Venezuela’s hardline protesters learn from other demonstrations
After three weeks of clashes, anti-government demonstrators say lessons learned from Ukraine and Egypt have helped them hone their skills
Venezuelan protesters ripped a dead tree from a vacant lot and dragged it down the street to rebuild a barricade in a Caracas neighbourhood that has become an epicentre of unrest.
Others in masks grabbed shields made out of aluminium siding or television satellite dishes, ready for another night of throwing rocks and firebombs at riot police who lob tear gas or fire buckshot.
After three weeks of clashes, hardline anti-government protesters say they honed their skills through battle experience, lessons from comrades in another opposition bastion and by watching internet videos of clashes in places such as Ukraine and Egypt.
This battle-hardened group, which has numbered in the hundreds on some nights, has ignored calls by opposition leaders to keep protests against President Nicolas Maduro peaceful.
“We have everything except guns. ... We learned how to make shields by looking at other protests online."
They use giant slingshots to fling rocks. They try to burst motorcycle tyres by throwing miguelitos – rubber hoses spiked with nails.