The so-called “Operation Tuntun” carried out by the government has generated fear among people, but not so much as to paralyze them and not go out. Opposition leader María Corina Machado called on citizens to gather on Francisco de Miranda Avenue, near the Líder Shopping Center.
He identifies himself as Isidro. He is at the forefront of the opposition mobilization called by María Corina Machado on August 17. He relies on the Venezuelan flag to protect his identity: “I cover my face because the tyranny is against me, against us,” he says.
At 1:25 p.m., as the truck carrying the opposition leaders approached the meeting point, Isidro shouted: “We are not violent. What we have here is love for this country,” refuting accusations made by President Nicolás Maduro and other officials in his leadership that the opposition is trying to undermine peace in Venezuela.
Isidro’s protest was not an isolated one. On the contrary, compatriots who attended the rally preferred to speak to the media and be photographed covering their faces with banners and posters.
The government of Nicolás Maduro has reported that it has carried out more than 2,229 arrests, in the context of the protests that broke out on July 29 and 30 in rejection of the results given by the National Electoral Council (CNE) in which the president was named re-elected in the presidential elections.
Desire for freedom
The so-called “Operation Tuntun” carried out by the government has generated fear among people, but not so much that they remain paralyzed and do not go out. Nor did the “seed of sunshine” that fell on the opposition crowd, which was largely carrying Venezuelan flags, caps or T-shirts.
Before Machado’s arrival, citizens were commenting among themselves on the importance of faith at a time when the government’s siege against dissent is growing.
Susan, 71, arrived at the rally point after 11:30 am, accompanied by friends and neighbors. Her goal: “To defend the truth,” referring to what she considers was Edmundo González’s victory in the presidential elections and which, she said, the Executive refuses to recognize.
“The desire for freedom is what drives us to be here,” he tells SuchWhich. She admits that “yes, we are afraid and that is why we cover our faces, but we will continue to be on the streets.”
She says she does not feel protected by the Venezuelan State and adds that faith is the only thing she has left, but also the other people who gathered on Francisco de Miranda Avenue, near the Líder Shopping Center in the Sucre municipality of Miranda state.
“Covering my face (in front of the media) makes me feel terrible because it means that we are not free and that we are afraid, but despite all this, we are here and we are not paralyzed because we have to defend the truth,” she says.
Maria Victoria carries a banner expressing her wish for relatives who fled the country fleeing the humanitarian emergency to return. On the paper she expresses her desire for them to spend Christmas at home, as before, with the whole family.
“I am here because I want freedom for my country. I am demonstrating peacefully. I will continue to be on the streets because those who are most afraid now are them.”
She says she can imagine the pressure the government is putting on the opposition, and is therefore grateful to Machado and other politicians for leading the cause for what she says should be the restoration of democracy: “I am Venezuelan like them (the government),” she adds.
#Live 12:00 pm Caracas | Citizens gather on Francisco de Miranda Avenue, near the Líder Shopping Center, for the mobilization called by María Corina Machado in rejection of the electoral results of the #28Jul in which the winner of the… pic.twitter.com/Tf84vzTAOL
— TalCual (@DiarioTalCual) August 17, 2024
Opponents between prayers and pots and pans
At Machado’s request, citizens began to gather at the site starting at 10:00 am. People from Petare, Los Ruices, La California, Catia, El Valle, and other areas located in the center of Caracas, previously considered a bastion of the ruling party, attended the event.
While waiting for Machado, a group of people prayed at midday for the country’s “freedom.” They said they were sure that with faith, unity and “above all peaceful” citizen action they could achieve the departure of President Nicolás Maduro from Miraflores. They believe that the ruler will sooner or later “accept” what the opposition says was the victory of Edmundo González Urrutia in the presidential elections.
At noon, throughout the mobilization, they sing the national anthem, pray the “Our Father,” chant slogans and bang pots and pans. Although the actions are different, they replicate the same objective: to reject the results given by the CNE after the elections, but also the arrest of more than thousands of people.
Senior citizens and entire families were mobilized. Banners were displayed against the Government and also showing electoral records, presumably corresponding to the elections of July 28, which the opposition has uploaded to a web portal in which it claims (the leadership) that González Urrutia’s victory is evident.
Pedro, an elderly man, attends the march with a sign expressing his rejection of the government’s aggression against citizens. He questions the fact that in Venezuela people have to protest with their faces covered for safety reasons.
“What security? There is no security here. They know who we are here and it bothers them. The boys don’t deserve this and that’s why I’m here,” he says. SuchWhich.
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