Man set on fire during Venezuela's unrest

23/5/2017 11:32

        Photographer Marco Bello has
        covered many violent scenes during seven weeks of
        anti-government protests in Venezuela, but he witnessed a
        particularly shocking incident at the weekend when a crowd set a
        man on fire.
        
        Tens of thousands of demonstrators opposed to President
        Nicolas Maduro's socialist government had been marching down a
        highway, and when security forces blocked their way, the rally
        descended into clashes around east Caracas.
        
        "I spotted a man running in front of me as a group of
        protesters, most of them hooded and with makeshift shields, were
        chasing him," said Bello, 47.
        
        "I followed them, and some 100 meters down the street, the
        protesters caught the man and surrounded him. When I walked up
        and went through the circle of people to take pictures, someone
        had already poured gasoline over the man and set him on fire."
        
        Though Maduro accused the mob of attacking the man, whom he
        identified as 21-year old Orlando Figuera, because he was
        pro-government, Bello said they were calling him a thief.
        
        "All I heard throughout was that he was being accused of
        trying to steal from a woman. I didn't hear anyone accusing him
        of being a pro-government infiltrator," Bello said.
        
        During Venezuela's economic and political crisis, lynchings
        have become common, killing about one person every three days
        according to monitoring group Venezuelan Observatory of
        Violence.
        
        With flames on his back, the man ran through the crowd, hit
        a motorbike on the ground, and tore off his shirt. Some people
        chased him and threw rocks, while others tried to calm the
        aggressors and formed a protective circle as the fire abated.
        
        The man survived, though with severe burns.
        
        "I have tried to avoid seeing the photos, they affected me,"
        said Bello, who believes passionately in chronicling his
        nation's troubles and is deeply saddened by the violence.
        
        "One day a few weeks ago, I saw an armored vehicle run over
        a youth, then a guy who caught light from a burning motorbike. A
        bit later, I saw a mother holding her little girl to protect her
        from teargas and running. That day was tough, especially when I
        saw the girl. I have a four-and-half-year-old daughter."
        
        How does he cope with such terrible experiences?
        
        "On Saturday, I focused on the technical aspects of the
        photos. It is a form of defense, I suppose. The mob was crazy,
        you cannot reason with them, they do not think. Later, when
        things calmed down, I thought, 'This is mad'."
        
        Originally a computer technician, Bello started taking
        photos as a hobby about a decade ago, turning professional in
        2013 when former leader Hugo Chavez died.
        
        "It was an important moment in Venezuela's history."