- The number of deaths in the protests against the electoral result has now risen to 11, according to an NGO
- Most countries on the continent and the EU insist that without the verified ballots, the victory that Maduro proclaims will not be recognized
EFE (via 14ymedio), Madrid/Caracas, July 30, 2024 — The disputed official results of the presidential elections in Venezuela, which grant victory to President Nicolás Maduro, resulted in protests in Caracas and several regions of the country this Monday. Several have been repressed by the military, while the majority opposition ratified “the victory” of its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, with 70% of the votes.
Within the framework of the demonstrations, a total of 11 people have died, according to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, which leads the defense of political prisoners in the country.
Of the total, five were “murdered” in Caracas, two in the state of Zulia (northwest), two in Yaracuy (west), one in Aragua (north) and one in Táchira (west). Two of them were minors, aged 15 and 16 years old, said Foro Penal, Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP), Provea y Laboratorio de Paz at a press conference.
The total for the protests is six deaths and 749 detainees who face various charges, including that of “terrorism”
Meanwhile, at least 749 people have been arrested in Venezuela. The Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, offered an assessment of the performance of the security forces within the framework of these demonstrations, which also resulted in 48 injured police and military personnel.
Saab did not talk about the injuries suffered by the demonstrators who were repelled with tear gas and battering rams, according to the EFE agency in the Venezuelan capital. In his opinion, the arrested demonstrators are “criminals” who did not participate in peaceful protests but generated violence. They are accused of the crimes of public instigation, obstruction of public roads, incitement to hatred, resistance to authority and, “in the most serious cases, terrorism.”
The Minister of Defense of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino López, denounced a coup d’état “forged again” by “fascist extremist right-wing factors,” alluding to the protests. He says that the alleged coup d’état is supported “by imperial factors, American imperialism and its allies.”
In the country, sleepless due to the late announcement of the first bulletin, the demonstrations began after noon, especially after the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Maduro president, in power since 2013. He received, according to CNE, 51.2% of the votes, compared to 44.2% for González Urrutia.
EFE noted the passage of hundreds of motorcyclists through one of the main avenues of Caracas, the vast majority coming from Petare, the largest favela [slum] in the nation, some of whom dragged posters of Maduro’s campaign with the face of the Chavista leader. At the same time that there were multiple protests in other areas of the capital, as well as in 20 states, according to NGOs.
The anti-chavista leader María Corina Machado, González Urrutia’s main supporter, said that the protests were “spontaneous and legitimate expressions” of a people whose “future was being stolen by an illegitimate regime.”
In Caracas, citizens chanted slogans such as “You see, you feel, Edmundo is president,””Maduro we don’t love you” and “I don’t want bonuses, I don’t want CLAP (subsidized food distribution program), what I want is for Nicolás to leave,” among others.
Several people told EFE that the authorities have “stolen the elections,” which is why they decided to leave their homes to express their discontent.
“We are claiming our rights; the elections were won by Edmundo González together with María Corina Machado, and it turns out that the elections have been stolen once again in the country. We are now tired of that. We have children, we have grandchildren, boys who are studying, who will never get ahead with this Government,” said an elderly man.
EFE confirmed that troops of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and the Bolivarian National Police used tear gas and fired buckshot
EFE found that members of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and the Bolivarian National Police used tear gas and fired buckshot at the demonstrators who were peacefully p