. cording to the poll, which development.” thers and grandfathers and
vowing to push a series of Unemployment figures re- interviewed 2,781 people Temer said Brazil’s high un- we are going to get there,”
reforms through Congress leased last week showed April 26-27 and had a mar- employment figures are “a said Arnoldo Bentiez, an
despite job approval rat- joblessness up to 14 million gin of error of 2 percentage heritage of uncontrolled opposition lawmaker.
ings verging on nil. from 13 million. points. spending” and promised to Other elderly Venezu-
During a meeting with al- A recent Datafolha insti- The former vice president elans dressed in red to
lies, Temer praised lawmak- tute poll found 71 percent took over one year ago deliver “a restructured and support the government
ers for passing austerity bills of Brazilians reject Temer’s after congress impeached happy” country in his sec- marched to the presiden-
that he says will put Brazil reforms and only 9 percent and later convicted Presi- ond anniversary in office.q tial palace.q