Violence in Venezuela

[naaman fletcher]

The International Crisis Group recently released a report exploring the complex criminal activity and widespread violence in Venezuela. While media coverage surrounding Venezuela tends to focus on oil, President Hugo Chavez and censorship, this article describes the issue of organised crime and violence in the country. The report opens a dialogue on the current state of Venezuela and what role Chavez played in bringing the country to its current state.

According to the study, a person is murdered in Venezuela every half hour due to gang and drug related violence. It goes on to say that international organised crime filters in through the borders from Colombia leading to greater kidnappings, drug trafficking and homicides. With armed paramilitaries, opposition groups, gangs, drug organisations, and a corrupt police force so intertwined, the think tank says a simple resolution is unlikely.Although the report is critical of Chavez, it recognises that there were factors beyond his control that lead to the current situation when he took power in 1999.

http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/violence-venezuela