[JURIST] Venezuelan authorities on Friday passed new regulations that will allow soldiers to use deadly force against demonstrators if they feel that their lives are at risk. These regulations were passed [BBC news report] after a span of violent protests last year, as an attempt to maintain order in the country. The Venezuelan ombudsman, Tarek Williams Saab, characterized the regulations as “clear on the progressive and differentiated use of force.” However, civil rights groups see the regulations in a more negative light. A representative of the National Workers Union contends that the regulations pose “a direct threat to the working class,” as the protests in the past year were staged in large part by workers. Other rights groups believe the regulations are unconstitutional, as the Venezuelan Constitution expressly prohibits the use of firearms to control public demonstrations.

In March of last year, demonstrators gathered to protest government authority [BBC news report], resulting in conflict with police and the deaths of at least 40 people. In response to the conflict, rights groups criticized Venezuelan security forces of abusing and unlawfully detaining protesters, and called for an end to violence [JURIST reports] in the country. Such violent demonstrations were partially motivated by Venezuela’s current economic difficulties [BBC backgrounder] and disdain towards current President Nicolas Maduro [official website, in Spanish]. In 2013 Venezuela withdrew [JURIST report] from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights despite criticism from activists and calls by the UN [JURIST report] for the country to remain a member.