As 15 days have passed since the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, by the United States Government, the demonstrations of solidarity and support for the presidential couple continue. On this occasion, the people have gathered in the Bolívar squares of the country to deliver letters with messages of hope for their speedy release.
“We will demonstrate to the world the infinite love we feel for the Bolivarian Revolution and for those who protect Venezuelan families,” said the head of Government of the Capital District, Nahum Fernández, explaining that the call will remain throughout the month.
The Venezuelan head of state was kidnapped on January 3 by US forces that entered the country and bombed civil and military installations, in what has been described by the acting president Delcy Rodríguez as “a stain” on relations between Venezuela and the US.
President Maduro and his wife were taken to New York and presented before a federal court on January 5, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During that first appearance before Judge Alvin Hellerstein, Maduro said: “I am innocent, not guilty, I am a decent man, I am still president of my country,” furthermore, “I consider myself a prisoner of war, I accept the Geneva and Vienna Conventions.”
The next presentation was scheduled for March 17.
The will of the people is the return of President Maduro
The mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez affirmed that the will of the people is for President Nicolás Maduro to return to the country along with the first lady Cilia Flores and has decided to remain in permanent struggle until they return to their homeland.
“The people are very excited and will continue in the fight, in the streets and here they are showing the love they have for our president and the first combatant,” he stressed.
“We want you back, president”
With their letters of love and support to President Nicolás Maduro and the first lady, the people approached the different squares of the country heeding the call made by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
Luz Elena Villarreal, a resident of the state of Trujillo, said she sent her message of strength to Maduro and Flores. “We ask the world to intercede to hand over our president and Cilia Flores, a transformative woman of revolution and love (…), I am telling our president that he will soon be on Venezuelan soil because the people are in the streets, day noon and night, on vigil, on the march telling the world that Venezuela is a free and sovereign country.”
Mrs. Yajaira Rubio addressed the president: “President, here in Valera, Trujillo state, we want you back – all the people of Trujillo -, you and the first lady of the Republic (…) Hold on! You are a good president.”
They reiterate that despite the aggression suffered two weeks ago, the people remain firm, informing the world of the truth about Venezuela.
From Bolívar Square in Maturín, the young Victoria Escachinga asserted that “in these letters we are expressing messages of love for our constitutional president Nicolás Maduro and our first combatant, Cilia Flores so that they know that they are not alone, that here they have a people that continues to love them, that here is a people that is waiting for them with open arms.”
