VenEconomy: Pay Heed to Venezuelans, Maduro! From the Editors of VenEconomy Latin American Herald Tribune March 18, 2014
It would be good for the government of Nicolás Maduro if it paid heed to what Venezuelans have to say, not only during the recent mass demonstrations but through many opinion polls carried out by independent companies, rather than intensifying the repression against innocent protesters and militarizing several areas of the country.
This is the case of the latest national survey carried out by the polling company Datos from Jan. 26-Feb. 2, a few days before the student protests had started (Feb. 5). This survey contains many data of interest, which is worth taking a look at.
For example, with regard to the much-discussed issue of whether or not it is time to find an exit to the ongoing social conflict through dialogue, 87% of respondents definitely said yes to this. An obvious result in a country with a population that has lived most of its life in democracy, cares about a healthy coexistence between the heterogeneity of creeds, races and social classes, and has respect for political and civil freedoms.
Only 13% of respondents don’t believe in dialogue as a way out. Perhaps these are the people encouraging Maduro to an unprecedented repression as never seen over the last 80 years of Venezuelan history? Because, as last month’s events have shown, the only ones seemed prepared for war are Maduro, Diosdado Cabello (the head of Congress) and the Castro brothers from Cuba, who, according to respondents, share the power: Only slightly over a third of respondents picked Nicolás Maduro as the person in command (36.6%), followed by Cabello (18.9%) and the Castro brothers (12.5%). And only 9.1% of them believe it is the own people who have the power.
One can also tell that respondents are clear in that dialogue should not be used to impose the will of those who have the monopoly on the use of weapons today: 87% of them believe that the Government should rectify its country management policies.
Another interesting fact about this opinion poll is that 83% of respondents believe the “colectivos” paramilitary groups from the Government should be disarmed at once; this rate probably went up over the last six weeks after these groups were made co-responsible for the deaths of at least 30 Venezuelans and injuring hundreds of them.
It is also interesting to review who is credited for the problems that plague most of the citizens, which in the end have been the cornerstone of the mass protests across the national territory: 1) The high cost of living and the economic crisis: 51.6% believes Maduro should be held responsible for this, while only 6.6% said is the private sector and a scant 2.0% blamed previous governments. 2) Personal insecurity and crime: 50.1% said Maduro is to blame, while 1.6% still believes it is the fault of last century governments. Two other topics of interest such as the lack of foreign currency to bring goods into the country and shortages of products, Maduro holds full responsibility.
Another fact that should be taken into account by Maduro so he can change his arrogant attitude in not yielding to the demands of millions and millions of citizens is that 64% of respondents lean towards seeking constitutional ways to end his government, and this figure includes people who support the Government in some way.
And it was made clear by a vast majority of Venezuelans that the political model prevailing in Venezuela is a dictatorship.
So please Mr. Maduro, lay down your guns, pay heed to citizens, restore the Rule of Law and Justice and give back the country its longed-for democracy and peace.
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