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WORLD NEWS Thursday 19 OcTOber 2017

Venezuela opposition governors boycott swearing in ceremony

By FABIOLA SANCHEZ statement.
CHRISTINE ARMARIO President Nicolas Maduro
Associated Press warned before the vote
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) that any new governors
— Venezuela’s opposition would have to take an oath
boycotted a swearing-in and “submit” to the consti-
ceremony Wednesday for tutional assembly — an act
governors held by the all- opposition candidates said
powerful, pro-government they would never do.
constitutional assembly fol- The assembly, which is sup-
lowing disputed elections posed to rewrite the consti-
largely won by ruling party tution, was elected in July
candidates. following an internation-
Eighteen new socialist gov- ally condemned vote that
ernors stood, lifted one the opposition refused to
hand and pledged to up- participate in, and officials
hold Venezuela’s consti- have given it virtually unlim-
tution in the ceremony at ited powers.
the assembly’s chamber. The official announcement
A painting of the late Presi- that socialist party candi-
dent Hugo Chavez stood dates won 18 of 23 gover-
nearby. nor races shocked an op-
Notably absent were the position that had expected
five opposition candidates to win handily during a Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference at the Miraflores presi-
who won seats in Sunday’s time of economic crisis and dential palace, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017. Maduro defended the results of
regional elections. The op- when polls indicate most Sunday’s gubernatorial elections and said that those who report fraud are lying.
position’s alliance said ear- Venezuelans disapprove of (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
lier in the day that it would the government. ed that actual voting re- used a series of maneuvers ing machines. Thousands
boycott the session before Opposition leader Freddy cords wouldn’t likely show to suppress the opposition more, he said, couldn’t
a body they consider un- Guevara acknowledged fraud, saying the manipu- vote.According to Gue- reach their voting place
constitutional. Wednesday the results lation largely occurred be- vara, more than 1 million because of violence. Some
“They will only pledge be- should provoke “a review fore most voters reached Venezuelans couldn’t vote had their voting centers
fore God and their respec- and self-critique.” the ballot boxes. They because their polling sites relocated.“Modern fraud
tive legislative councils,” Guevara and other oppo- claim the pro-government opened late, closed early is sophisticated,” Guevara
the opposition said in a sition figures have conced- National Electoral Council or had nonworking vot- said. q
Body of missing protester may have been found in Argentina

By VICTOR CAIVANO nado. He spoke on condi- detain Maldonado after rights groups. U2 lead sing- parties running in a mid-
Associated Press tion of anonymity because he and others blocked a er and social activist Bono term election on Sunday
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina he lacked authorization to road in Chubut province, raised the issue last week to suspend campaigning.
(AP) — Argentine investiga- speak publicly.The body about 1,100 miles (1,800 ki- with President Mauricio Politicians from opposing
tors said Wednesday they was found near the loca- lometers) southwest of the Macri, whose government parties had demanded the
believe they have found tion of the protest on Aug. Argentine capital. has been accused by some safe return of the 28-year-
the body of a protester 1, when Maldonado went Police never confirmed the rights groups of being part old artisan and tattoo artist.
whose disappearance missing. Protesters were de- arrest and denied wrong- a cover up.Federal Judge Some had accused Mac-
more than two months ago manding the release of a doing.But the case struck a Gustavo Lleral told jour- ri’s government of failing
prompted large demon- jailed Mapuche indigenous chord in Argentina, where nalists the body had been to act in the case. Macri
strations demanding the leader and the return of thousands died or were found after an “ardous” has yet to comment on the
government find him alive. lands belonging to Italian forcibly disappeared dur- search of the Chubut river. discovery of the body.An
Coast Guard divers discov- clothing company Benet- ing the 1976-1983 military Lleral said he could not pro- attorney for Maldonado’s
ered the body in a river in ton that are claimed by the dictatorship. Maldonado’s vide details about the state family said the body will
southern Argentina and an Mapuche as their ancestral disappearance prompted of the body or any other in- be transferred by plane
investigator involved said territory. tens of thousands to pro- formation out of respect for to Buenos Aires for identi-
there are reasons to be- People at the protest said test and led to expressions Maldonado’s family. fication on Wednesday or
lieve it is Santiago Maldo- they saw police beat and of concern by international The discovery led political Thursday.q