Helicopter attack against Venezuela’s Supreme Court – Assailant claimes constitutional right to resist


nsnbc : An attack against Venezuela’s Supreme Court, was carried out and led by Oscar Alberto Perez, a member of Venezuela’s forensic police (CICPC) using a police helicopter. Grenades were thrown into the Court during a social event and shots were fired. No one was injured, and the helicopter has not yet been discovered. Perez justified his action citing the constitutional right to resist.

Article 350 of Venezuela's Constitution guarantees the right to resist any government that violates democratic principles or human rights.(@ProtestasVenezuela)

Article 350 of Venezuela’s Constitution guarantees the right to resist any government that violates democratic principles or human rights.(@ProtestasVenezuela)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has, not surprisingly, denounced the incident on Tuesday afternoon in the capital Caracas as a terrorist attack without commenting on the constitutionally guaranteed right to resist. The President noted that the attack was perpetrated by a member of the Venezuelan forensic police CICPC, who was piloting a stolen police helicopter.

The assailant, identified as Oscar Alberto Perez, reportedly circled the Supreme Court, opening fire and dropping about four hand grenades. Maduro also claimed that the incident coincided with a “social function” at the Court and that “dozens could have been dead or injured”. Maduro did not elaborate on the details of this “social function”.

Fire from the helicopter was also opened on nearby offices of the Ministry of Justice. No injuries were reported from this incident either.  The helicopter, reportedly a Airbus Bölkow 105 that was stolen from the La Carlota Air Force Base in eastern Caracas has not yet been discovered.

Photos from the incident show the helicopter sporting a banner with the text “350 Liberty”.  The banner is a reference to Article 350 of Venezuela’s Constitution that guarantees the right to resist “any regime that infringes on democratic values of human rights”.

Oscar Alberto Perez

Oscar Alberto Perez

Coinciding with the attack, a series of videos were posted to Perez’ Instagram account, showing him, dressed in police uniform and accompanied by other, masked men wearing military uniforms and carrying automatic weapons, reading out a statement. (See videos HERE)

Perez explained, among others “We are a coalition between military functionaries, police functionaries, and civilians in search of harmony and against this criminal and transitory government”. Perez also demanded the immediate resignation of President Nicolas Maduro and the convening of general elections.

Maduro, for his part, encouraged the Roundtable of Democratic Unity coalition to condemn the “violent act”. The MUD has won an absolute majority in Venezuela’s last parliamentary elections. However, the socialist PSUV administration – including the PSUV dominated Supreme Court have since then suspended the National Assembly, while the Supreme Court has taken over – some say usurped – the functions of the legislative branch, claiming the parliament is in contempt.

CH/L – nsnbc 28.06.2017



Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/06/28/helicopter-attack-against-venezuelas-supreme-court-assailant-claimes-constitutional-right-to-resist/

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