Thread: Venezuelan troops, prison inmates in standoff over weapons

Venezuelan troops, prison inmates in standoff over weapons

By the CNN Wire Staff
June 18, 2011 3:50 p.m. EDT

Caracas, Venezuela (CNN) -- A standoff was brewing at a Venezuelan prison complex Saturday where armed prisoners were refusing to negotiate with the government, which was prepared to send troops in to disarm the place.

Two Venezuelan national guardsmen and one prisoner were killed as authorities worked to re-establish control at the Rodeo I and Rodeo II prisons in the northern state of Miranda, officials said.

After speaking with prisoners, Venezuelan Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said the leaders inside remained hostile and refused a government intervention, the state-run AVN news agency reported.

Of the 1,000 prisoners housed inside Rodeo II, it was a group of 50 who were causing problems, he said.

El Aissami called for dialogue, but said the prison would be disarmed, one way or another.

"Our actions will never be to violate the human rights of the prisoners, they always are to safeguard lives and peace," he said.

Already from Rodeo I, authorities had seized seven rifles, five shotguns, three carbines, one submachine gun, 20 hand guns and four revolvers, National Guard Gen. Luis Motta Dominguez said, according to AVN. They also found 91 clips and eight hand grenades.

The troops recovered more than weapons from Rodeo I. Motta Dominguez said 45 kilos (99 pounds) of cocaine, 12 kilos (26 pounds) of marijuana and 100 cell phones were also seized.

The operation comes a week after 22 people were killed as a result of a riot in Rodeo I.

Shooting could be heard outside the Rodeo I after nearly 5,000 forces, including the guardsmen, were ordered by the government to enter the prisons to clear it of weapons Friday.

Family members of inmates gathered outside the prison complex and feared the worst as blasts could be heard from inside Rodeo I Friday.

"How many dead will emerge? Until when?" said Ely Davila. "Listen! Those are not fireworks. They are shooting, and they are not shooting at each other. That is the National Guard."

But authorities repeatedly said that the rights of the prisoners was being protected, and as of Saturday there was only one inmate death reported.

"We reiterate our call to the families of the prisoners to understand that this operation is not to massacre their relatives but to save their lives," Vice President Elias Jaua said.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/ ... gletoolbar

18 June 2011 Last updated at 18:06 ET

Reinforcements sent after Venezuelan prison stand-off

The Venezuelan authorities say they will resume a major operation aimed at regaining control of a prison near the capital, Caracas.

An extra 400 troops have been drafted in, after more than 3,500 National Guards were unable to take full control of El Rodeo prison on Friday.

This follows a riot last Sunday between rival gangs in which more than 20 inmates were killed.

Attempts to negotiate a peaceful resolution have so far failed.

On Friday, the government announced that its forces had re-taken all of the part of the prison called Rodeo I, accounting for some three-quarters of all inmates.

Two members of the security forces were killed, and at least another 18 injured on Friday.

It is not clear how many casualties there have been among prisoners.

'Fake' death photos

The authorities say one inmate was killed on Friday, and have said photos circulating on social media sites showing more casualties were "fake".

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Their attitude continues to be the same: hostileâ€

19 June 2011 Last updated at 19:44 ET

Venezuela prison stand-off: El Rodeo inmates moved

Officials say most of the prison is back under their control

The Venezuelan authorities have transferred 2,500 prisoners from a jail near Caracas as they seek to reassert control there.

On Friday, troops took over most of El Rodeo jail in Guatire, after a riot between rival gangs of prisoners a week ago left some 20 people dead.

But a stand-off continues in one prison wing, after attempts to negotiate with a group of armed inmates failed.

The interior minister said some 50 prisoners were refusing to disarm.

In the meantime, the authorities have sought to deal with the prisoners from the part of El Rodeo they already control.

In the early morning of Sunday, they began transferring some 2,500 inmates by bus to a number of other prisons in the country.

They planned to move the remaining 1,000 inmates later in the day.

Officials say the measure is temporary, designed to protect the fundamental rights of the prisoners.

Many of the inmates' relatives, however, remain highly anxious about a situation that is still very volatile.

Two members of the security forces and at least one prisoner were killed in clashes inside the jail when the security operation started on Friday.

Hundreds of relatives have gathered outside the jail, where they have clashed with security forces in recent days.

Some of them watched with great alarm as a fire broke out in part of the prison before dawn on Sunday.

The Venezuelan authorities denied that they had started the fire deliberately.

A senior government official, Nestor Reverol, said the blaze - which has since been put out - had been caused by an electrical short circuit and that no-one had been hurt.

Waiting game

Attempts to end the stand-off inside part of El Rodeo have so far failed.

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We'll last out for as long as it takesâ€