WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 25 (DPI) — Comment boards linked to major US news sites are catching up on the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, where middle-class youth have taken to the streets to challenge the so-called Bolivarian Revolution founded by the late leader Hugo Chavez.

Much of the US press, preoccupied with events elsewhere, particularly in Ukraine and Syria, has treated the Venezuelan government’s crackdown on street protestors as something approaching a minor story.  In fact, developments in Caracas and other cities in Venezuela is seismic in its implications, not simply for the South American nation of 30 million but for the hemisphere as well.

Virtually no foreign press reports – yet – focus on a troubling development: That in all likelihood hundreds of Cubans help run the armed gangs that support the government on the streets.  Known as “Tupamaros” – inspired by left-wing guerrillas of the same name in Uruguay — “colectivos” and “motorizados” the armed groups operate with near impunity on the streets of Venezuelan cities. The groups are also linked to violent crimes that include robbery, kidnapping and murder.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/video_fotos/2014/02/140225_video_venezuela_voces_motorizados_dp.shtml

Major news firms in the US refrain from citing the role of Cuban nationals in the Venezuela violence – likely lacking first-hand evidence — but dozens of posters on news sites are saying it anyway. Moreover, the government of Chavez’s successor, former bus driver Nicolas Maduro, doesn’t deny the role of Cubans. From NYTimes.com:

I understand that it is your article and your vision of the facts but how could you possibly not mention the influence of the Cubans and Castro communism feeding all this violence against the students that are protesting to shut them up. Make no mistake this, all of it is being orchestrated by Castro to gain full control of Venezuelan oil and feed his sorry movement. in very little words THIS IS AN INVASION FROM CUBA.

Another post from NYTimes.com, of course unverifiable:

Well I am Venezuelan and I am getting my news first hand, from my relatives.

They are hiding in fear in their homes, unable to go to work, unable to get medicine, or go to the supermarket because their shelves are empty.

There is no free press. People are getting killed and the country has no future…..all the while armed Cuban military are walking the streets of Caracas, in uniform.

Among the highest recommended posts on NYTimes.com:

There is one word curiously missing from this entire article that is the linchpin of this entire problem. CUBA.

Venezuelas are sick of Cuba running their country. The Maduro government views ruling as an incidental task that they must do as they go about their real objective: elevating Cuba’s stature across the region. How else to explain a $5B oil subsidy that sustains Cuba? How else to explain why CELAC was held in Havana–the same city where it was decided who would replace Maduro?

The twin issues here are these: the government has all but abandoned the management of this country and people are fed up of the effects of that neglect. 56% inflation, 250,000 people dead in 15 years, empty supermarkets, no free press–give me a break—Americans would revolt for a lot less.

 

Have you been to Venezuela? I have, I’m originally from Venezuela, came to the States in 1981. When I lived there I played on the streets, went to the little store around the corner, never fearful of anything. When I lived there, my mom went to the supermarket and shelves were filled with food, not just one brand but all sorts of brands for everything. When I lived there my father used to buy the morning paper and the evening paper. Comedians made fun of politicians on tv with no fear of repression. I went back last year after a 10 year gap. This is what I saw, no food, long lines to buy coffee, bread, milk. No one dares to go out on the streets, unless they have to, after 9 pm streets are deserted. My mother’s car was stolen, a few hours later we received a called from the thugs asking for ransom. Bare in mind this is a car and the thugs had my mother’s cell phone number, scary. My cousin was kidnapped, for about 2 weeks we knew nothing of his whereabouts, today he has to pay every week so he isn’t kidnapped again, not to body guards but to the thugs that kidnapped him in the first place.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/americas/in-venezuela-middle-class-joins-protests.html?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/opinion/rash-repression-in-venezuela.html?hpw&rref=opinion