Venezuelan protesters support student seeking refuge in nunciature

Published: 2007-08-03

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNS) -- Venezuelan university students have demonstrated in support of a student leader who has sought refuge at the Vatican nunciature in Caracas. The anti-government students were demonstrating July 30 in support of the request of Nixon Moreno, the student leader, to be granted political asylum or humanitarian refuge. Moreno, an undergraduate at the University of the Andes in Merida and a fervent opponent of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has been staying at the nunciature since mid-March. Last year, a Moreno-led protest turned violent when several police officers were injured and protesters allegedly sexually accosted a policewoman. Moreno was charged with "lascivious acts" against the policewoman and attempted murder of another police officer, as well as injuries to several officers. He is also charged with rebellion. The students were protesting a court's decision to suspend student elections. Venezuela's major public universities are dominated by anti-government sentiment, and many claim that the government is attempting to weaken the universities' traditional autonomy.

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