The Venezuelan Opposition is preparing a mass demonstration (on Thursday) to support the recall of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The Opposition has been trying for months now to schedule a recall and this demonstration --- with a million Venezuelans expected to participate --- could be a real showdown between the Opposition and Maduro’s government.
Our Latin American Correspondent Juan Carlos Rivas Lamas has this report from Caracas.
IN: The stakes
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The
stakes are high --- a million people expected to take to the streets of
Caracas where they hope to compel Venezuela’s National Electoral Board
to set a date for a recall referendum to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
Two
million Venezuelans signed a petition to trigger the recall referendum
process more than five months ago, and they say the government is
stalling….if the recall happens AFTER January 10th, a recall
would mean President Maduro’s vice president would take over….and the
opposition says the policies that got this country into trouble would
only continue.
Venezuelans
are living with skyrocketing inflation, and critical shortages of basic
foods and medicines. They’ve been been demonstrating daily for
months….and they see this massive protest as a way to make sure their
voices are heard.
Tour Guide Daniel Barretos says it’s his duty to take part in the protest.
“the
situation is getting worse. It’s getting very hard to get or to find
food or medicines for my family. We cannot continue supporting this
situation”
So does English Teacher Leticia Souquet:
“I’m
going to take to the streets to protest because I want President maduro
to realize the whole country wants him recalled this year. “
The
protest is expected to draw more than a million people from all over
Venezuela ---- including a group of Aborigines who walked to Caracas
from the rainforest.
The police and the army plan to be out in full force at the march.
And many Caracas resident, like student Arturo Contreras --- are worried the protest may turn violent.
“For my own safety I prefer to stay at home as I don’t know what’s going to happen in the protest.”
President
Maduro has threatened the opposition, saying what Turkish President
Erdogan meted out to his rivals after the failed coup attempt there,
would look like child’s play compared with the action he would take if
Venezuela’s opposition tried something similar.
But
opposition leaders say they’re planning a peaceful protest….hoping the
voices of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans will compel the
government to allow the recall referendum to proceed.
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