Bolivarian Fury

Following Maduro’s announcement of Furia Bolivariana, a “civic-military-police plan” to “confront conspiracies”, the headquarters of some political parties and civil associations were vandalized on the morning of January 23rd. These include Vente’s main headquarters and around six local headquarters, houses of regional opposition activists, two regional headquarters of Primero Justicia and Un Nuevo Tiempo, the headquarters of NGO FundaREDES and at least three professional engineers associations.

Vente’s coordinators in Vargas and Yaracuy, Juan Freites and Luis Camacaro, were also detained. Last week, a Vente member and union leader was also arrested in Barinas.

The intimidation campaign happens one day after the Armed Force denounced an alleged putschist plan called “White Bracelet” and issued arrest warrants against a group that includes human rights activist Tamara Suju and journalist Sebastiana Barráez. The government also detained a former officer in Táchira, who “confessed” on camera, and allegedly 31 other people involved in five conspiracies.

Despite the threats and a Chavista counter-rally in the same area, María Corina Machado went forward with her rally in Altamira (which had then to move to La Castellana) to commemorate January 23rd -Venezuela’s Democracy Day- and present the Great National Alliance (GANA) that will bring associations, organizations and parties together before this year’s elections.