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Summary of the Text:
Venezuela Under Maduro: Crackdown and Fear-Mongering
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been accused of escalating his crackdown on dissent following his disputed re-election. Protests erupted after the electoral authority announced his victory, leading to at least 24 deaths.
Crackdown and Fear-mongering:
- Over 2,200 people have been arrested in connection with the protests.
- A mobile application and a phone line were enabled to report “violent protesters” and “terrorists.”
- Citizens report widespread fear and intimidation, with authorities allegedly taking people out of their homes and erasing phone data.
Human Rights Abuses:
- Human rights groups denounce the mass arrests and arbitrary detentions, including of minors.
- The establishment of fear is seen as a tool of social control.
International Pressure:
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern about the “political violence and repression.”
- The UN Secretary-General also raised concerns.
“Tun Tun” Campaign:
- The government launched an operation to report protesters on social media, using the phrase “Tun Tun,” which refers to the sound of a door being knocked on by an authority figure.
- This action has been criticized as an attempt to silence dissent.