By Delisa Morris
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
CARACAS, Venezuela — On September 20, Venezuelan President Maduro announced a $47 million dollar plan to disarm Venezuelan civilians. As that day was the International Day of Peace, Maduro detailed his plan to build 60 new disarmament centers. The centers will allow citizens to voluntarily surrender their firearms.
According to figures from the United Nations, Venezuela has the second highest peacetime murder rate behind Honduras. According to statistics most of the murders in Venezuela are committed using firearms. “We are building peace from within, and for that, you need disarmament,” the president said at an event in the capital, Caracas.
UN figures suggest there were 53.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012, compared to 90.4 in Honduras. This figure is up from 47.8 last year. However, the Venezuelan Violence Observatory, a Caracas-based non-profit organization estimates a much larger number at 79 per 100,000 people. A rate they say that quadrupled over the past 15 years.
In addition to disarmament, Maduro has approved a plan for $39 million to go towards funding military soldiers to patrol streets alongside Venezuelan police. The soldiers are set to patrol the streets in the most dangerous neighborhoods.
Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres said the money would be used to finance 2,000 new patrols and fund new equipment for the security forces.
In June 2013, President Maduro introduced tougher prison sentences for people convicted of carrying illegal firearms. The offense could land someone 20 years in prison. Despite these new laws insecurity amongst Venezuelan citizens is at an all time high. The law also restricted sales of firearms to military and security personnel, effectively outlawing civilian possession of firearms.
Security was a large reason for massive protests against the government this year, along with the economy.
Many opposition activists have accused the government of hypocrisy. They allege that officials have armed “colectivos”, pro-government groups which have clashed with anti-government protesters during demonstrations. The activists believe that the government is using the disarmament program as a cover-up.
This isn’t the first time the government has attempted to remove guns from the street.
In 2009, the government destroyed more than 30,000 guns that were seized during police raids. $5,000 was raised from the sell of the scrap metal was donated to the Friends of Children with Cancer Foundation.
The government continued their policy of disarmament in 2011. In September the Venezuelan government destroyed over 50,000 confiscated guns adding, racking up a total of 250,000 guns confiscated since 2003. Melted down, the weapons produced 60 tons of iron that was recycled for use in public housing projects.
On Sunday President Maduro said his government “continued to pursue the dream, the utopia of a Venezuela in peace”, and promised to build “peace with love, justice and a will to work”.
For more information, please see:
BBC News – Venezuela’s Maduro launches civilian disarmament plan – 22 Sept. 2014
VICE News – Venezuelan Government Announces Disarmament Plan – Again – 23 Sept. 2014
Washington Times – Venezuela’s Maduro Launches $47M Plan to Disarm Civilians – 23 Sept. 2014
International Business Times – Venezuela Launches Disarmament Program – 22 Sept. 2014
