The opposition in Venezuela has begun to mobilize to prevent Nicolás Maduro from taking office as president of Venezuela for a new term on January 10, after the controversial elections of July 28. Citizens took to the streets this Sunday to demand the release of the more than 1,900 people who are detained for dissenting from the Chavista regime.
Relatives and friends of those considered “political prisoners” have carried out a vigil in a square in Caracas to demand the release of these detainees and the “cessation of repression” in the country.
Shouting “freedom”, several of the attendees released dozens of white balloons from the square, on the ground of which they placed photographs of detainees and a message that said “free all political prisoners.”
Likewise, during the activity, convened by the largest opposition coalition – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) -, they prayed for the release of these people, as well as for “peace, democracy and freedom” of Venezuela and the reunion of the family separated by migration.
You could also read ‘Christmas without prisoners’ On the ground, a message formed with candles that several of the participants placed, while others had signs with phrases in which they asked for an end to “injustice, misery” and “violations of human rights.”
Opposition leader María Corina Machado has called on Venezuelans to, from wherever they are, ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) – which is investigating the Caribbean country for alleged crimes against humanity – to act “now” so that there is “justice.”
They ask Maduro for “mercy”
“It is horrible, totally unfair, absurd,” said Josefina Mata, 86, who expressed solidarity with these “unfairly” detained and, from the square, asked President Nicolás Maduro to “have mercy”“release those prisoners” and “understand that no one loves him.”
For her part, Andreína Baduel, sister of Josnars Adolfo Baduel – arrested in 2020 and accused of terrorism, criminal association and treason -, thanked the accompaniment in “this demonstration of solidarity” which, he said, “encourages and strengthens them in the midst of so much pain.”
“This is a fight for love, and love has made us not get tired until all political prisoners be releaseduntil someone is never again persecuted for thinking differently. (…) Our political prisoners, from the different prisons in the country, are united in prayer with us at this moment,” said the daughter of the military man Raúl Baduel, who died in prison in 2021, after 12 years in detention.
On Friday, the NGO Foro Penal, which leads the defense of “political prisoners” in the nation, indicated that 1,903 people remain in prison for dissenting from the Governmentmost of them detained after the July 28 elections, in which Maduro was proclaimed the winner by the electoral body, a result designated as “fraudulent” by the PUD.
Chavismo’s reaction
Chavismo has also called a march “in defense of peace and Christmas”. During the live broadcast on the State channel, Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Maduro referred to the protests of the Venezuelan opposition, which demand the release of political prisoners and the intervention of the International Criminal Court in the face of allegations of violations of human rights.
He has also attacked Machado and called her “toxic”: “If you can’t stop hating, then stop doing harm and conspiring against Venezuela.”
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