Venezuela reports 4 times more casualties than IRAQ!

On August 22 it was concluded that 4,644 civilians had died due to violence in Iraq. However in the Venezuela, whose population is about equal to Iraq’s, 16,000 casualties were reported due to the same causes. Venezuelans have been leaving their homes and even families behind to avoid becoming a victim. In the local newspaper of Venezuela there was a picture posted of a dozen bodies lying on the ground. The court ordered the local news to stop printing and distributing the paper. Apparently, these killings have been occurring because of the gap between the rich and the poor. According to Scholars of Venezuela, the amount of homicides was 3 times as much last year than when Mr. Chavez, their current governor, was elected. Since police officer’s salaries remain low in Venezuela, the officers themselves commit crimes like robbery and kidnapping. According to the court more killings have been occouring because "the country is flooded with thousands of firearms." I believe these casualties have been occuring because the poor people are trying to gain the rich people benefits, while the rich people instead of fending off the poor, continue to take action.

http://http//www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/world/americas/23venez.html?_r=2&no_interstitial&emc=Google-Earth