Advertisement

Hugo Chavez's childhood home burned in Venezuelan violence

By Andrew V. Pestano
Venezuela's Barinas state saw widespread violence on Monday in which people set fire to late former President Hugo Chavez's childhood home and the regional headquarters of the National Electoral Council. Photo by Miguel Gutiérrez/EPA
Venezuela's Barinas state saw widespread violence on Monday in which people set fire to late former President Hugo Chavez's childhood home and the regional headquarters of the National Electoral Council. Photo by Miguel Gutiérrez/EPA

May 23 (UPI) -- Venezuela's Barinas state saw an outbreak of violence in which demonstrators set late former President Hugo Chavez's childhood home on fire following the killing of a 19-year-old protester, an opposition politician said.

Local opposition politician Pedro Luis Castillo said Chavez's childhood home in the Sabaneta neighborhood was set ablaze on Monday following the death of Yorman Bervecia, who was shot in the chest in the city of Barinas. Some residents accuse Venezuelan security forces of carrying out the killing.

Advertisement

Another protester, 22-year-old Adonis Pérez, was shot in the back by a hooded gunman in Barinas on Monday amid protests, opposition politician Ramon Valero said. The bullet punctured Pérez's lung.

El Nacional reported more than 100 people were injured in the protests. The protests began early Monday when demonstrators blocked main roads in and out of Barinas but were later met by hooded agitators and "colectivos," or "collectives" -- a term used to describe civilian pro-government groups, some which have taken up arms against the political opposition.

Widespread vandalism and looting of businesses followed, though it is unclear what damage was done by anti-government protesters or pro-government supporters. In Sabaneta, which is in Barinas' Alberto Arvelo Torrealba municipality, demonstrators burned Simoncito Mamá Rosa -- the home of Chavez's grandmother where the late leader lived decades ago.

Advertisement

RELATED U.N. Security Council meets over Venezuela at request of U.S.

In Barinas, people burned the regional headquarters of the National Electoral Council, the office of the Autonomous Housing Institute of Barinas, the office of the Secretariat of Education as well as the regional headquarters of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela -- the ruling party to which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro belongs.

Local reports indicate more than 200 businesses were looted, including supermarkets and the popular Arturo's fried chicken fast-food restaurant. Police equipment such as firearms and uniforms were also stolen.

More than 50 people have died in nearly two months of nearly daily protests in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government and the opposition accuse one another of being responsible for the chaos.

Though there have been some demonstrations in support of Maduro's regime, most are anti-government demonstrations decrying the country's economic collapse under Maduro's government and what the opposition says is the deterioration of democracy and the violent repression of peaceful protesters at the hands of Venezuelan security forces.

Latest Headlines