Venezuelan Authorities Arrest Opposition Leader [View All]

[steven johnson]

Source: New York Times

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan authorities have arrested an opposition leader for alleged violence during a protest.

Venezuela's state-run Bolivarian News Agency says a local court ordered the arrest of Caracas official Richard Blanco.

Authorities detained Blanco for allegedly injuring a police officer during a demonstration a week ago, the agency said Saturday. The march was one of many protests over a new education law critics say could lead to political indoctrination in schools.

Attorney General Luisa Ortega has said she will ask prosecutors to crack down on unruly protesters who she says are trying to destabilize President Hugo Chavez's government.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/29/world/AP-LT-Venezuela-Protest-Crackdowns.html

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Now Venezuela is criminalizing social protest.

Attorney General Luisa Ortega warned that demonstrators who disturb "tranquility and the public peace" could be charged with "civil rebellion."

Here comes the police state. We wouldn't want to disturb Chavezs' peace and tranquility, would we?