<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/11/world-must-confront-maduro-campaign-of-terror-maria-corina-machado>
"Venezuela’s main opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has accused the
country’s strongman president, Nicolás Maduro, of unleashing a horrific
“campaign of terror” in an attempt to cling on to power.
Two weeks after Maduro’s widely questioned claim to have won the 28 July
election, human rights activists say he has launched a ferocious clampdown
designed to silence those convinced his rival Edmundo González was the actual
winner. More than 1,300 people have been detained, including 116 teenagers,
according to the rights group Foro Penal. At least 24 people have reportedly
been killed.
Speaking from an undisclosed location where she is in hiding, Machado – a
charismatic conservative who is González’s key backer – urged governments
around the world to oppose Maduro’s intensifying crackdown.
“What is going on in Venezuela is horrific. Innocent people are being detained
or disappeared as we speak,” said the 56-year-old former congresswoman, who
endorsed González after authorities barred her from running.
Maduro’s regime has nicknamed part of its clampdown Operación Tun Tun –
“Operation Knock Knock” – a chilling reference to the often late-night visits
to perceived government opponents by heavily armed, black-clad captors from the
intelligence services or police.
Tun Tun’s targets have included activists, journalists and prominent opposition
politicians – but most detainees appear to be the residents of working-class
areas who rose up en masse against Maduro for the first time in the two days
after his disputed claim to victory."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
