Venezuela protesters demand ‘freedom’ from Nicolas Maduro
At least one person was killed as thousands of people flooded the streets of Venezuela to protest against an election result that gave President Nicolas Maduro a third term in power.
At least one person was killed as thousands of people flooded the streets of Venezuela to protest against a hotly disputed election result that gave President Nicolas Maduro a third term in power.
Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Monday at irate protesters challenging the reelection victory claimed by Mr Maduro but disputed by the opposition and questioned by many other countries.
Thousands streamed into streets throughout the capital Caracas, chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!”
Some ripped Maduro campaign posters from street posts and burned them. Around the country at least two statues of Hugo Chavez, the late socialist hero who led the country for more than a decade and handpicked Mr Maduro as his successor, were knocked down by protesters.
At least one person died in northwest Yaracuy state and 46 more were arrested, Alfredo Romero, head of a rights group called Foro Penal — which specialises in political prisoner issues – said on X.
In Caracas the national guard firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, some wearing motorbike helmets and bandannas tied over their faces for protection. Some responded by throwing back rocks.
Protests were reported even in very poor areas of Caracas that had been bastions of support for Mr Maduro and his socialist government. Shots were heard in some areas.
“We want freedom. We want Maduro to go. Maduro, leave!,” Marina Sugey, a 42 year-old resident of a poor area of Caracas called Petare, said.
Mr Maduro, 61, attended a meeting on Monday at which the national electoral council certified his re-election to a third six-year term until 2031.
He dismissed international criticism and doubts about the result of Sunday’s voting, claiming Venezuela was the target of an attempted coup of a “fascist and counter-revolutionary” nature.
But opposition leader Maria Corina Machado later said a review of voting records available so far clearly showed that the next president “will be Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia”, who took her place on the ballot after she was barred by Maduro-aligned courts.
The records showed a “mathematically irreversible” lead for Mr Gonzalez Urrutia, she said, with 6.27 million votes to only 2.75 million for Mr Maduro.
The elections were held amid widespread fears of fraud by the government and a campaign tainted by accusations of political intimidation.
Pollsters had predicted a resounding victory for the opposition. In the early hours of Monday, the electoral council said Mr Maduro had won 51.2 per cent of votes cast compared to 44.2 per cent for Mr Gonzalez Urrutia.
The outcome sparked concern and calls for a “transparent” process from the UN, US, EU and several countries in Latin America.
Allies including China, Russia and Cuba congratulated Maduro. Mr Gonzalez Urrutia, a 74-year-old former diplomat, on Monday acknowledged the deep discontent in society with the results and vowed that “we will fight for our liberty”.
Ms Machado assured Venezuelans that “the leaders of the world” are validating the results, and called families to turn out on Tuesday for “popular assemblies” nationwide to show support for a peaceful transition of power.
Nine Latin American countries called in a joint statement for a “complete review of the results with the presence of independent electoral observers”.
Brazil and Colombia also urged a review of the numbers while Chile’s President said the outcome was “hard to believe.” Peru recalled its ambassador and Panama said it was suspending relations with Venezuela. The Organisation of American States, based in Washington, called an emergency meeting for Wednesday.
Caracas hit back, saying it was withdrawing diplomatic staff from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay for “interventionist actions and statements”.
It also suspended flights to and from Panama and the Dominican Republic.
“We were robbed last night,” angry Caracas resident Melanie Fiser said.
Ms Fiser, 22, said Mr Gonzalez Urrutia was the real winner of the poll, and that she was sick of hardship and living on food handouts from the government.
Most Venezuelans live on just a few dollars a month, and endure shortages of food and such basics as soap and toilet paper.
“I do not want aid. What I want is for Nicolas to leave,” Ms Fiser said as demonstrators chanted a rhyming slogan that said just that.
AFP
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