Fault Lines

Venezuela divided

Fault Lines travels to Caracas to find out what is really going on in the streets of a deeply polarised nation.

A year after President Hugo Chavez’s death, Venezuela is in turmoil and more polarised than ever.

We are not able to obtain milk, or sugar, or oil when we need in any supermarket. It's true that we are losing quality of life.

by Luis Vicente Leon, pollster and political analyst

In February 2014, one wing of the country’s opposition erected barricades in the streets and fought battles with security forces in an effort to force Chavezs successor, Nicolas Maduro, from power.

On the other side of the political divide, government supporters have vowed they would do whatever it takes to protect Chavez’s so-called ‘Bolivarian revolution’.

More than 40 people on both sides have been killed in the violence and more than 3,000 were detained.

Venezuelan and international human rights organisations are mounting a case against the Maduro government, alleging systemic abuses by security forces – and by pro-government groups known as colectivos.

As the US Congress debates whether to sanction Venezuelan government officials, Fault Lines travels to Caracas and asks: Is the country in the midst of an authoritarian crackdown, or a clash between people with radically different visions for the future of their country?

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Fault Lines can be seen on Al Jazeera English each week at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2230; Wednesday: 0930; Thursday: 0330; Friday: 1630. 

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