By the Caribbean Journal staff

The United Nations is expressing its concern over renewed violence in Venezuela, the world body said earlier this week.

The UN’s Human Rights Office said it was concerned at the reported “excessive use” of force by authorities in response to protests that have been going on for months in the country.

The UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said Venezuelan troops rounded up more than 200 youth movement protesters who had been “camping peacefully” outside UN Development Programme offices in Caracas and other parts of the country’s capital.

“The Government has claimed that the camps were being used as bases for staging violent protests, and that they had found molotov cocktails, arms and drugs there,” said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the OHCHR in Geneva.

Colville said 243 people had been arrested last week, with the majority having been reportedly taken to the Tiuna military compound.

“Barricades were set up and roads blocked,” Colvilles said. “A policeman was shot dead and three others reportedly injured during clashes. Protesters were also reportedly injured.”

Colville said the UN “unequivocally” condemned all violence by all sides in the country.

“We are particularly concerned at the reported excessive use of force by the authorities in response to protests,” he said. “We therefore reiterate the High Commissioner’s call to the Government to ensure that people are not penalized for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression and for sustained and inclusive, peaceful dialogue based on Venezuela’s human rights obligations.”