They have gas, we have Poopootov fecal cocktails!

A plastic pail containing bottles, rocks and a "Poopootov", a bottle filled with feces, which is a play on Molotov, is seen on the street during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Picture: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A plastic pail containing bottles, rocks and a "Poopootov", a bottle filled with feces, which is a play on Molotov, is seen on the street during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Picture: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

Published May 12, 2017

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Caracas - Venezuela's opposition protests

on Wednesday may be the messiest in a six-week wave of unrest as

demonstrators prepare to throw feces at security forces, adding

to the customary rocks, petrol bombs and tear gas.

The new tactic has been dubbed the "Poopootov" in a play on

the Molotov cocktails often seen at streets protests in

Venezuela.

"They have gas; we have excrement," reads an image floating

around social media to advertise Wednesday's "Shit March."

With inflation in the high triple-digits, shortages of the

most basic medicines, and millions suffering food scarcity, the

country is undergoing a major crisis.

For weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the

streets, angry at the government of unpopular President Nicolas

Maduro.

Some opposition sympathizers are appalled at the plans to

use feces, both animal and human, calling it an unsanitary and

inappropriate tactic even in the face of a government they

despise.

Many note that throwing feces could increase cases of

infectious diseases which are soaring due to the lack of

medicine as well as basic cleaning materials such as soaps and

disinfectant.

"Poopootov Cocktail"

"The kids go out with just stones. That's their weapon. Now

they have another weapon: excrement," said a 51-year-old dentist

preparing containers of feces in her home for protesters to

launch at authorities.

"One of my patients is collecting excrement from her child,"

said the dentist, who asked not to be identified.

Messages have been going viral on Venezuelan WhatsApp groups

giving step-by-step instructions and advice on putting together

the Poopootov cocktails.

Some insist on avoiding glass containers to ensure that the

projectiles only humiliate troops rather than injure them.

"The use of excrement is not only an act of desperation,

it's madness," said pro-government TV personality Mario Silva on

Twitter.

With opposition leaders looking to bring frontline

government forces onside, given they too suffer from the

country's crisis, the strategy may backfire.

Many are thought to sympathize with protesters' complaints

about the economic situation but do not speak out for fear of

retaliation by authorities.

While the opposition coalition has remained quiet on the

strategy, some lawmakers have given it tacit acceptance.

"They use their weapons against us, so people are using what

they have," said lawmaker Rafael Guzman, who on Monday was seen

in the thick of tear gas throwing a canister back at security

forces. 

Reuters

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