2017 Venezuelan National Assembly attack

2017 Venezuelan National Assembly attack
Part of 2017 Venezuelan protests and 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis

The location of the attack, the Palacio Federal Legislativo
2017 Venezuelan National Assembly attack (Caracas)
2017 Venezuelan National Assembly attack (Venezuela)
Location Caracas, Venezuela
Coordinates 10°30′18″N 66°54′57″W / 10.50500°N 66.91583°W / 10.50500; -66.91583Coordinates: 10°30′18″N 66°54′57″W / 10.50500°N 66.91583°W / 10.50500; -66.91583
Date 5 July 2017 (VST)
Target National Assembly
Weapons
Deaths 0
Non-fatal injuries
 12[1]
Assailants Hundreds of colectivos and pro-government civilians[1]

On 5 July 2017, colectivos and supporters of President Nicolás Maduro stormed the Palacio Federal Legislativo on the Independence Day of Venezuela, assaulting many members of the opposition-led National Assembly.[2] At least 12 opposition legislators and their staff were injured as a result of the attack.[1]

Series of events

Ceremony

The day began with the National Assembly attempting to commemorate the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence.[2] At approximately 8:20am VST, Vice President Tareck El Aissami, Interior Minister Néstor Reverol and Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino López unexpectedly arrived at the Palacio Federal Legislativo with government supporters dressed in red, interrupting the days events.[3] El Aissami delivered a speech calling on supporters to march to the Palacio Federal Legislativo and "to forge independence in the streets".[4]

“ We are in the facilities of a state power that has been kidnapped by the same oligarchy that betrayed Bolívar and his cause ... I invite the people ... to come ... to the hemicycle and assume a proclamation to lead the future of the country ”
— Vice President, Tareck El Aissami, [4]

After speaking for over fifteen minutes and calling for supporters to march to the palace, El Aissami left the area with his entourage.[3]

Attack

By 9:18am VST, a calm had returned to the National Assembly as the lawmakers retreated into the Palacio Federal Legislativo.[2][5] Speaker of the National Assembly, Julio Borges, spoke a half hour later calling for the Venezuelan armed forces to protect the will of the Venezuelan people and not that of a political party.[6]

Government supporters began to congregate at the entrances of the Palacio Federal Legislativo at about 10:40am VST[7] and at 11:45am VST, National Guardsmen stationed at the legislative palace allowed the crowds to enter the National Assembly facility.[1][2]

Hundreds of people belonging to colectivos and pro-government groups then stormed the National Assembly armed with pipes, firearms and fireworks, proceeding to fire guns and tear gas throughout the area.[1][2] By 1:30pm VST, colectivos were inside of the legislative palace assaulting individuals without any intervention from the National Guard.[8] Some legislators made futile attempts to defend themselves from the government groups with fire extinguishers,[1] Opposition lawmakers were beaten with objects and while some were attacked while lying defenseless on the ground.[2] After hours of brawling occurred and many opposition officials were beaten, the National Guard finally withdrew pro-government groups from the facility.[1]

Following the attack, the walls and floors of the Palacio Federal Legislativo were left stained with the blood of opposition lawmakers.[9] However, government supporters remained outside of the Palacio Federal Legislativo for hours, assaulting legislators as they left with the National Guard showing indifference to the pro-government attacks.[10] By 7:10pm, authorities began to escort lawmakers to their vehicles and within twenty minutes, 90% of legislators were evacuated from the area, though journalists and photographers had to escape by their own will under a hail of bottles, fireworks and stones.[11] As a result of the attack, at least 12 opposition officials and their staff were reported to be injured.[1]

Aftermath

Shortage of medical supplies

Following the attack, individuals injured could not receive treatment due to the shortage of medical supplies in the country and because the Bolivarian government prohibited the National Assembly from having proper medical insurance. Many asked for donations of gauze, bandages, antibiotics, antiseptics, IV solutions and painkillers.[12]

Response

Domestic

President Nicolás Maduro condemned the attack, describing it as a "strange event" and called for an investigation[13] while National Assembly speaker Julio Borges described Maduro's remarks as "hypocritical", stating that "it was their armed groups that assaulted and attacked us".[14]

International response

Governments

The governments of Mexico[15] and Panama[16] condemned the assault on the National Assembly.

Supranational bodies

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights[17] and the United Nations condemned the attack.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Colectivos chavistas atacan Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela; al menos 12 heridos". El Nuevo Herald (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Colectivos irrumpieron y atacaron a diputados en la Asamblea Nacional". El Nacional (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  3. 1 2 "El Gobierno le arrebata a la AN la apertura del Acta de la Independencia #5Jul". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 "El Aissami desde la AN: Estamos en las instalaciones de un Poder que ha sido secuestrado por la “oligarquía”". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Luis Florido: Vuelve la calma al Palacio Federal Legislativo #5Jul (Video)". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Julio Borges: Venezuela clama por la liberación de la conciencia dentro de la FANB (Video)". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Oficialistas pretenden dejar encerrados a diputados dentro de la AN (Video)". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "AN denuncia que Guardia Nacional no intenta resolver situación de secuestro en el Palacio Legislativo #5Jul". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Así quedaron las paredes del Palacio Legislativo tras asalto violento de oficialistas (Fotos)". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Paramilitares y oficialistas agreden a trabajadores que intentaban salir de la AN". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "Golpes, robos y amenazas con armas: La odisea que vivieron los secuestrados de la AN (Fotos)". La Patilla. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Trabajadores de la AN heridos el 5 de julio requieren medicamentos y otras donaciones". La Patilla (in Spanish). 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "Como “hechos extraños” califica Maduro el asalto al Palacio Legislativo (Video)". La Patilla. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Julio Borges: Gobierno rechaza con total hipocresía los actos violentos en la AN". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "México condena la violencia ocurrida en la Asamblea Nacional (+Comunicado)". La Patilla (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Panamá condena violencia en la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela (Comunicado)". La Patilla. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "CIDH condena graves hechos de violencia en la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela". La Patilla (in Spanish). 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  18. ↑ "ONU condena asalto al Parlamento venezolano y pide investigación imparcial". La Patilla. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
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