Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez Posted on 04/21/2014 6:50:18 PM PDT by dignitasnews
While much of the world has focused on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, opposition forces in Venezuela continue to battle the brutal regime of Nicolas Maduro. While opposition forces battle for their basic human rights, the world, and in particular the government of the United States has remained largely silent.
In February of this year, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was arrested by government officials on charges of "inciting unrest" for leading, at the time, peaceful protests against the policies of Nicolas Maduro and his ruling United Socialist Party. Despite the overriding belief that he was being held illegally, few world leaders spoke out in his behalf, as government officials clamped down on protests, using force to quell the student led marches through the capital city of Caracas.
Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez
This Friday, Good Friday, one day before the legal deadline to make the case for maintaining his custody, Federal Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz announced that Lopez is formally being charged with a number of crimes, including criminal incitement. If found guilty by the state controlled "justice" system, Lopez could serve 14 years in prison.
Government critics of the socialists administration say the inspirational conservative leader is being held on trumped-up charges. His supporters vow to continue the fight, and have stepped up protests throughout Caracas and elsewhere in opposition strongholds, demanding his release.
Lopez's political party, Voluntad Popular, a center-right party founded by the popular leader, was formed specifically as a reaction to the oppressive policies of the socialist regime, who has a long history of human rights abuses under Maduro and its long time leader, the deceased Hugo Chavez.
For their part, the Obama Administration has remained largely silent on the issue, as have most leaders in the region. Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has been the most impassioned voice on the issue, calling for increased pressure and sanctions on the Socialists dictatorship, but these pleas have been largely ignored by the White House. In his Academy Award acceptance speech, actor Jared Leto made a plea for support of the "dreamers" in Venezuela, to loud applause, but much of left-leaning Hollywood reacted with indifference. Democrat Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa recently made a pilgrimage to the oil-rich nation, returning with glowing reports of the "socialist paradise" of Venezuela.
Venezuelan beauty queen Genesis Carmona was shot and killed while protesting government brutality following the arrest of Lopez. (AP Photo/Diario Notitarde, Mauricio Centeno)
The men and women who march for freedom in Venezuela are our ideological brethren. They fight and die for the same things we hold so dear, yet fight largely alone. As they see all semblance of human rights disappear before them, they continue on, hoping someone in the world will notice.
Dignitas News Service calls on all those who value liberty, democracy and self-determination to let your voice be heard. You can begin by showing your support via the official Twitter feed:
@leopoldolopez
https://twitter.com/leopoldolopez
As Rubio states in his passionate speech on the floor of the Senate about the silence as it relates the situation in Venezuela, "it is shameful."
The protest was dubbed "Resurrection of Democracy" Courtesy of Reuters
The price of free speech in Maduro's "socialist paradise."
Student Bassil DaCosta is helped during an opposition rally. Photo by Manaure Quintero
Our own back yard being ignored. Unfortunately with our current political situation I’m not sure our “help” would be the best thing.
from bammy’s viewpoint those are domestic terrorists....not the good guys.
Same thing from Zero and the Partisan Media Shills when the Iranians were protesting. Thanks dignitasnews.
We need to take care of this problem first.
lol...yes...I should watch myself...dont want to embarrass our beloved leader in front of his buddy Maduro!
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