The Moment of Truth: Maria Machado's Rally Could Change Venezuela Forever
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado has issued a worldwide call to Venezuelans and supporters of her party’s claim of victory at the July 28 elections to take to the streets on Saturday August 17 in a show of solidarity.
In a video posted to Ms Machado’s Instagram account, she is joined by Presidential Candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez and others reminding Venezuelans of the strength in a unified country and to continue to show support by joining them on the streets on August 17 to “Shout to the world, to support our (their) victory, and recognize truth and popular sovereignty.”
Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia - Instagram photo
Ms Machado says her message is for those “who do not recognize yourself in today's Venezuela, who are tired of having your family separated, who voted and want what you decided on July 28 to be respected.” In another Instagram post, Ms Macho has also urged supporters of Saturday’s event to walk with a printed copy of ballot paper from their voting center. Previous demonstrations against Nicolas Maduro’s declaration as winner of the July 28 elections has leg to more than 2000 detentions and violence across Venezuela with the current death toll at 24.
Meanwhile, prosecutors from the International Criminal Court have indicated that they are actively monitoring events in Venezuela. International news agencies are reporting that ICC Prosecutor, Karim Khan in a written statement said the ICC is “actively monitoring the present events and has received multiple reports of instances of violence and other allegations following the presidential election of 28 July in Venezuela.”
Venezuela Supreme Court Building - Reuters Photo
On Saturday, Venezuela’s Supreme Court through Chief Justice Caryslia Rodriguez said the court had not received evidence from the Opposition Coalition following Maduro’s appeal to the court last week to verify the electoral results. The Court issued a summons to all candidates who ran in the July 28 elections but Edmundo Gonzalez did not attend the hearing at the risk of being arrested among other safety concerns.
Calls for Venezuela’s Election Authority to release a detailed vote count from Venezuelans and many world leaders have gone unnoticed.
