A group of Venezuelan election observers, who confirmed opposition candidate Edmundo González’s victory over incumbent Nicolás Maduro in July, are now forced into hiding following severe persecution and death threats from Maduro’s loyalists. These observers, including individuals such as Anthony, a former bread maker, shared their harrowing experiences of being specifically targeted by pro-government paramilitary groups known as “colectivos.”
Operating under immense fear, these workers fled to Cúcuta, a Colombian border city, seeking refuge and anonymity to protect themselves and their families still in Venezuela. Their collected data crucially showed González’s win, contradicting Maduro’s claims of victory and exposing the alleged electoral fraud.
Despite the publicized vote counts and international skepticism regarding the election’s legitimacy, Maduro’s administration continues to malign opposition supporters as terrorists. Subsequently, González has sought asylum in Spain following a Venezuelan court issuing his arrest warrant.
These volunteers’ testimonials underscore a broader, clandestine crackdown on political dissent in Venezuela, largely unnoticed by the global community. Meanwhile, the looming presidential inauguration in January poses additional threats, suggesting that more individuals may soon find themselves coerced into fleeing their homeland.
Celso Barbosa, an earlier political exile himself, now aids these new refugees. He recently voiced his protest in Colombia, advocating for Maduro’s peaceful departure from office, signifying a continued struggle for democracy and justice by Venezuelans both at home and in exile.
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