Transcripts For BBCNEWS Our World 20170730

Days news. First, in venezuelan, daily protests of president maduros government have resulted in many deaths. The bbc has broken two activists who say the government is using torture and imprisonment without trial has spoken to activists. It claimed the government denies. Protests have been held against a vote to change the costa goosen, which Opposition Parties say could create a dictatorship. To change the constitution. Vladimir hernandez reports from caracas. His film includes images and descriptions of violence. Welcome to venezuela. Once the richestjewel in latin america, it is now a country drowning in political and economic chaos. A state with the Largest Oil Reserves in the world is now so impoverished that it cannot feed its own people. Translation even if i die, its worth it, how long is this going to go on for . We are a hungry country. As its people rage, president nicolas maduros grip on power has grown increasingly desperate. All opposition is being systematically crushed. It is feared a new Constitution Will Extinguish Democracy and establish a dictatorship. As the Battle For Venezuelan Democracy reaches boiling point, the bbc has heard disturbing allegations of State Torture against demonstrators. Translation several officers there are told us, we are going to give you the shock treatment. For venezuela ns, long accustomed to economic hardship, the assault on their democracy is proving the final straw. I have been to caracas, to meet resistance to the resume of Nicolas Medora and find out what future lies in store for this troubled country. If you want to find out who is behind a demonstration, head to a university. This is uceve, the Largest University in venezuela. I was a student here myself. In my day, we were protesting against a rise in the bus fare. Today, its a rather more desperate story. In a quiet room on the campus, i meet four young protesters. They have disguised their identities, and we have changed their voices to protect them. The way i see it, the resistance is everybody who is against a regime, many people see it as a dictatorship. At the moment, they are even trying to change the constitution. I think the resistance is those people who come out to protest and are willing to take the lead to confront the police or the National Guard. Its not like there is this little group of resistance over here, and a group of normal people over there, no, we are all the resistance, and we are all against what is happening. Some have labelled us as terrorists, but i think that all of us youth who make up the resistance are brave fighters, defending our people from the governments brutal repression. The students are known as escuderos, or shield bearers. Young men and women like them see their role in the resistance as protecting the ordinary people who demonstrate every day from the National Guard. We are going to meet a Resistance Group at las mercedes, and then we moved to the place where it normally kicks off. Every Protest March is accompanied by the escuderos, and when the people move into stop the march, the escuderos will move in and confront them. They never allow us to make it as far as where the march is meant to end, they use the excuse that we will destroy the whole city. Our role is also to secure ground. Because just as the police and National Guard are trying to push us back, we also have to seize our chances to advance. Myjob is to pick up any falling helmets or gloves, to retrieve them and give them back to the boys, or to be looking out for them, or collecting the stones, or whatever, it is notjust a matter of marching forward and thats it, its really about everyones duty. There is a naivete about some of their actions, but it is clear that they are brave. Most of the dozens who have died in this wave of protest are those at the front. But there is a little resentment that they have been allotted this role in venezuelas struggle for democracy at such a young age. It shouldnt be just up to us to get out there representing thirtysomethings or fortysomethings, i mean, they have two come out as well. I think we suffer the worst of the governments decisions, and thats why we havent any choice. If we want to gain our independence to move forward and make a life for ourselves. What ive noticed in most of the marchers, most of those at the front are really, really young kids, to be honest, i dont think they should be there, you are supposed to fight for your childrens future, you should not get your children to fight for your future, right . It wasnt meant to be like this. By the time maduro came to power in 2013, the bolivarian revolution, begun by his charismatic predecessor, hugo chavez, was spluttering badly. Price controls and the state seizure of industry had apparently failed. When the oil price fell, venezuels extravagant spending didnt stop. The country found itself borrowing heavily and increasingly reliant on imports of food and medicine. In the last four years, the economy has shrunk by a third. The imf estimates that inflation is running at over 700 . The highest in the world. The people began to go hungry. Three out of four venezuelans lost an average of 18 lb in weight last year. Corruption, say critics, helps the regime to stay in power, by controlling foreign exchange, the government decides who prospers. The army are kept onside by being given charge of the most critical imports. Media is muzzled. In march, maduros Supreme Court declared the Opposition Led National Assembly to be illegitimate. Days of daily demonstrations and violent clashes with the Security Forces followed. Over 100 have died and thousands more have been arrested. Then, in may, president maduro declared that a new constitution would be drawn up the government wanted to rewrite the rules of the game, and no one was asked if this was wanted. Its hard to get the government to talk to the media but the minister in charge of food distribution, a keyjob in todays venezuela, did agree to talk to me. In the chavista worldview, there is a familiar bogeyman. Its hard to say who represents the opposition in venezuela. But no one would argue against former president ial candidate Maria Corina Machado. Disbarred from politics by ruling party legislators, she remains a politicalforce, and is keen to be seen with protesters. But Maria Corina Machado thinks there is far more to the resistance than violent protests. Theres a word going around calling the opposition the resistance, what is the resistance for you . You dont have to look far to find who she is talking about. Street kids like these appear at every demonstration. Their enthusiasm to take on the Security Forces, whilst brave, places them in real danger. Their motivation often stems from a profound sense of injustice. Translation three days ago, they nicked me, they tortured me, they asked me who was paying me. Its a lie, nobody gives us money, we come out because we want a Better Future, we want a Better Future for venezuela. They split my head, they hit me in the body, they grabbed me, they told me they were going to rate me, they said they were going to kill me. Fuelled by their grievances, some of these young protesters take considerable risks. This is one of the most controversial aspects of the so called resistance, small pockets of demonstrators at the end of the protest come to places like this, a military base, and try to attack it. In there, theyre already scuffles, with some people telling them, dont do it, youre valuable, youre a young life, dont lose it. Because over there, the National Guard is already waiting for them. One person trying to cool the hotheads of the protests is a Senior Citizen now known as senora de la tanqueta, or tank lady. She rose to fame in april by refusing to move out of the way of a small tank. She was taken to prison and interrogated before being released. The experience has not put her off going to the demonstrations. The stakes are certainly high for both sides, and the regime is defiant. This Residential Block In Caracas is called los verdes, the greens. It has been a focal point of vociferous Anti Government protest since april. Neighbours here set up barricades on irregular basis and clashes with the police and National Guard are frequent. Ona on a regular basis. One evening, the government said, another was enough. Enough was enough. Margarita, her husband, and her cousin who lives in the apartment, were petrified. Although her husband and her cousin were released, the intrusion into their home has badly affected the family. But not all members of the tower block were so fortunate. When she heard the police begin their assault, camila and some friends went to hide in a neighbours apartment. Translation when he opened the door of the wardrobe, the man who grabbed me, he did it by the hair, he lifted me and threw me onto the bed, and then they beat the boys in the head. They really beat up the boys horribly. Even though she told police she was pregnant, they took no notice. Translation we were lying facedown on the floor, then they told us to take out their shoelaces. Then they kicked me about ten times. In the burn, in the legs. They also beat the rest of the girls. They kept on beating us, even when they took us out of the apartment. They told someone, come on, im going to kill you, right here, right now. Why did they take me . Because this is a dictatorship and they nicked whoever they want to, whether you are doing anything or not. Camila was then taken to some of the worst prisons in caracas, before eventually being released. Simon was not so lucky. He was arrested at a demonstration, accused of belonging to an opposition political party. Translation they grabbed me from behind, 18, 20 cops that came down on me, while they were kicking and hitting me, they put me on a bike and took me to the headquarters of the Intelligence Agency. Originally designed as the futuristic shopping centre, today, the helicoide is a place whose name makes even the hardened shudder. Held in an overcrowded cell for over two months, simon witnessed prisoners returning from interrogation, with Tell Tale Signs of having been tortured. Translation one got back, you could tell he was frightened, he couldnt stand up straight and you could see the burn marks on his ears. And the other guy, you could see his black eye, it was all bruised, so you could see they have given him shocks. Later on, several offices there told us, we are going to give you the shock treatment, and were going to grab those two and soak them, keep them soaked all night long. Simon was beaten but not tortured, and he could not get out of the helicoide. Even though he received a release orderfrom a judge, Intelligence Agency officials ignored it and he was only released over one month later. Today, he is still trying to get back on his feet. Translation at night im very anxious, any little sound makes me jumpy, ifeel like i dont know what is going to happen. Im still worried that any time, they will come and knock on my door and take me back there. Farfrom being intimidated, the opposition are growing in strength. Whilst we were filming, with Maria Corina Machado, an ordinary defection from a chavista loyalist. This is the Attorney General of venezuela, now playing a key role in the crisis. The Maduro Regime was not impressed. Despite the governments denials, the Attorney General has claimed that the Security Forces are using unauthorised firearms. Whats clear is that many protesters have been killed and severely injured by the reckless use of riot control munitions. Many in the opposition believe that behind the bluster, the end game is being played out. A recent unofficial plebiscite showed 7 million voters were against president maduro as many as had elected him in 2013. Do you think we are in the final days of chavism as a proposition in politics . The president though sees a very different future for the opposition in venezuela. Whilst the politicians fight it out, the students of uceve continue their own perilous resistance. Translation i dont mind giving up my life out there in the streets if it is for a good cause. I believe i would prefer to die than live in this way. I will never be able to achieve my potential as a person here, because the government isnt letting me. Translation im scared of dying, im scared of seeing someone getting killed, to be near them when it happens. After all, we are supposed to be fighting for the safe of living in a better venezuela. Translation when youre standing behind a shield and they fire shots at you, the impact deafens you. It leaves your ears ringing. Theres always the risk that by trying to see whats going on a ahead of you, that a pellet can get through the shields and hit you in your eye. Thats your eye gone. Or it could kill you. Translation i always think that maybe one day, my luck will run out. And i think about those boys who didnt make it back home. Every time i get home from the protests, i tell myself that it a gift. Because many of my mates didnt make it back. They may be dead, or under arrest. This is a country that has seen many of its youngest people killed, injured, or arrested. People like these are commemorating the lives lost in this wave of political unrest. This is very much an open wound, and the consequences are far from known, regardless of who is going to run this nation. The government now plans to convene a new assembly, to rewrite venezuelas constitution. Its a future that many in the country are dreading. Well, its been quite a turbulent few days on the Weather Front. Lots of vicious showers, gusty winds as well, and quite often in our climate, once the weather gets going across the atlantic, once we develop this really unsettled weather with lots of low pressures coming in, it often stays like that for a while. So, sunday we will have seen a lot of showers across the country. Heres a Satellite Image from earlier on with the low pressure to the north west of us. And the reason why im showing this to you is because on monday we are going to see a very similar picture. But also were going to get some sunshine, just like on sunday. So monday will also bring blue skies, notjust the downpours. So ive already set the scene as far as this week is concerned. Theres no real sign of prolonged dry weather. And the reason for it is thatjet stream, the very powerfuljet stream that sends Weather Systems in our direction. And actually, these low pressures have origins just off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States there, and also canada. And that jet stream, as long as its making a beeline for the uk, thats where we get those Weather Systems coming in. So, lets have a closer look at some of our part of the world. Heres monday weather forecast. Low pressure still the same one that we will have had on sunday, still to the the north west of our neighbourhood, generating showers, even into the early hours of monday morning. And actually in some spots pretty chilly. Temperatures in rural areas first thing on monday about 5 degrees. But we often show you the towns and cities. So, heres monday morning. It starts off really sunny actually across many eastern, central and southern areas. A fair old breeze around these coastal areas here. And with that low pressure, for as long as its here, the showers keep being blown in by that wind. Some of them heavy and thundery as well. As far as the temperatures go, actually, they are not that bad. In london, the average is 23. Were getting 23 on monday. In belfast, the average is 19. And we are forecasting 19 on monday. So, when i say that summer is on hold, it really is the dry and sunny weather that wed like thats on hold. Temperatures are about where they should be. So, heres tuesdays weather forecast. There is a little area of low pressure across Northern Scotland and parts of northern ireland. This is where we will see most of the showers on tuesday. But perhaps a bit of a break from the showers across some central and south eastern areas. But still maybe a few sneaking through. And then it changes on wednesday because we have a bigger, more substantial area of low pressure on the way. That means extensive cloud and continuous outbreaks of rain rather than on and off showers, moving into south Western Parts of england, wales and eventually northern ireland. This is really early in the morning. Quickly through the afternoon the rain is spreading into eastern areas. Hull and newcastle hanging onto some sunshine earlier on into the day. Wednesday night into thursday, the Weather Front will have pushed through the uk. Behind it again we have got showers, and a fair old wind as well. Thats thursday, how about the end of the week . Here is this jet stream again, you can see it is making a beeline for the uk. Any disturbances in the weather forming across the atlantic will be shunted in our direction straightaway. He is the weekend, next weekend that is. Low pressure close by. But, look at this. Were starting to see a High Pressure possibly nosing in. In about 8 10 days time, beyond the following weekend. However, it does look as though the High Pressure may not have a massive influence. It could be the case that low pressure once again returns to northern parts of the uk. Stay tuned. Attend a Special Service at the menin gate, which stands on the road taken by so many to the frontline. 100 years on, we still stand together, gathering, as so many do every night, in remembrance of that sacrifice. Tonight, thousands watched on in the town of ypres, as the story of the battle was retold. Also on tonights programme