In Venezuela's capital, residents fear for their safety

Bizpodia |

Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, has been named the most violent city in the world, and some residents say are feeling increasingly insecure.

• By Juan Carlos Rivas

Members of the National Guard take part in a security operation at the Cota 905 neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela. (AFP PHOTO/FEDERICO PARRA)

CARACAS: Venezuela's capital, Caracas, has overtaken the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula as the most violent urban area in the world, according to an annual ranking published by a Mexican non-profit organisation.

One of the victims of violence in Caracas was Liliana Villegas. In 2009, the postgraduate student and mother of one was allegedly shot dead by four men on motorbikes. The four accused have still not faced a full trial because the authorities are overwhelmed by a backlog of cases.

Six years on, Liliana’s mother Miriam still mourns. "For as long as I live, it will be very hard, because she was all I had. She was my friend, my daughter, my companion, she was my everything. And in just one day, I lost her. What worries me is the fact that her son will never have a mother,” she said.

The Mexican non-profit organisation The Citizen's Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice said that in 2015, there were 119 murders in Caracas for every 100,000 people. Its murder rate surpassed the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, which saw some improvements last year.

"Murder, kidnapping and armed robbery - those three crimes determine how violent a city is, and Venezuela, and specifically Caracas, has become the most dangerous city on the planet. The levels of violence are beyond comprehension,” said criminal lawyer Femin Marmol Garcia.

Said Miriam: "Here we don't have any protection or support from the government. My life was destroyed, half of me died when my daughter died, and that hurts. And her memory will live on in me, until I die. And if, after six years these criminals can be free after what they did, then that isn't justice."
However, the socialist government has insisted that the necessary measures are taken to stop the problem.

"There have been more than 17 security campaigns in the country from former President Hugo Chavez to current president Nicolas Maduro, who have tried to fight against insecurity in the city,” said Nickmer Evans, former advisor of Chavez’s government.

Although the government has implemented security plans, some Venezuelans said they are increasingly feeling more insecure.

"There's a lot of violence, a lot of insecurity, we are overwhelmed by crime, there is not enough security and the (system) is coupled with police corruption,” said Venezuelan citizen Gilberto Colmenares.

"I do not feel safe in Caracas and in other regions of Venezuela, as I believe there should be more police presence,” added fellow citizen Rafael Rosales.

Legal observers said the government has launched 23 anti-crime initiatives over the past 17 years, which have failed to stem the tide of violent criminal activity. Meanwhile, there are fears that Caracas will only become more violent, as the economic crisis starts to bite.  

- CNA/xq