CARACAS.- Two weeks from the presidential election that will define the future of Venezuela, the regime of Nicolás Maduro escalates the repression towards the democratic opposition, with a new wave of arrests arbitrary dismissals of members of the opposition candidate’s campaign team Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
At least eight citizens, including six men and two women, were arrested in the last few hours in the interior of the South American country, accused of crimes of conspiracy and associationamong others, after having collaborated with the opposition leader, Maria Corina Machadoand González Urrutia in campaign activities ahead of July 28.
Among those arrested are: Nestor Viloria, Elisaul Rodriguez and Mire Aguilarwho on July 13 were in charge of the truck that transported Machado and González Urrutia during the overwhelming opposition caravan that they led in the city of Valencia, Carabobo state (north-central), despite the obstacles imposed by the regime to prevent the opposition from arriving.
They also arrested Danys Martinezleader of the Vente Venezuela party, led by Machado, already Caesar Tiapafrom COPEI, in Anaco, Anzoátegui state (northeast), where the opposition duo held a large mobilization on July 10.
Escalation of arrests
Likewise, they arrested the members of the Comando Con Venezuela in Guanare, Portuguesa state (west), Mary Rodriguez and Mayra Montilla; already Angel Aristimuñopresident of Un Nuevo Tiempo in Monagas (northeast). In these states, the opposition plans to hold campaign events on July 17 and 20, respectively.
“We are seeing an escalation in repression with the arrest of activists from different political parties, members of our campaign teams at the municipal and even parish level, but also people who have only offered us their services,” denounced Machado from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), where he held a meeting with students and young activists.
For his part, Perkins Rocha, legal advisor of the Comando Con Venezuela, stated in a press conference that despite the new onslaught of the regime, hundreds of citizens remain firm on the electoral path, willing to “reach the end”as the opposition campaign slogan says.
“We have bad news for the regime: the intimidation against our people is not having any effect, we saw this in Valencia. We chose a path full of obstacles, but we decided to walk it“After every citizen who is robbed or intimidated, there are 20, 30, 100 citizens willing to go all the way,” he said.
Chavista attack
For her part, lawyer Tamara Bechar denounced the participation of regional public officials in the attack suffered by Machado and González Urrutia on Saturday afternoon in a Restaurant in La Encrucijada, Aragua state (north-central)where they were eating on their return to Caracas. The establishment was closed on Sunday morning by the tax agency Seniat, headed by José David Cabello, brother of the number two of Chavismo, Diosdado Cabello.
Among the violent ones, who shouted insults at the opposition and their campaign team, while banging on the doors of the premises, were the legislative deputy Texalia Cowboy Rojasand the councilors Maria Lizaida, Julianes Salcedo and Nardy Martinez. In addition to Gerardo Rozoson of a Brigadier General and director in Aragua of the Great Mission Barrio Nuevo Tricolor, who made threatening gestures to opposition leaders.
Bechar indicated that the pro-government women tried to “play the victim,” calling the citizens who were inside the food establishment “misogynistic,” in order to simulate events in a “theatrical situation”which “raises alarm bells regarding political persecution” in Venezuela.
“There is no doubt that those who are politically persecuted here are the women of the Venezuelan opposition (…) Physical attacks were prevented by security members which provide minimal protection to leaders,” he said.
I urge the CNE
Likewise, the lawyer Omar Mora Tosta referred to the case of businessman Ricardo Albacete, arrested on July 11 and accused of allegedly stealing strategic material for the State with the aim of sabotaging the electrical system.
Mora Tosta described the event as “another dark event of justice”explaining that Gurimetal, a company from Albacete that was raided and robbed by state security forces, is a company “with tradition”, with “many years, where they use metals”.
He denounced that the regime held the presentation hearing of the businessman, who hosted Machado in his house during his tour at the end of June in the border state of Táchira (southwest), without the presence of his lawyers.They had to give him a measure of house arrest because Mr. Ricardo is 72 years old.“He is an honorable person who has not committed any crime,” he stressed.
Finally, Rocha urged the directors of the National Electoral Council (CNE), which serves the Chavistas, to prevent factors from “dirtying” the electoral process, which has been marked by the political disqualification and persecution of leaders and activists.
“The responsibility of a clean campaign rests on his shoulders.. Venezuela wants to accompany you in this patriotic feat, but you cannot allow what is happening in the country today. Do not let any factor dirty and spoil the process,” he emphasized.
Source: With information from a press conference
