The Vente Venezuela (VV) party, led by opposition member María Corina Machado, called for a global march “for freedom” for December 6. The mobilization will take place only four days before the delivery of the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be awarded to the former deputy in OsloNorway.
In a statement, the political group explained that the protest in cities around the world is part of a series of activities organized “to honor the Venezuelans’ fight for freedom.” Under the name The Nobel is Ours, the initiative seeks to symbolize that “recognition does not belong to one person, but to an entire country,” and to turn the prize into “a global megaphone that projects the Venezuelan cause.”
The call arises, in part, in response to the decision of the Norwegian Peace Council to cancel the traditional procession in Oslo due to the disagreement of some of its members with the election of Machado as laureate.
“Despite attempts to prevent Venezuelans from honoring Machado with the Torch March, this activity will not only be carried out in Venezuela, but around the world,” said VV.
The party also announced a meeting of Venezuelans in Oslo on December 10 – with “prior registration” – and the inauguration, the following day, of the “Maria Corina Machado Museum.”
Concern for the safety of María Corina Machado
Although the Norwegian Nobel Committee has confirmed that Machado has the intention to travel to Oslo to receive the awardthere are serious doubts about its safety. Jørgen Watne Frydnes, leader of the Committee, declared to the public channel NRK that it is “a dangerous trip because the Venezuelan regime has said that it wants to get it out of the way.”
Frydnes expressed his hope that not only his arrival in Norway, but also his safe return to Venezuela will be guaranteed.
Machado declared in October to the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv that in order to travel, Venezuela had to be “free”, and noted that as long as Nicolás Maduro remains in power he cannot leave his location for security reasons.
