Protests against disputed election victory in Venezuela: death toll rises to 11
Thousands of people took to the streets of Caracas on Monday in spontaneous demonstrations, chanting "Freedom, freedom!" and "This government will fall!" Some tore down campaign posters of Maduro and set them ablaze. Stones were thrown, and shots were heard. Security forces deployed tear gas and rubber bullets.
According to the organization Foro Penal, 177 people were arrested nationwide. The Venezuelan prosecutor's office reported nearly 750 arrests. It was also reported that a military member was fatally shot.
The protests were sparked by the controversial victory of Maduro in the presidential election, which was officially confirmed by the largely pro-government electoral authority on Monday. According to their figures, the 61-year-old secured a second term with 51.2% of the votes, while the leading opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, received 44.2%. However, the opposition claimed fraud and also claimed the election victory.
On Tuesday, Maduro blamed the opposition for "criminal violence". He held the opposition candidate, González Urrutia, "responsible for everything that's happening in Venezuela, for the criminal violence, the injured, the dead, the destruction", he said.
González Urrutia himself, at a rally with thousands of participants, called on the population "not to be repressed". "There is no reason for the army to repress the people of Venezuela, there is no reason to persecute so many", he said.
Both the USA and the EU criticized the violence against the protesters. "Any political repression or violence against demonstrators or the opposition is, of course, unacceptable", said Karine Jean-Pierre, the spokesperson for the White House. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, stated that it was important for demonstrations and protests to be peaceful. "Security forces must ensure the full respect of human rights, particularly the right to protest and the right to freedom of assembly", he emphasized.
Both the camp of the election winner, Maduro, and the opposition called for demonstrations on Tuesday.
The non-governmental organization Foro Penal reported 177 arrests during the protests. Various human rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the heavy-handed response from security forces and the detention of protesters by non-governmental organisations.
