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A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 19 November 2019
Venezuelan opposition struggling for momentum against Maduro

By SCOTT SMITH “We’re not backing down
JORGE RUEDA from our protests,” she said,
Associated Press adding that the events in
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Bolivia emboldened her.
— Opposition leader Juan “The only way they will un-
Guaidó is struggling to draw derstand that we have any
protesters into Venezuela’s power is for us to come out
streets just days after call- into the streets.”
ing for daily demonstrations Diego Moya-Ocampos,
to drive President Nicolás principal Venezuela ana-
Maduro from power, trying lyst with the London-based
to reignite a movement he consulting firm IHS Markit,
started early this year. said Morales’ ouster in Bo-
Only several dozen people livia may serve as a source
answered Guaidó’s call in of inspiration.
Caracas on Monday, some But Venezuela’s opposition
scuffling with security forc- also confronts Maduro’s
es. That fell far short of what “military regime,” known to
the opposition had hoped use heavy-handed tactics
to achieve, after Guaidó that include arbitrary ar-
at a large demonstration rests and torture.
Saturday appealed for sus- These are effective tools
tained protests against the used by the military and
government. Opposition politician Juan Guaido raises his right fist as he greets supporters at a rally, in Caracas, national police to increas-
Office worker Ofelia Brice- Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. ing degrees to match pro-
ño said she was done Associated Press tests, deterring shows of
marching until the oppo- Guaidó rose to lead the himself interim president. will try approaching Fuerte resistance, Moya-Ocampo
sition gets organized and opposition in January and Many thought change was Tiuna, the nation’s most im- said.
can present a clear ap- later claimed presidential imminent, but Maduro has portant military base and Maduro defends the strong
proach to lure the military powers under the constitu- kept power — primarily with seat of the defense ministry. response to protests, saying
away from Maduro. tion alleging Maduro’s re- backing with might from School teacher Yldemar Guaidó is a puppet of the
A passing group of march- election was illegitimate. the military. Acevedo was among one White House bent on top-
ers failed to persuade He vowed to oust the so- In a speech Saturday, small but vocal group of pling him to exploit the na-
Briceño and her co-workers cialist president and hold Guaidó called for persis- protesters in Caracas on tion’s vast oil reserves.
to abandon lunch plans new elections. tent protests, pointing to Monday who answered “It’s very difficult to main-
and join them in the street. The opposition leader won Bolivia where 18 days of Guaidó’s call and clashed tain momentum when
"It’s crazy that they ask the backing of the United upheaval prompted the with national police you’re facing such a
people to come out, but States and more than oth- resignation of Maduro ally dressed in riot gear. strong security appara-
there’s no plan. Everything er 50 nations that contend Evo Morales, who fled to The police shoved pro- tus,” Moya-Ocampos said.
is so haphazard,” Briceño Maduro won a second self-exile in Mexico. testers with their shields “They’re willing to use force
said. term in 2018 through fraud- The opposition has at least and struck them with their against protesters and will-
“I’ve gone out marching ulent elections. three marches planned this hands, but Acevedo said ing to treat an unarmed
many times before — but Guaidó initially drew huge week, including Thursday she would not quit, no mat- population as an enemy
no more.” crowds when he declared when university students ter the personal cost. combatant.”q
Nicaragua files weapons charges against opposition activists

By GABRIELA SELSER and journalists massed out- ter had been cut off and
Associated Press side the court but were not which remains surrounded
MANAGUA, Nicaragua allowed in to witness the by police. The women are
(AP) — Sixteen Nicaraguan proceedings. mothers, wives and sisters
opposition activists, includ- Among those arrested is of jailed government oppo-
ing 13 social leaders who Amaya Coppens, a Nica- nents and the protest aims
were arrested as they tried raguan-Belgian dual citi- to push for their release.
to deliver water to hunger zen who was imprisoned In a statement, police ar-
strikers protesting the incar- for nearly a year for taking gued the arrested activists
ceration of relatives they part in protests last year had intended to “continue
say are political prisoners, against the government of carrying out terrorist acts
were charged Monday President Daniel Ortega. ... against police buildings,
with allegedly transporting Defense attorney María city halls and monuments
weapons. Oviedo said the judge on to heroes and martyrs” of
The charges, which carry a the case is the same one Ortega’s Sandinista move-
minimum sentence of five who found Coppens and ment.
years in prison, are based Father Edwin Roman attempts to convince the police to numerous other protest- Opposition leaders say
on a police report saying allow relatives of imprisoned and dead anti-government ers guilty of “terrorism” last more than 138 protesters
authorities confiscated demonstrators to enter the San Miguel Arcangel Church in year. are behind bars for rea-
handguns, a shotgun and Masaya, Nicaragua, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. The 13 were detained sons they consider political,
gasoline bombs. Associated Press Thursday in Masaya when though about 700 were re-
Police presented the de- and guarded by masked Police also showed the they tried to reach the 11 leased earlier this year and
tainees before govern- officers. They smiled but did weapons allegedly seized women on hunger strike Ortega’s government has
ment media, handcuffed, not speak in video images from those arrested. Rela- at the San Miguel church, denied holding any prison-
wearing prison uniforms released by authorities. tives, opposition leaders where power and wa- ers of conscience.q