Death toll in Venezuela post-election protests rises to 24

At least 24 people died in Venezuela during protests against the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, which were fiercely suppressed by the forces of order, which are allied with the leftist ruler, on Tuesday.

Electoral authorities declared Maduro re-elected president for a third six-year term with 52 percent of the vote, while his opponent, deputy Edmundo González Urrutia of leader María Corina Machado, who denounced the fraud, received 43 percent.

Hours after the first announcement, demonstrations broke out in Caracas and other cities in the country, including in poor neighborhoods that have historically been defined as Chavista.

According to a report by Provea, a human rights NGO that includes the military, “records (…) show that 24 people died in election-related events and protests between Sunday, July 28, and Monday, August 5”.

The balance is consistent with an earlier report provided by Juanita Gobertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.

The mobilization abated almost immediately as activists denounced the crackdown and arbitrary arrests. Media reported on the deaths of injured protesters who arrived at medical centers.

Maduro reported two military deaths but made no mention of civilian casualties. He said more than 2,200 people had been arrested, whom he called “terrorists” and said were linked to a plan to overthrow him.

The president said he was preparing two high-security prisons to transfer the detainees.

On Tuesday, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo rejected “any actions that would lead to an increase in violence or produce repression” and urged “extreme caution and prudence to prevent an outbreak of violence.”

Colombia, Brazil and Mexico are pushing for a political agreement in Venezuela that will allow us to overcome the crisis.

‘Desperate and inflammatory’

Machado condemned the government’s “campaign of terror” and called for a vigil on Thursday “for the freedom of political prisoners.” It was not immediately clear whether he would attend.

Although she attended a massive opposition rally last Saturday, she remained in hiding, saying she feared for her life.

Meanwhile, González Urrutia has not been seen in public for a week.

The prosecutor’s office opened an investigation for “sedition” and “conspiracy,” among other crimes, after they published an open letter to the army and police in which they defended the opposition’s victory in the election and demanded that those in uniform “stay right next to town.”

In response, Venezuela’s armed forces on Tuesday reaffirmed their “absolute loyalty” to Maduro and described the requests for support as “desperate and inflammatory,” according to a statement read earlier by Defense Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino.

“These stupid and irrational calls seek to undermine our unity and our institutions, but they will never achieve that goal,” stressed Padrino, who was accompanied by the military and police high command.

Last week, Maduro called for Machado and González Urrutia to be jailed.

The European Union joined the United States and several Latin American countries in questioning Maduro’s victory, calling for an end to what it called a “campaign of judicial intimidation.”

In addition to weapons, the military controls mining, oil and food distribution companies, as well as customs and 12 of 34 ministries, including key departments such as oil, energy, defense, interior and trade.

The opposition and experts decry corruption networks that have enriched many officials.

Result Certification

The future of the election now rests with the Supreme Court, which Maduro has asked to “certify” the results.

The CNE has yet to release details of the results of the July 28 election. Since then, his website has been inoperable and he claimed his system had been hacked, but experts have refuted that claim.

The Supreme Court’s electoral chamber summoned candidates and party representatives to record and “answer questions related to the case.” González Urrutia must appear on Wednesday, while Maduro must appear on Friday.

“Failure to appear in court carries with it the consequences provided for by our current legal system,” warned TSJ President Caryslia Rodríguez.

Machado and González claimed to have proof of the opposition’s victory after releasing copies of more than 80% of the voting records.

The opposition considers TSJ an “appendix” to Chavismo, while academics and political leaders consider the case inadmissible.