Violent protests and police restraint characterizes street battles in Venezuela writes first-hand observer

By Antoine SteMarie, from Caracas
Special to Rebel Youth

This is the second article we have run from Antoine SteMarie, who is currently on the ground in Venezuela. Antoine wanted to also share this article by Venezuela Analysis about the violence of the anti-government protesters. Antoine believes the corporate media is spreading considerable mis-information about Venezuela today, especially when it says the anti-government protests peaceful and being violently repressed by the state. Last month the Harper Conservatives, Liberals, Bloc and Green Members of Parliament all supported a motion of support to the "peaceful protesters" in Venezuela, condemning the government. You can read Antoine's first article here, where he talks about the situation in Venezuela outside of the capital region.  

Venezuela -- the only country in the world where the rich are barricading their own communities and obstructing traffic!

Venezuelanalysis.com has said that protests are occurring in no more than just 18 municipalities of the country, out of well over three hundred municipalities. From my experience in Caracas and Valencia it is also true that they are almost only happening in rich and middle-class neighborhoods -- but certainly not in the poorer areas.

A first-hand account from Venezuela

A pro-government counter-demo. Venezuela has been
hit by many anti-Chavez actions recently

By Antoine St. Marie
Special to Rebel Youth

I am currently in a remote area of Venezuela and have been for the last week and a half. It is somewhat difficult to imagine all these events going on outside of the towns of San Simon and Pregonero, where I am based. Here people say these are the biggest protests since the 2002 CIA-backed coup against the government of then leader Hugo Chavez.

Originally the centers of the protests were San Cristobal (Tachira state) and Merida (Merida state). I was in San Cristobal when they started and I rather unexpectedly happened to stumble (almost literally) across what may have been the very first of these protests.  A group of opposition members were throwing rocks at the house of the state Governor, who is with the PSUV (or Socialist Party founded by Chavez). There was a small security force inside the walls of the house which was not responding to the attack; so unprovoked violence played a part right from the beginning.

Peace, love and the need for theory

Antoine SteMarie,
Guest commentary

A recent discussion with friends over facebook had me thinking about why we should consider theory important for the direction of social movements and activism. Here are just a few thoughts.

First of all, theorists and their theories are not simply some separate intellectual strata of people whose ideas have little bearing on the state of the world; at least, not substantial theorists. Theory is an attempt to understand the world.

That's not to deny that a good theory also needs to be easily digestible. Theoretical ideas need to be put in as accessible a format as possible.

Needless to say, a good understanding of the world is required for effective action. It is the same as a doctor requiring real understanding of the body to give an accurate diagnosis and thus a cure. Just taking any theory won't achieve the desired result.