Venezuelan Oppositions Vows to Keep up Pressure on Maduro

Maduro, 53, denounced what the opposition had billed as the “Takeover of Caracas” as a front for coup plans, akin to a short-lived 2002 putsch against his mentor Chavez, who died of cancer three years ago. Authorities blocked roads into the city and shut down key subway stations, forcing people to walk for kilometres to reach the protest. Thursday’s demonstration was one of the largest in the past decade.

They vowed to keep up the pressure until Maduro is ousted. In a poll released last month 83 per cent said they would vote to remove Maduro from office.

The government responded with a much smaller counter-demonstration in downtown Caracas attended mainly by public sector workers. They’ve done nothing in 17 years.

“We have frustrated the intended coup d’etat”, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol told the diplomatic corps. But by the end of the day it was unclear whether the country’s increasingly authoritarian government would be swayed.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addresses supporters in Caracas on Thursday, September 1, 2016.

For one thing, rights groups point out that almost all government institutions are controlled by the executive branch.

The opposition accuses the National Electoral Council of deliberately stalling the process to push a possible vote past a deadline that could lead to new elections, ensuring power would remain in ruling Socialist hands no matter the vote’s outcome.

“I came to demand that the recall election take place according to the constitution”, said Rivas, 35.

VENEZUELAN citizens living in this country were in solidarity with their compatriots at home yesterday calling for a recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro has accused the opposition of orchestrating a coup attempt against his socialist government.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks on April 12 at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.

Maduro, 53, says the opposition-dubbed “Takeover of Caracas” disguises a US -fomented coup plan, akin to a short-lived 2002 putsch against his mentor and predecessor Hugo Chavez.

Several foreign journalists were denied entry into Venezuela ahead of the rally.

“What’s more, sending us packing only reinforces the government’s heavy-handed reputation with the press”.

In some parts of the city, opposition protests turned violent, as people were caught on film burning cars and debris, trying to close down streets, throwing molotov cocktails and attacking police.

The expatriates gathered outside the Venezuelan Embassy in Port-of-Spain with the intention of delivering a letter to Venezuelan Ambassador to TT, Coromoto Godoy Calderon. Senior opposition figure Henrique Capriles said on Thursday that two mayors had also been arrested.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Caracas on September 1 to demand the end of socialist rule in Venezuela. “This is a conscious people and will be mobilized forever”, Maduro said, at the rally. These mobilizations can not be ignored.

Currently, they are facing a life in prison, but because the case has political implications, the Obama administration has opted to act carefully on this matter, all in favor of the downfall of the oppressive Maduro regime that sponsors human right violations, corruption, and drug trafficking.

Opposition leader Jesus Torrealba said: ‘Today is the beginning of the definitive stage of our struggle, ‘ Jesus Torrealba told supporters.