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OPPONENTS OF VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro claimed to have mobilized a million demonstrators last night in the biggest rally in decades, vowing weekly mass protests to demand a referendum on ousting him from power.
Police deployed in their hundreds to keep anti-government protesters angry at food and medicine shortages apart from Maduro’s supporters, who vowed to defend his “socialist revolution”.
The rallies raised fears of violence in the oil-rich South American state, where anti-government protests in 2014 led to clashes with police that left 43 people dead.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable, Jesus Torrealba, told AFP it was the “biggest rally in recent decades” with “between 950,000 and 1.1 million people” taking part.
Demonstrators dressed in white marched in the east of the capital, yelling “Venezuela is hungry” and “This government is going to fall”.
“We either come out to march or we will die of hunger. We are no longer afraid of the government,” said one demonstrator, Ana Gonzalez, 53.
The rallies come at a highly volatile time for Venezuela, where a plunge in prices for oil exports has led to shortages, violent crime and outbreaks of looting.
“This is a historic march. Today begins a definitive stage in this struggle,” Torrealba said.
‘People’ for Maduro
Thousands of Maduro supporters in red T-shirts and caps meanwhile rallied in the central Plaza Bolivar yelling to their leader:
The people are with you.
Maduro estimated his supporters’ turnout at up to 30,000.
“Today we have defeated a coup d’etat,” he told the crowd.
The opposition blames Maduro for the economic crisis and wants a referendum on removing him from power. He has branded the effort a right-wing “coup”.
“We are here at the call of our president, to defend the revolution,” said 37-year-old housewife Carolina Aponte at the pro-government rally.
The authorities arrested three opposition leaders in the days ahead of the march. Senior opposition figure Henrique Capriles said yesterday that two mayors had also been arrested.
Thursday’s marches remained mostly peaceful, finishing in the mid-afternoon, but isolated clashes between demonstrators and security officers did occur, with some violent incidents reported in other cities.
After the protest, state security agents fired tear gas against protesters who tried to block the main highway of the city after a group of masked men threw stones at some officers.
Opposition leaders and human rights organizations also reported outbreaks of violence in Maracay and San Cristobal.
The MUD said in a statement it would hold two further nationwide demonstrations: at electoral offices on 7 September, and a “national mobilization day” on 14 September.
Referendum drive
The referendum’s timing lies at the heart of the battle.
If it takes place before 10 January and Maduro loses, new elections must be held. If he loses in a recall after that date, he would simply hand power to his hand-picked vice president.
Maduro said yesterday he had prepared a decree to strip lawmakers in the National Assembly of their immunity. He accused the opposition speaker of the legislature, Henry Ramos Allup, of inciting violence.
The opposition “cannot be intimidated,” Ramos retorted.
“President Maduro, look at all these people who have poured into the streets of Caracas,” he said.
The polling firm Venebarometro says 64% of the electorate would vote against Maduro. A study by another pollster, Datanalisis, indicated eight out of 10 Venezuelans want a change of government.
Maduro blames the crisis on the collapse of oil prices and an “economic war” by businesses backed by US “imperialism”.
He faces deep public discontent over shortages of basic goods and an inflation rate projected to hit 720% this year.
Analysts have warned of a repeat of the deadly 2014 clashes that left numerous opposition leaders in prison.
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Travellers expect every support and entitlement from society without any consideration of contributing to it. Parasites of the highest order.
eliminated from society? good man why don’t write a book about your struggle
Mein Horsey?
Declan, I was thinking maybe just find an island and ship them all out there…. can’t see the book been a seller to be honest!
Have a look at sulky racing on you tube, also pony left dead on side of road, make up your own mind.
Plenty of Islands, out there and they’d solve a lot of problems!
It’s hard to believe that in 2013 I’m reading someone writing …”these people hiding behind ‘Ethnic Culture’ should be eliminated from society in my view”, and then “… I was thinking maybe just find an island and ship them all out there…”. It wouldn’t look out of place in the worst anti-semitic screeds of the 1930s. You should be ashamed of yourself, I Love My Country.
Oh, I’d say there’s a very good chance Tordei that the majority in this country would happily see the back of travellers. Personally, I wouldn’t like to see it, yet, I wouldn’t miss them if they were gone either.
You’ve got problems mate! You should go talk to someone!
I don’t like the term ‘knacker’, it implies that they have some level of skill! Knackers and tinkers were highly skilled and mostly well respected. I think we need a new word!
What the hell is a “settled traveller” a traveller is someone who moves from place, since 99% of “travellers” dont move, as the government have spent well over a billion euros over the past 15 years, to provide accommodation. so the ones that live in “settled” accommodation are just Irish people.
In the 70′s some politican’s solution was to steralise them all and ship them to the Aran Islands.
The Aran islanders were not pleased.
I think “traveller” fills that gap. Every Irish person knows exactly what that means. And it can be said in polite society.
Fifty horses have just been impounded. What would you have said about their owners exactly
Some people just don’t get it. Do you not believe in what you see. Wake up.I am repeating my self . Go look at YouTube,sulkys racing in cork and tell me what you see. Maybe that lady from revenue should have a look as well, seen that she is after the law abiding citizen for local property tax. Maybe she could get some revenue from them seen the vehicles they are driving.40 years working I could afford it.
You don’t know your history, Tordel
You don’t know your history, Tordel.
Apparently more than you, Noel, if you can’t see that advocating the ‘elimination’ of a group of people from society by deporting them to an island has direct parallels for the racial politics of the ’30s. Do you think the average German was thinking of gas chambers when they wrote and talked and voted about getting rid of the Jews? No, just shuttling them off somewhere, out of sight and out of mind, just like the majoroty of people on this thread. And look where those attitudes led, what they actually meant for humanity.
We will only ever address the problems caused by elements of the Travelling community by addressing the problems of the Travelling community as a whole, not by dehumanising them and fantasising about their ‘elimination’.
That was meant to be addressed to Liam Dempsey, not ‘Noel’. Obviously have Noel Dempsey on the brain.
I didn’t say anything about eliminating anybody, I /we are the victims here, we pay they take, will you wake up for god sake Tordel, All done now,no more comments I think I’m wasting my time.
And none of them look like the one in the picture.
I lived on the road, next to this site and I often wondered? Where they got the money, for feed and equine equipment on the dole? Never mind the new vans, horse boxes and can the bleeding heart brigade answer that?
From selling horses and whatever else isn’t nailed down I’m guessing
But if the politicians had their way the horse would have tax & insurance disc hanging of him and an nct every year
They get it from legitimate hard work and graft Stephen. Your legitimate hard work and graft.
@ Stephen – I’d be generally considered one of the bleeding heart brigade but that doesn’t make me a supported of all injustices. If there are certain people in society that choose not to live by the laws and have no respect we’ll be a long time waiting for that to change.
Why did it take so long for the animals to be taken away if there were already three dead? Why are they getting away with being on the dole and yet clearly have assets to show there is other income? Did you report that there were animals being abused?
I’m a realist and there are always going to be people who will not follow the laws of civilised society but we are supposedly the people IN civilised society that should be fighting against the injustices. Bleeding heart? Maybe, but surely more productive that “ship them all off to an island on their own”
this is one for the enda kenny and mr gilmore they know there is nothing that the government do not know need i say any more
Frank
Perhaps you would try again as your post is completely incomprehensible !
If they can’t conform to society’s rules, wish to operate a black market economy and do what they like? Then they should consider an Island somewhere, start their own society and live by their own rules!
More Horse Burger anyone? That Coveney gang are at it again. Robbing horses and sending them to Romania and Hungary to be slaughtered. In a week or two they will appear on the shelves in Tesco, marked as pure Irish beefcake with flavouring added.
Price of burgers should come down now
Is that not what they have done
And so the overstretched horse sanctuaries will be hit harder just so the true Irish natives can enjoy “their culture”.
Hay with your burger, sir?
I can picture some Sulky owners getting in a huff over this
SVP will give them money for new ones so they will be ok!
surely they’d just sulk?
Wonder will Pavee Point have anything to say on this? Don’t think so!
You are assuming those are traveller-owned horses… now now, that’s racist of you… :P
Whats a “traveller” , is that like your man George Clooney in the film up in the air were he travels all over the world for a living?
Yes, exactly that. Not.
He’s assuming correctly.
You lot don’t get my sense of humour. Although I keep hearing it is very irish. Go figure.
Emilio, too long in Ireland, you’ve become ‘more Irish than the Irish themselves’ with that level of sarcastic humour! Think some readers missed the joke completely…
Don’t worry Emilio. I got it!
It’s their culture boss, Don’t have the shades be taking the hosses from them.
Its discrimination is what it is.
I’m delighted this issue is being highlighted in the news, it’s depressing to think that we heading into another winter where animals will die of cold and hunger. These horses did not ask to be brought into this world, their owners are entirely responsible for their welfare. The trouble in this country is that there are not enough resources put into chasing up these owners and prosecuting them for neglect. The equine charities end up being swamped every year looking for donations of straw and hay from responsible owners to care for the animals of any idiot who fancies having a horse.
F**k your Honda Civic iv a horse outside …. Ehhh not anymore it got impounded for illegal grazing …
If there are genuine welfare concerns, and evidence of mistreatment, then they should be seized,
If they don’t have the proper paperwork or the horse passports then they don’t get to keep horses. Simples.
Of course the reason they don’t have the paperwork is so they don’t have to accept responsibility for the animal in the first place when something like this happens.
Tough.
I would agree with you Luke, were it not that these horses will be killed in the pound.To the minister and his cronies, it’s simple another money making opportunity. Why do you think rescues aaround ireland are trying to get to these poor animals before the government? You can’t really expect a country that is considdering to allow every eejit to dock their puppies tail without so much of anesthesia or proper equipment, to care about something as expensive as horses?
Why are you so against euthanasia? I’m tired of these ‘charities’ complaining that they can’t keep the horses, a bit of practical thinking goes a long way.
There’s now legislation that horses can only be kept on registered ground. This will help prevent horses been grazed on greens and roadside.
How is it a money making opportunity ? It costs a fortune to round up these animals and put them down.
Horses are gracious lovely animals unlike some of the miserable excuses posting attention seeking comments here…grow up
Not a bad looking old horse yourself, do you come with a saddle?
I wonder what pavee point have to say about it
Cultural discrimination
maybe some time for ‘cultural’ education mate???
Who are you? The Lone Ranger?
They will say “some irresponsible horse owners should not tar all horseowners with the one brush” .
The two responsible horseowners in the Traveller community have been tarred with the brush of the 32,000 irresponsible ones. Shame on us!!
its disgusting is what is is!! Those poor, poor horses used, abused and now awaiting their fate, because some spare pr1cks, who gets away with everything and has even more handed to them on a plate didn’t have the decency to surrender them or to ask for help, it couldnt of been that hard could it?? NO. So instead you left them to rot and starve and suffer. but is not your problem now is it? just like when you expect other people to clean up your crap when you move on, now someone else has got to take care of your animals when the are no longer making you money or serving whatever prupose you had them for in the first place. you are not travelers or itinerants you are knackers in the truest sense of the word, you dont even have the decency to be ashamed of yourself!! filth ,
Firstly horses have served the world extremely well over the ages and continue to do so in lots of ways..as for being useless as one moronic idiot stated here… They are great recreational creatures also they are very therapeutic for some and also very entertaining and of course the races which the majority of the population here enjoy.. so when some say burger meat I would put you in that dubious category
Apple computers probably put some pressure on to get these horses removed as much as any environmental or health concerns minister Coveney had, the horses are usually all over the roads by their european headquarters
Does this mean the Coveneys are going back into the Horse Burger business.
Those pop sounds are my sides splitting….. please, stop being sooooo funny!
Im glad there is a picture of a horse for this story, i had no idea what they looked like. Its a bit like The Sun on one of the Channel tunnel stories with a big arrow saying “here is France”
The average The Sun reader is glad as well.
true! , I hope The Journal has a higher expectation of its readers?
But, who is taking the horse to France Dee4?
knackers
all owners and breeders should have to have a licence to own a horse like people do have to have for dogs dave mitchell your an idiot,, i wouldnt call the likes of frankel sea the stars and kauto star useless they won mega bucks for their owners
Its call a horse passport…every horse should have one
all drugs administered to the horse over its lifetime should be recorded in this and it also is a requirement when taking the horse to a slaughterhouse
I made that suggestion to Coveney, in a letter and got the usual response. I suggested a licensing system, similar to the vehicle one in operation for animals and a different grade for different animal. You’d have to do a theory test, in animal care and produce a certificate for animals classed as dangerous or special handling. It’d be easy to set up, duplicate an already existing system and you’ll sort the animal lovers from the profiteers!
Well said Stephen.
About time. I’ve phoned animal welfare, I’ve even contacted via fb, regarding horses I’ve seen on the north side and now a year later they decide to do something. Its a disgrace.
The Dept. OF Agriculture, in conjunction with Tesco Value Meals, this morning seized over 50 horses from the Hollyhill area of Cork City.
Just round up the owners and put them down too and everybody wins
Instead they’ll put the horses down and the UN will recognise travellers as an ‘Ethnic group’ with all the trappings of that instead. Mark my words, it’ll happen.
Im not blaming the horse for being a horse. I am blaming the morons that keep horse’s in this day and age. They serve no purpose and it is cruelty.
*horses (plural therefore no apostrophe required)
The same applies to a lot of so called human beings!!!
Ridiculous that this is being turned into an anti-Traveller argument when there are as many settled people responsible for the dire state of horse welfare due to over-producing horses during the Celtic Tiger. This is a countrywide issue not restricted to any one ethnic group.
The horses seized today – 50 according to the article, were seized in well known traveller sites in Cork. I know the sites listed, as do most Corkonians.
Yes, and the reporting of this incident and the ignoring of the bigger problem totally skews the real issue.
McDonald’s must be short on burgers
Someday. With a lot of hope and a lot of training, I wish I could be as funny as you
You’re gonna need a sh1t load of training and help then u dry sh1te
why did they only take the over 50 horses?
Lovely Irish people. So proud not to be Irish.
They don’t need passports can they not tell by their cork accent they’re irish
Norries
Horrible stinking animals of a different age. Should be all put on the shelves of your local supermarket.
@dave mitchell, you really are showing your true colors today.
The sad fact is that unless the owner can provide proof that they have a passport under the equine regulations the horses maybe culled if no home is found for them.
The level of bigotry & racial slander on here is unbelievable. These horses are not abused or in bad condition & actually well looked after in most cases. It’s disgusting, I actually feel sick that these poor beautiful animals will be murdered just because their owners can’t afford the necessary papers & microchips. Even if they want to get them back they won’t be allowed to now as I guarantee 95% of them don’t have papers or the means to get them. These horses are on NAMA LAND, unused by anyone else, ‘equine registered grazing’ my ass.. What does that even mean?? It’s pure racism against Travellers who have seen over 80% of their funding for education, housing etc taken away over the last few years with a life expectancy of less than 60 years…
How many people making anti-traveller comments on here have licences for their dogs or tvs or are driving cars without nct or tax???
Are you forgetting we are talking about living, breathing animals here!??
These animals have been stolen from their rightful owners to scare monger them into making sure they get as much money out of them as possible for future horses they might have.
Make no mistake, they will not end up in sanctuaries, the majority will be put to sleep in 5 days as their owners can’t afford to microchip them etc or pay the impound fees… ie buy their own horses back…
This is NOT a welfare issue it is another example of how Ireland has lost its soul & is abusing US ALL…
Do you have any shred of proof to back up anything you said?
I’m not sure where to start with a reply to you Anna, but here goes anyway. First of all it boils down to finances and you need to be pretty well off to be a horse owner, it is not just a case of having access to a bit of land that entitles you to own a horse, grass is only nutritious enough for a few months of the year and the rest of the year horse needs ad lib access to hay, they need shelter from wind and rain, they need a farrier to trim their feet every 6/8 weeks, they need worming periodically, they need dental care. Horses have different needs according to breed and temperment, some may suffer from over nutrition and others may need supplementary feeding. It’s not racism, it’s ‘elitism’, if you are not well off enough to own and care properly for a horse and at the very least micro chip and register them then don’t have one, simple as that.
Also to Anna, euthanasia is certainly more humane than leaving horses out on the side of the mountain during a harsh winter to fend for themselves, this happens all over the country and it makes me sick having to be politically correct about any ethnic group who would choose to do this. Also the total lack of responsibility of mixing stallions and mares to perpetuate the problem only for the animal welfare groups to have to pick up the pieces (literally sometimes) and after much suffering has been endured.
No ‘proof’ only my own experience, what I’ve grown up with & seen with my own eyes… Where is the proof for anything else said on here???
I agree with you 100% about abused & starving horses but you are completely missing the point… These horses are NOT abused & starving or left on a hillside to die. These are gypsy cobs & a totally different breed to your racehorses thoroughbreds… They are extremely hardy & robust… They are hairy & put down their own reserves of fat for the winter!! We live in Ireland, the grass grows here 10 months of the year, they do not need blankets & are happy to find whatever shelter nature provides… Just like their ancestors did since the dawn of time!! I grew up with horses my whole life, good strong working horses.. Not one of them was ever chipped or registered but every one of them was looked after better than most humans. Travellers have had horses with them since they were born & I guarantee that most know how to look after their horses very well including shoeing them.. And if they don’t they know someone who does!! It doesn’t take a whole lot of money either… Yes they do need a bit of hay in the Winter when it shows, wormer, lice treatement etc but it’s not elitist to own a horse & only meant for the rich as you imply!!!
These horses are bred to live on the side of a road & pull wagons & carts, their dna knows hard times & they thrive… They know how to survive & need very little to do so believe me! Open your eyes people, this is not a ‘welfare issue’ as you are all so happy to be led to believe… There ARE plenty of welfare issues don’t get me wrong & travellers are just as capable of cruelty as anyone else… But I’ve seen plenty of animals left hungry & abused by non-travellers too!!
Didn’t they find 3 DEAD ones ???? They were hardly THRIVING !!!!! ?
I didn’t say these ones are thriving but they certainly looked healthy & in good condition from the images I saw on the news yesterday morning, I haven’t seen them in person though. However I did say that the type of horse (breed) that they are ie gypsy cobs/piebalds etc thrives in difficult conditions.
They said they found remains/bones alright but who’s to say when they were from? I didn’t see any fotos of recently dead animals… There are horses (cows, sheep etc) buried in every field in this country… Bones often get dug up by foxes & dogs….
It’s to add to the sensational ‘animal welfare’ issue they are basing their actions on… Smoke screen so people will focus on that rather than the real issue which is discrimination & basically stealing healthy animals from their owners in an effort to cull the population & make money from yet more taxes (licences etc)
Actually Anna, from working in H.H i & a lot of my other collegues have seen dead horses in the field Behind the Apple car park in H.H so maybe not all were starved but quite a share of them were in the one field skin & bone… Yesterday the travelling community decided to vent their anger at apple employees instead of simon coveny.. They thought it was fun to throw stones at peoples acts & at the building itself… Its not the first time such issues have happened… The horses have been left to roam free around Hollyhill & they have damaged a number of cars in the car park…. Personally i think its not before time as one day soon there will be a serious accident there as the horses get nervous when the cars pass them causing them to go crazy so before long either an employee will be injured or even both…
@ Anna, I take your point about the fact that the horses are hairy cobs and don’t look in too bad condition but appearances can be deceiving, I like yourself am a horsey person and I can tell you that I have seen very skinny (under a very heavy coat of hair) miserably cold and soaked through to the skin horses. A horses coat is waterproof to a degree but we frequently get horizontal rain and bitingly cold wind in Ireland and their coat will not be waterproof in that type of weather. Only nutritious hay will create heat as it breaks down in the gut and I pass horses all winter in the same field and it’s only when I complain that the owners go and annoy some farmer for a bale of hay. It’s simply cruel and neglectful.
My point about it being elitist to own a horse I think is valid, I think it should remain elitist for the sake of horses out there, I think we owe them that.
I have seen pictures of these animals – they DO NOT look healthy. As the owner of a traditional cob I can say that to be in the condition that these horses are in they would literally have to be starved. It’s almost impossible to keep weight OFF these types. On the pictures I have seen the animals backbones and ribs are painfully evident. To say that people have a cultural right to keep horses when they are unable or unwilling to look after them is a ridiculous arguement. I work hard and sacrifice allot to keep my horse in the way he has the right to be treated. The horses were illegally on this land and for the most part not looked after to an adequate standard – if you break the rules in where your animals are left and how they are kept you should not be surprised /annoyed or angry about them being taken away.
There are very few people making sense in this comment thread tonight. Joan O’Brien you are spot on.
P.s . Paul, get a haircut you unwashed hippy.
Excuse me you insignificant excuse of a bad smell, I do not throw defamatory comments around about anyone undeserved of them. Nor am I about to start. Say it to my face without hiding before false identities.
ANIMALS
The horses are just as bad as them cork people… Bitter jealous (of Dublin) fools
@ Breaking good youre an experienced eejit.
experienced eejit! brilliant
Muppet
There stinking yokes, we have cars and bikes. Its 2013 at present, why are these big smelly useless animals still being used????
Your blaming a horse for being a horse?
Your either a troll or a moron.
Tell us which?
Ricky, one can be both, and dave is.
Both!!!!
they are being used to teach stinking yokes like you a lesson on beauty and innocence.
Actually I think it is Noel the John Gilligan cell buddy. The level of crap from him is consistent.
*They’re, i.e. they are.
Where are all the cat lovers? A horse is a highly intelligent animal . People’s attitudes are funny.
As long as they weren’t loaded into a tesco delivery van, the horses are in better hands!!
Ricky Spanish & Paul Sommers myself & Dave Mitchell challenge you 2 to a straightener…. Come on lads no more talk, Finglas boys we are here
Hypocrites are one thing, but hypocrites that deliberately hide the truth in order to sway people are quite another!
To rob your women and drink your beer. Ricky Spanish won’t do it tho. I can smell your fear through my €700 smart phone. P.s Paul, get a haircut hippy.
There’s not enough hippies to save our lives
Just kill the lot and make some glue. Glue actually serves a purpose to us humans.
Please do not put yourself in the same category as us humans. You’re a troll, totally different.
Me name is Gary Dunne. I am from finglas, come do something Paul you keyboard washer.
Your not funny.
don’t use that word please,i don’t really think the LBGT community wants him associated with us/them.
The 50 horses need to be saved there are talking about putting them down so wrong
And the public no giving a chance to try and save them
there is also two horses down on the old john barleycorn land in glanmire that look like they are neglected and could do wit warm bed and food
Nice picture.
Guaranteed 100% irish burgers .
have your say