PROVEA calls on State to defend rallies and opposition to show responsibility

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, June 08, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan human rights PROVEA laments recent outbreaks of political violence typified in the opposition "Assault on Catia" two weeks ago and calls on the State to guarantee public security of demonstrations. 

The organization summarizes the results of the opposition-called protest in Catia, confirming one death, 28 injuries (20 due to firearms, 6 hit with heavy objects and the rest with minor injuries), defends the right of political fractions to undertake pacific political party activities and insists that the State has the duty to ensure that participants in a protest are protected from violence. 

However, the group also calls on political parties to act responsibly when convoking rallies and marches and to ask a basic question whether they are contributing or not towards creating an environment of tolerance and peace. 

"We reject the insistence of political sectors in calling marches without coordinating with the respective authorities .... the right to protest implies responsibility on the part of people those who convoked the rallies."