Venezuela Situation

Venezuela 'political prisoners' held hostage in jail riot 15 February 2018 Inmates at Tocuyito prison in the Venezuelan state of Carabobo have taken four other prisoners and dozens of guards hostage in a jail riot. Photos on social media show the four prisoners kneeling with their arms held up while other inmates appear to be threatening them. Three of the four men targeted are listed as "political prisoners" by a Venezuelan NGO. The rioting inmates are demanding to be moved to an open prison. A photo shows them holding signs reading: "We want peaceful dialogue" and "We want an answer". Journalist Mildred Manrique tweeted the photo, saying that 50 guards were also being held hostage by inmates with grenades: Ms Manrique said that Jesús Albi was also among those being held hostage. Mr Albi has been charged with the murder of Almelina Carrillo, a woman who died after being hit by a bottle thrown from a buildi...

Venezuela crisis: Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma flees country 18 November 2017 The mayor of Caracas has escaped from his long-term house arrest in Venezuela, fleeing across the border to Colombia and then on to Spain. Antonio Ledezma had been confined since early 2015 on charges of supporting an attempted coup, which he denies. The 62-year-old is a vocal opponent of President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US has labelled a dictator. Colombia confirmed Mr Ledezma entered the country on Friday. He later flew to Spain where he was met by his family. He told journalists he would work from exile to secure the release of political prisoners. "Let's not permit that Venezuela dies in our hands," he said. It is unclear how he escaped and made it to the border undetected. Source :  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42031129

PM statement following meeting with Julio Borges: 7 Sept 2017 Theresa May and Sir Alan Duncan met with Julio Borges, Leader of the Venezuelan National Assembly, and Antonieta Lopez, mother of imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, today. Published 7 September 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May said: We have been consistent in our condemnation of the actions of the Venezuelan government and in our unwavering support for the National Assembly as a democratic institution. Today’s meeting is an unambiguous signal that the UK will continue to work with our international partners to put pressure on the authorities to decrease tension in Venezuela and prevent the country from being taken further away from democracy. In particular we are deeply troubled by the detention of political prisoners such as Leopoldo Lopez, whose case we heard at Downing Street today. Mr Lopez’s continued detention and the actions of the Venezuelan authorities in preventing his wife L...

40 countries protest Venezuela's new assembly amid fraud accusations Opposition decries election of new constituent assembly made up of Socialist party and allies after claims eight million people voted were proved wrong Sibylla Brodzinsky and Daniel Boffey Wed 2 Aug 2017 18.52 BST. Venezuela’s opposition has announced plans to block the inauguration of a contentious constituent assembly whose election was further clouded on Wednesday by fresh allegations of ballot fraud. The opposition coalition called for mass protests “against the installation of the constituent fraud” to prevent the new assembly – made up entirely by the ruling Socialist party and its political allies – from beginning its sessions on Thursday. As many as 40 countries have said they would not recognize the new assembly, which critics say is a thinly veiled attempt by Nicolás Maduro to consolidate power. The body will have the ability  to dissolve state institutions and rewr...

US imposes sanctions on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro 1 August 2017. The US government has frozen any assets held by Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro in the US, after he held a controversial poll. Under the sanctions, US firms and individuals are banned from doing business with him. The election of a constituent assembly on Sunday was held amid mass protests. At least 10 people were killed. Mr Maduro said the poll was a "vote for the revolution" , saying "sanctions from the empire don't scare me". It is unclear whether the president holds investments in the US and Washington's action was likely to be seen as symbolic. "The emperor Donald Trump took decisions against me that show his desperation and hate," President Maduro said in a televised speech on Monday. "I don't obey orders from f...

Armed Civilian Bands in Venezuela Prop Up Unpopular President By PATRICIA TORRES and NICHOLAS CASEY                                   APRIL 22, 2017    CARACAS, Venezuela  The bikers thundered up in a phalanx of red jackets and dark clothes, some with faces covered, revving motorcycles before a thousand protesters in Caracas. They threw tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. Then, witnesses say, they pulled pistols and fired. Someone fell. Carlos Moreno, 17, lay sprawled on the ground, a pool of blood around his head. “His brain matter was coming out,” recalled Carlos Julio Rojas, a community leader who witnessed the fatal shooting in Venezuela ’s capital on Wednesday. The uniformed men who shot Mr. Moreno were not government security forces, witnesses say. Rather, they were members of armed bands who have become key enforcers for President Nicolás Maduro as he a...