Venezuela opposition leader arrested a day before Maduro’s inauguration

Machado was arrested aft re-appearing successful nationalist for the archetypal clip successful months to articulation an antigovernment protest.

Venezuela absorption person Maria Corina Machado has been arrested aft re-appearing successful nationalist for the archetypal clip successful months a time earlier the 3rd inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro.

A societal media relationship for Comando Con Venezuela, the governmental absorption radical Machado leads, reported the apprehension connected Thursday.

“María Corina Machado was violently intercepted portion leaving the gathering successful Chacao,” the absorption radical wrote, adding that authorities forces “fired” astatine the motorcycles that were transporting her.

⚠️⚠️⚠️ María Corina (@MariaCorinaYA) fue violentamente interceptada a su salida de la concentración en Chacao.

Esperamos confirmar en minutos su situación.

Efectivos del régimen dispararon contra las motos que la trasladaban.

— Comando ConVzla (@ConVzlaComando) January 9, 2025

Machado has been successful hiding successful caller months, pursuing a authorities crackdown connected dissent successful the aftermath of the contested July 28 statesmanlike election.

But she made a nationalist quality connected Thursday, aft calling connected supporters to protestation successful a last-ditch effort to artifact Venezuela’s President Maduro from clinging to power. He is acceptable to beryllium sworn successful for different six-year word connected Friday.

“They wanted america to combat each other, but Venezuela is united,” Machado, waving a Venezuelan flag, shouted to a fewer 100 protesters from atop a motortruck earlier her arrest.

Demonstrators astatine the rally chanted, “We are not afraid! We are not afraid!” Many besides sang the Venezuelan nationalist anthem arsenic a people of defiance against Maduro’s government.

Waves of antigovernment protests broke retired pursuing the July 28 election, erstwhile the electoral authorization declared Maduro the victor without releasing the accustomed breakdown of voting tallies.

The absorption called the effect fraudulent and has alternatively published its ain copies of the voting tallies online. It says that documentation proves its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, is the rightful winner.

The Maduro authorities has responded to the outcry with what critics person denounced arsenic heavy-handed repression. More than 2,000 radical were arrested and an estimated 25 radical were killed successful the post-election crackdown.

Maduro has besides accused Machado of starring a conspiracy to topple him. In September, a tribunal besides issued a warrant for Gonzalez’s arrest.

‘There’s fear’

Reporting from an anti-Maduro protestation successful neighbouring Colombia connected Thursday afternoon, Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti said Machado defied erstwhile threats and attempts to detain her.

“The authorities has repeatedly promised that they would apprehension her if she tried to amusement up astatine 1 of these protests,” Rampietti said. He added that Machado had been successful hiding since August aft the Maduro authorities began its crackdown connected absorption figures and protesters.

“She said that she expected today’s protestation to beryllium historical and a mode to amusement the satellite that the bulk of Venezuelans privation a antiauthoritarian modulation successful the country,” Rampietti reported.

But determination was a comparatively tiny turnout for Thursday’s protests arsenic riot constabulary were deployed successful force.

“Of course, there’s less people,” Miguel Contrera, an empanada vendor, told The Associated Press arsenic National Guard soldiers carrying riot shields buzzed by connected motorcycles. “There’s fear.”

Gonzalez himself fled to Spain successful September to question governmental asylum. But helium has since returned to the Americas, wherever helium has been touring countries specified arsenic Argentina, Uruguay and the United States to bolster his assertion to victory.

He has besides pledged to instrumentality to Venezuela. Maduro’s government announced a $100,000 reward for accusation connected Gonzalez’s whereabouts successful the lead-up to the inauguration.

On Thursday, Gonzalez lent his dependable to the calls for Machado’s freedom.

“As president-elect, I request the contiguous merchandise of María Corina Machado,” helium wrote connected societal media. “To the information forces that kidnapped her, I say: Do not play with fire.”

Source

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies