Venezuela swaps guns for education

Caracas, Sep 30 (IANS/EFE) The Venezuelan government has initiated a voluntary arms exchange programme under which its citizens can surrender their firearms in return for work tools or a scholarship.

The plan, which began Monday, is part of the government's strategy to disarm the population and bring down instances of violence in the country.

"We have received a considerable number of pistols, revolvers (and) shotguns, and have ordered several incentives and tools for activities that are socially productive," said Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres.

He did not specify how many firearms had been collected.

"We are exchanging weapons for education, weapons for technology, weapons for a future," he added.

As a part of the initiative announced by President Nicolas Maduro last week, 72 collection centres have been set up around the country.

As an incentive for the programme, the government is offering five-year university scholarships, computers or work tools to those who surrender their weapons.

Torres said that the initiative would continue for one year and that he hoped "to collect most of the arms in circulation" which would lead to "a lesser possibility of violence, deaths and crime".

The Venezuelan government has launched several programmes to counter violence in the country, including restructuring the police force, mounting special patrols and the civilian disarmament drive.

According to official figures, violence accounted for 11,000 lives in 2013, much fewer than the 16,000 in 2012.

However, the NGO Venezuelan Observatory of Violence reported about 25,000 deaths in 2013.

--IANS/EFE

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