Fair enough - I may be guilty of generalising in painting the protestors as right-wing. And it's true that there are social problems that need to be addressed in Venezuela. People DO have the right to make their voices heard.
But there is protesting and then there is rioting. The same people who denounce such things as the Occupy movements would likely back these protestors' cause in Caracas and in Kiev. Why? Ideology. I know this because I feel the same, but in reverse. I sympathise with protesting against a myriad of right-wing actions and values and actively denounce those same right-wing elements when they organise against left-wing values and ideals.
I admit to being somewhat of a hypocrite in this way - but I hold my personal values dearly. I believe in things, and act in life according to my inner value system. These protests, though. It would take some incredible breaking point - one last straw placed on the camels' back - in order for me to get in any way violent with my views.
And so, on the conduct of the Venezuelan security forces in the face of all this - is it much different from what we'd see with the reaction from U.S or Australian police riot squads during times of violent protests? Guaranteed if the same level of protests hit Australian streets there would be protestor deaths by the hand of the security forces.
Throw a fire bomb at a line of cops here? They'd shoot you down in the street and it would be a justifiable response to a threat on police safety.
