Caracas, January 10 (RHC-teleSUR), -- In a year that many fear will see increasing opposition violence in Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro made a plea to the people to stay unified and focus on making 2015 a productive year.

Speaking on the road from his international tour to sew up economic accords with China and Iran, Venezuelan news outlets published his appeal to Venezuelans.

“I continue to call for work, productivity and unity, and that we isolate the lunatics, the fascists and those who commit violence. Don’t get caught up in their desperate, crazy agenda, their psychological warfare, it’s time to work and move forward.

Venezuela’s government, under Hugo Chavez then Nicolas Maduro, has been implementing a democratically-approved socialist revolution since 1999.

Since then, the Bolivarian government has operated under the constant threat of destabilization attempts from right-wing forces within the country, and external threats including the United States, which supported a coup attempt in 2002 and in December passed sanctions against the country.

Opposition activists sparked riots last year, during which 43 people were killed and billions in damage to public infrastructure inflicted.