The “Caracazo” was a social uprising in Venezuela that began on February 27, 1989. The military was sent to suppress it, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. Photo: Presidential Press.
Guacamaya, February 27, 2025. Various human rights organizations have taken to social media to warn that, 36 years after the Caracazo, violations of fundamental rights in Venezuela still persist. This social explosion, which occurred on February 27, 1989, left a deep mark on the collective memory of the country, with hundreds dead, dozens injured, and numerous victims of state repression.
The NGO Provea has pointed out that, despite the passage of time, the living conditions of Venezuelans have not significantly improved. “36 years later, the terror of human rights violations in Venezuela continues. Impunity from the past and the present,” Provea stated through its account on the social media platform X.
Amnesty International, for its part, emphasized the importance of defending human rights and demanding justice for the victims to prevent the tragic consequences of the Caracazo from happening again. Acceso a la Justicia also issued a statement recalling this key event in Venezuela’s contemporary history, highlighting that it was marked not only by mass protests but also by looting of businesses.
The Caracazo, which began in the city of Guarenas and spread to the popular neighborhoods of Caracas, was a response to price hikes and tariffs demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an agreement with the government of then-President Carlos Andrés Pérez. The protests and looting were violently suppressed by military and police forces, resulting in an undetermined number of deaths, estimated to be between 300 and 3,000 according to different sources.
Today, the human rights situation in Venezuela remains critical. The NGO Human Rights in Movement denounced that on January 10, 2025, a highly serious political milestone occurred with “the establishment of a de facto government,” which has perpetuated repression and violations of individual rights.
Human rights organizations continue to document and denounce these violations, with the hope that one day justice will be served for the victims and significant change will be achieved in the country.
