Venezuelan students oppose Chavez

Thousands of Venezuelans are protesting the loss of freedom and democracy under their president, Hugo Chavez. Where is the outrage in the U.S. over our losses under Mad King George?-Jake

From Al Jazeera:

Supporters of Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, have scuffled with students and riot police on the streets of Caracas during a third day of protests over the removal of an opposition TV station from the air.

An estimated 8,000 students chanting "freedom!" marched the streets toward the offices of the People's Defender, a government monitor of human rights.

Al Jazeera's team on the scene said they were met by dozens of Chavez supporters on motorcycles, some of whom appeared to be armed.

Scuffles then broke out before riot police intervened. The latest protest came as a leading Chavez opponent demanded the release of almost 200 protesters jailed since Sunday.

Manuel Rosales, a former presidential candidate, said opposition to the government's move to halt the broadcasts of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) showed that "freedom cannot be negotiated nor bargained".

In addition to free speech, he said protesters were demanding the right to protest "peacefully and democratically".

"Freedom for those young men and women, immediately. They should not be treated like criminals," said Rosales. "I know that Radio Caracas will return to the air."

Thousands have been converging at the capital's plazas and streets since Chavez took RCTV, the opposition-aligned channel and Venezuela's oldest station, off the air at midnight on Sunday.

He accused RCTV of inciting a coup attempt against him in 2002, a charge the station denied.

Police on Wednesday detained Oscar Perez, an opposition leader, as he was preparing another protest for the weekend.

Officials did not immediately comment on the arrest.

Since Sunday, more than 180 people, mostly university students and minors, have been detained, and at least 30 charged with violent acts.

It is unclear how many are still behind bars.