Venezuelans protest US detention of President Maduro and his wife

Thousands of people gathered in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, to participate in a demonstration titled “Gran Marcha” (The Great March). The event took place exactly one month after US forces abducted President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. During the march, participants carried signs expressing support for the detained president and calling for their release from detention in a US prison.

Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of the detained president, addressed the crowd from a stage, stating that the US military’s abduction of his father on January 3 would be remembered as a “scar” on Venezuela’s face. The march was organized by the government and involved public sector workers, with trucks blaring music accompanying the procession.

The event was part of a global day of action to demand the couple’s release, with protesters showing solidarity around the world under banners with slogans such as “Bring them back” and “Hands off Venezuela”. Local media outlet Venezuela News reported that the march united voices from diverse ideological trends who agreed that the detention of President Maduro and Cilia Flores represented a flagrant violation of international law.

Participants in the march expressed their emotions, with some stating they felt confused, sad, and angry. Jose Perdomo, a 58-year-old municipal employee, said he was marching to demand the release of his president, while also supporting Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez. Rodriguez has been working to appease Maduro’s supporters and accommodate US demands, including the potential for private investment in Venezuela’s oil reserves.

Earlier, hundreds of university students and relatives of political prisoners marched in Caracas, calling for the quick approval of an amnesty law promised by Rodriguez that would free prisoners from the country’s jails. The legislation has not yet been presented to parliament.

Source: Al Jazeera