Women march against Maduro government in Venezuela

By Maria Paz Salas

SANTIAGO, Chile (AA) - Hundreds of women on Saturday held marches across Venezuela to protest the government of embattled President Nicolas Maduro.

In the capital of Caracas, the “Women´s March Against Repression” was led by Lilian Tintori, the wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, as demonstrators carried flowers, banners and chanted: “Who are we? Venezuela! What do we want? Freedom!”

Dressed in white t-shirts, the women sang the national anthem and denounced Maduro´s administration that is currently facing social, political and economic crises.

An extended period of low crude prices have severely strained the agenda of the socialist government as Venezuelans struggle with scarcities of staple food and medial supplies.

Demonstrators on Saturday said they opposed the tactics by security forces that have for weeks used tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators.

Supporters and opponents of the government have violently clashed for more than a month. At least 36 people have been killed and hundreds injured since a new wave of demonstrations began after a decision by the High Court of Justice that tried to assume the powers of the parliament that is controlled by the opposition.

Although the police and the National Guard prevented demonstrators from reaching the Interior Ministry, no violence was reported.

During the march, local media broadcast a video of demonstrators on Friday toppling a statue of the late President Hugo Chávez in the western state of Zulia.

Protests gained new steam this week after Maduro said he would draft a new Constitution to replace the one implemented by Chavez in 1999. Demonstrators are demanding elections and the release of more than 100 political prisoners, and blame the country’s woes on corruption and mismanagement by the Maduro government.

The U.S. administration of Donald Trump has threatened to impose additional sanctions on Venezuelan officials if the situation does not improve.

In February, the U.S. sanctioned Vice President Tareck El Aissami on charges he is a major narcotics trafficker.

America’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley said Saturday that Maduro´s "disregard for the fundamental rights of his own people has heightened the political and economic crisis in the country”.

Maduro has blamed Venezuela’s current crisis on meddling by Washington and its regional allies.