27 May, 2017
Public Prosecutor Luisa Ortega said a 20-year-old protester had been killed by a tear gas canister fired by state security forces, giving a version of events that contradicted others in the administration who have strenuously denied state forces were involved.
Juan Pablo Pernalete died of cardiogenic shock after being hit by an object in the chest. Those officials said the protester was killed either by fellow demonstrators or criminals trying to make the government look bad.
CARACAS Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed on Thursday to endow the Truth Commission with plenipotentiary power to assure that the Justice Department compensates victims of the protests.
The anti-government protests continued on Wednesday.
Firing tear gas canisters directly at protesters could be lethal and was banned by both worldwide and national regulations, she said. "This is a tear gas bomb".
Mr Cabello had blamed "gunmen in the service of the bourgeoisie" and insisted there were no National Guard personnel in the area at the time. Luisa Ortega's comments came after nearly two months of near-daily anti-government rallies and as cracks appear in Nicolas Maduro's Socialist administration. Maduro added that this commission is going to be a great contribution of the Constituent Assembly and no one can refuse to participate because it (the commission) is plenipotentiary, referring to the fact that the constituent power is above all public powers and can not be objected by any authority.
