Venezuela: pictures of armed children that support the government causes a stir | Translation from InfoBAE.com
CARACAS - Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami, said that the Government rejects the images broadcast over the Internet, where children are carrying automatic rifles and machine guns in an area where say "liberated", and in which there is heavy support for Hugo Chavez.
"Due to the seriousness of such a reprehensible fact, we have ordered an investigation to determine who is responsibe," El Aissami said to the government channel "Venezolana de Television."
The Minister reacted to the spread of pictures of children showing the weapons of war at a celebration of the radical group "La Piedrita" in the west of Caracas. This group says they support Hugo Chavez and will take up arms if anyone tries to remove him from office.
El Aissami rejected the photographs and described them as "reprehensible and morally unacceptable." He said the images violated the humanitarian principles of the Bolivarian Constitution of Venezuela and also undermine the development of children and adolescents.
He said the government is geared towards building a country of peace and not violence. "All the government's will and especially Chávez's is oriented towards building a country wedded to peace, solidarity and love. Our commitment is to the life and peace of the people," he said.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General announced the appointment of two prosecutors in Caracas to investigate the veracity of the images and identify those who are responsible.
The prosecution said they don't support the children's actions "since it undermines the integrity" of Venezuelan children.
The children were photographed with high-powered rifles in front of a mural of the radical group "La Piedrita," which shows the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus, who is holding a rifle, and another of Jesus, who is firing an AK-47. The group resides in the January 23rd barrio, west of the city.
El Aissami said the government is making efforts to disarm the population and reaffirmed the government's commitment to "life and peace."
In the area where the children were photographed, there are several radical groups that claim to defend the Chavez government, threatening to take up arms if the president leaves power.
