page_title: Timeline of the 2014 Venezuelan protests
section_title: March
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the 2014 Venezuelan protests / March
caption_attribution_description: English: Two graduates protesting against the government. The sign says: "What use do I have of two careers in a dictatorship?". Español: Dos estudiantes recién graduadas protestando en contra del gobierno. "¿De qué me sirven dos carreras en dictadura?".
context_page_description: The 2014 Venezuelan protests began in February 2014 when hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans protested due to high levels of criminal violence, inflation, and chronic scarcity of basic goods because of policies created the Venezuelan government. The protests have lasted for several months and events are listed below according to the month they had happened.
context_section_description: 1 March – Some cities such as El Tigre, Anaco, Tigrito, Píritu refused to celebrate Carnaval and protesters placed crosses representing those fallen during the protests on beaches popular during Carnaval, which had few visitors due to the protests. Carnaval celebrations in cities also had few attendees due to the protests with most of those at celebrations being police officers. The water in a fountain at Plaza Francia in Caracas was dyed red in protest of the deaths caused by violence. The Venezuelan Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Díaz, denied the opposition's claims of students being the main target of the Venezuelan government, when in fact they represent 35% of all detainees. She also stated that at least 27 government agents are being investigated for violations against human rights, plus another five accused of killing three people on the first day of protests. Meanwhile, President Maduro announced that a National Guard officer had died and another two had been wounded by sniper fire.
  2 March – Tens of thousands of opposition protesters marched throughout Caracas protesting against censorship, shortages, insecurity and injustice. The National Guard used tear gas on protesters and played loud music to prevent them from being heard.
  3 March – Citizens of Los Salias and Los Teques marched to Ramo Verde Prison to demand "justice and freedom" from the government.
  4 March – Thousands of peaceful opposition protesters filled the streets of Caracas. The president of COPEI along with other citizens gathered in front of the United Nations in Chacao asking for the opposition to present their case to the United Nations and claimed that Elias Jaua is trying to conceal what is really happening in Venezuela.
  5 March – Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Panama as the nation honored President Chavez on the first anniversary of his death. President Maduro, in an address at the Montana Barracks in Caracas, accused Panama of pushing for regional organizations to intervene in Venezuela as it had asked the Organization of American States for an investigation into the protests, and assured the OAS it's a "dying organization with sixty years of a bad history of intervention and dictatorship". Hours after President Maduro called on the UBCH (Bolivar and Chavez Battle Units), the communal councils, communes, and colectivos during his speech; attacks on an apartment building by some groups who shot at residents and the National Guard who fired tear gas at the building resulted in two deaths in Los Ruices, including a National Guardsman. Members of the National Guard and "colectivos" both attacked peaceful protesters in Caracas with the mayor of the municipality Ramón Muchacho confirming this and denouncing the actions of the National Guard that caused damage saying, "We could see how a well-identified tank of the National Guard deliberately rammed a parked car on a street." Groups on motorcycles in Baruta also "intimidated" protesters and destroyed an opposition barricade. Popular Will denounced that its headquarters in Maracaibo, Zulia state, was hampered with large amounts of garbage and debris. In Punto Fijo, Falcón state, 26 students were detained during the protests; one of them was violently beaten, fracturing his ribcage.
  6 March – The Venezuelan government took Panama off the list of exchanging currency on the CADIVI website supposedly due to the tense relations with the country. Mayor of Miranda Henrique Capriles said President Maduro's calling for groups on 5 March was "irresponsible" and said to listeners, "Do you think that will solve the economic problems killing each other? No.". In Caracas, a National Guardsman dies during the protests and a car is set on fire.
  7 March – The Penal Court brought 40 complaints of alleged human rights violations that occurred on 12 February to the government. A statue of Hugo Chávez in Yaracuy was set on fire.
  8 March – Economic ties between Venezuela and Panama have ceased due to political differences. In order to "crush speculators", President Maduro introduced a new "Cuban-like" ratio
caption: Graduates with a sign saying: "What use do I have of two careers in a dictatorship?".
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