Caracazo

The Caracazo was a wave of protests, looting, and riots that began in Caracas on 27 February 1989 and spread across Venezuela. Government forces suppressed the unrest with extensive violence.

Carlos Andrés Pérez: Venezuelan president from 1974 to 1979 and 1989 to 1993. His government announced the economic measures that helped trigger the uprising.
Public transport strike: A work stoppage by public transport operators that interrupts passenger and freight services. Fare increases and transport disruption helped turn local anger into demonstrations.
Human rights violations in Venezuela: Abuses by state agents in Venezuela, including unlawful killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. Security forces' actions during the Caracazo became a major human-rights issue.
February 27, 1989: The date on which protests and riots began in Caracas, Venezuela. The first demonstrations on this date mark the uprising's conventional beginning.
Puntofijismo: The system of power-sharing and party competition established by Venezuela's 1958 Punto Fijo Pact. The Caracazo is often seen as a crisis of legitimacy for the parties that dominated this system.
El Gran Viraje: A Venezuelan program of market-oriented economic reforms introduced by Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1989. Its austerity measures preceded the protests and intensified public anger.
Looting: The taking of goods by force or during a public disorder, without the owner's consent. Looting became a visible feature as unrest spread through Caracas and other cities.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights: A regional court that adjudicates cases under the American Convention on Human Rights. The court later found Venezuela responsible for violations connected to the repression.
Guarenas: A Venezuelan city east of Caracas in Miranda state. Protests over transport fares began in Guarenas before spreading to the capital.
Venezuelan democracy: The institutions and practices through which political authority is contested and exercised in Venezuela. The uprising tested democratic governance when authorities used military force against civilians.

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