CARACAS – Officials in Venezuela say a woman has been killed and a dozen more injured in a clash with security forces on the border with Brazil.
Gran Sabana Mayor Emilio Gonzalez identified the woman shot dead Friday as Zoraida Rodriguez, a member of an indigenous community.
A day earlier, President Nicolas Maduro ordered the border closed as the opposition made plans to bring in humanitarian aid from Brazil and two other neighboring countries on Saturday.
Gonzalez says members of the Pemon ethnic group clashed with the Venezuela National Guard and army, who were moving tanks to the border with Brazil.
He says the soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas and the injured people were taken for medical treatment.
Venezuelan reporter's tweets:
5) Ahí un líder indígena de Kumarakapay, quien pertenece al grupo de seguridad de los aretauka, grupo ligado al alcalde pemón Emilio González pic.twitter.com/H72jd7fZvL
— Sebastiana Barraez (@SebastianaSin) February 22, 2019
HILO PEMONES
— Sebastiana Barraez (@SebastianaSin) February 22, 2019
1) Urgente. Militares y pemones se enfrentan en un puesto de control pemón cuando un autobús del Ejército pasó por la comunidad de Kamaracupay, San Francisco de Yuruani en el municipio Gran Sabana. pic.twitter.com/8XhQXvLXx7
2) Allí hubo una pequeña discusión por el tema del paso y del autobús del Ejército. De repente bajaron dos efectivos disparando ráfagas contra el puesto y todos los que estaban allí. Hirieron a 12 personas. pic.twitter.com/JC3rsp6l4l
— Sebastiana Barraez (@SebastianaSin) February 22, 2019