INSTABILITY IN CARACAS!

With the news of the collapse of the Berlin Stock Market reaching Venezuela and already affecting the economy, there have been numerous disturbances in the Venezuelan Capital of Caracas and other cities as a run to the banks led to protests and riots. Many in the military believe that the Socialist Party is behind many of these disturbances and plan to use them to start a revolution in Venezuela. Eleazar Lopez Contreras, one of the generals that helped restore democracy back in 1928, is ready to step in once again should the current government fail to restore order, but Romulo Betancourt insists that the police can handle the excesses and things will settle down soon.

8 FEBRUARY, 1936

It was true that the government's calamities had initially appeared to fail the collapse, many leftists using this as a resounding call of arms. "Capitalismo te fallado," or Capitalism had failed you, was one of the most seen signs in the capital.

Was it true? It was up for the people to say but regardless and in the meantime, the instability has surely shaken the country up to its core. The first few days of the riots, the police did little to intervene which caused General Contreras to prepare his forces around the country, eager to replace President Betancourt if it so does fail.

The General - Generation 1936?

The General quickly received a telegram, asking for his presence in Miraflores Palace, the Presidential Residence. He made the trip with a convoy of soldiers, protecting him as he made it into the capital. Upon entry into the protest-zones, he saw the police in lines and rows, pushing back citizens as the military continued on its path.

Perhaps the President was beginning to see reason and was to order him to restore order, he would lose legitimacy to any junta, however.

When he finally met with President Betancourt, he was informed of the reason of his visit. The Military would only support the police in their operations, they were on strict orders not to intervene to breach any constitutional addendums since 1928. He was to act as the new Minister of War and Navy, in exchange for his support and loyalty.

"What of the incumbent?" The General asked.

"Dead. He took his own life when Berlin crashed."

Caracas Quelled

After the order was sounded, the military moved from their positions to reinforce and supply the police with whatever they needed. They took up positions in key and strategic locations across the country, everywhere from the police departments to hospitals, clinics, city halls and other places of government. They would respond to standard police calls on orders to not open fire unless fired upon while the real police of Venezuela moved to arrest, detain and break-up all protests and rioters.

The President assisted in helping the thoughts of the citizenry and rabble, making speeches of promises that change and assistance will come to the people.

The last President to promise such was Juan Vicente Gómez, although true he followed through, his reign was that of corruption and is what lost Venezuela their own domestic oil markets. Of course, this came to reduce Venezuela's foreign debt exponentially...

Regardless, in just a week's time of minimal violent acts and sporadic protests, the country was back in the hands of the democratically elected government as Contreras took reign of the Ministry of War and Navy.