Face of the Venezuela crisis: Helicopter attacks, alleged coup and clash of powers

Face of the Venezuela crisis: Helicopter attacks, alleged coup and clash
of powers
By Alex Vasquez S.
Published June 30, 2017
Fox News

The political crisis in Venezuela intensified this week when President
Nicolas Maduro warned of an alleged "American intervention," a police
helicopter attacked the country's highest court with grenades and more
young people died in protests against the government.

But beyond those headlines this week is a country on the brink of collapse.

The socialist country is dealing with triple-digit inflation, political
turmoil, food and medicine shortages and worsening crime.

And the problems keep getting worse.

On Tuesday, Maduro asked for President Donald Trump to stop an alleged
plot by his government and the "Venezuelan right" to give him a "coup."

Hours later, a helicopter piloted by Oscar Perez, a cop and movie actor,
crossed the center of Caracas, where the government buildings are, with
a sign that said: "350 Freedom," a reference to the constitutional
article that justifies rebellion against governments that violate human
rights.

The government said the helicopter dropped four grenades on the Supreme
Court of Justice (TSJ) and fired against the Ministry of Interior and
Justice.

There was little damage to the buildings and no one was injured.

In a video he shared in his social networks, Perez claims to be part of
a coalition of military, police and civilians against the government.
The group is demanding Maduro's resignation.

The president, who called the incident a "terrorist attack", accused
Perez of working for the CIA and ordered his capture. Perez managed to
escape by boat.

But that was just the latest drama for a country in shambles.

Some say the bombings were a "plot" to allow the government to continue
cracking down on anti-government demonstrators. At least 79 people have
died the past three months during anti-Maduro protests because of the
government's brutal response.

"It's difficult to know if it's a plot. It's enigmatic. We'll have to
wait," political scientist Luis Salamanca told Fox News.

Others also think the government orchestrated the attack to try to make
a stronger case against Attorney General Luisa Ortega, a longtime
"chavista" who became a hard opponent of Maduro.

Ortega has launched a legal battle against the National Constituent
Assembly, which was recently created to rewrite the national charter.
She has asked the country's Supreme Court – which is controlled by the
government – to annul it for "violating participatory democracy."

She also requested the removal of 33 magistrates from the court,
asserting that she didn't authorize their selection, as required by law.

The high court has rejected her requests and on July 4 will decide
whether to prosecute her. On Friday, the United Nations criticized
Maduro's government for curtailing her power.

Meanwhile, the opposition continues almost daily protests, demanding the
departure of Maduro and rejecting the Constituent Assembly.

On Wednesday, when opponents of Maduro blocked streets across the
country, three more young men died during rioting.

"We will continue to protest against the constitutional fraud," said
Congressman Juan Guaido, who was wounded with rubber bullets in the back
on Wednesday.

The conflict seems to have no end in sight.

Military expert Ricardo Sucre believes that the helicopter's attack
shows that political tensions are escalating.

"It seems that resolution by the institutional route is not possible and
the possibility of unexpected acts of violence is high," he told Fox News.

However, he discards a military uprising: "The Armed Force is cohesive
around the government."

Alex Vasquez is a freelance reporter living in Caracas, Venezuela.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06/30/face-venezuela-crisis-helicopter-attacks-alleged-coup-and-clash-powers.html