Venezuela: More demonstrations

Headlines:
The Taking of Venezuela: Thousands demand recall referendum to oust President MaduroA policeman died and at least 140 people were detained during protests which took place across the nation.

The protests follow last week’s suspension of a push to for a second referendum to remove Maduro, which would end 17 years of socialism in the South American OPEC nation. Maduro has accused the opposition of seeking a coup with US help and has vowed there will be no plebiscite on his rule.

Thousands Protest in Venezuela as President Calls Emergency Meeting. Residents in the grip of an economic crisis demand the right to recall Maduro; opposition urges nationwide strike

Many of the opposition’s top leaders also said they wouldn’t participate in coming talks with the government meant to defuse the political crisis. Those talks are scheduled for Sunday on the resort island of Margarita, with the Vatican serving as a mediator.

Blogs:
Daniel says The rebellion has started

Caracas Chronicles posted this tweet,
#26Oct Tachira: Shoot me because I’m hungry, a demonstrator told the GNB [Bolivarian National Guard] barricade at CNE [National Elections Headquarters]”

#26Oct Tachira "disparame porque tengo hambre le dije un manifestante a piquete de GNB en sede de CNE pic.twitter.com/ImztWwA68O – @Obeysser

— Reporte Ya (@ReporteYa) October 26, 2016

More tweets:

¡DE PUNTA A PUNTA!
Este, Oeste, Norte y Sur de Ccs se unen en la GRAN TOMA DE VENEZUELA… El Regimen tiembla #26Oct pic.twitter.com/kRc8iobDa8

— RESISTENCIA TÁCHIRA (@RETachira) October 26, 2016

Armed men in civilian clothes attacking demonstrators,

PARA EL MUNDO ENTERO! #Venezuela #26OCT
AQUI TIENEN LOS CIVILES ARMADOS X EL REGIMEN D nicolas REPRIMIENDO AL PUEBLO RT

@UN @marcorubio pic.twitter.com/627i9E8sIv

— F-22 Raptor (@F22Raptor_41) October 26, 2016

The demonstrations remind me of what Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau said in their book, The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed, about political demonstrations in France,

Demonstrations and protests are political forums in France. After the slaughters at Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper Cache grocery, 5 percent of France’s total population took to the street. North Americans, who don’t protest in the street nearly as much as the French do, interpret it as a sign of unrest, if not political chaos. In fact, it’s the opposite: if the French couldn’t protest, that would lead to political chaos.

In Venezuela’s case, the unarmed populace has near-zero odds of succeeding against the armed government.