Resisting 3

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

People of Venezuela, drawing courage from Maria Corina Machado, are taking to the streets to protest against Maduro's claim of election victory. Both sides say they have evidence to support their claim. Machado says her candidate received 73% of the vote.

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"Venezuelan elections under Mr. Maduro have long ceased to be considered free or fair, beset by voter suppression and other irregularities." Some Latin American countries have downgraded their relationship to Venezuela in protest.

The NYT reports that the analysis of a non-government research group is consistent with an independent exit poll conducted on Election Day. Their conclusion? The opposition party beat Maduro by 66% to 31%.

A fight for power is taking place right now.

from New York Times

Resisting 5

Follow up to this post

Last summer in Venezuela, the presidential election was stolen by dictator Nicolas Maduro. Nelson Merino had worked the campaign for the opposition party and then worked to prevent Maduro from "illegally seizing power." He writes here about the subsequent suffering he endured for his efforts.

Despite the courage of the opposition and its leader Maria Machado, the dictator retained his power and declared his victory. Merino was soon arrested and charged with resisting authority, obstruction of public roads, incitement to hatred, and terrorism.

"We were tortured. We had no access to clean drinking water and no proper food . . . We had no rights--only what they called privileges." One of those privileges was the paqueteria: every 15 days, family members of prisoners were allowed to bring a 5-liter bottle of drinking water, five packs of crackers, and one chocolate bar. That was all." More details are given in his article below.

Like so many other (photo) Venezuelan patriots, he says "I celebrate and applaud the actions taken by the United States government against the narco-trafficker Nicolas Maduro . . ." 

"Today I am a refugee in Spain with an overwhelming need to return to Venezuela, out of love and commitment to freedom and democracy."

from "I Survived Maduro's Torture State"

Resisting 4

Follow up to this post

Venezuela's fight for freedom from socialist dictator Maduro is not over. A fight for power is taking place right now, and the American government is taking sides in the outcome of that disputed election held a couple weeks ago.

According to the US Secretary of State, “Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that [the opposition party] won the most votes . . .”

His statement goes on to denounce Maduro's threats and accusations toward the opposition as "unsubstantiated,"  "an undemocratic attempt to repress political participation and retain power.”

Opposition leader Machado says she is in hiding, fearing the loss of her freedom and even her life. This is far from over.

from CNN

Resisting

Inflation climbed 9,000% from 2012 to 2022, and that is just the tip of the misery iceberg in Venezuela where socialist dictators Chavez and Maduro have held control since 1998. Chavez changed the constitution to take the country by revolution when his term as president was to end in 2003.

A third of the country's citizens (eight million) have left it, and the people are desperate. Take a look at the "man-made hell" they've been dealing with here.

Opposing the government of Maduro (successor to Chavez) is dangerous. This author was convicted of creating a movie "portraying the authorities in a negative light," and sentenced to 6-10 years in prison for it. He moved to the U.S. two hours later.

Maduro claimed victory in last Sunday's national election--after opposition figures were arrested and the leader barred from running (that should sound familiar). That leader is still the focus of whatever hope is left. Her name is Maria Corina Machado.

from The Free Press

(cont'd tomorrow)