Venezuelans in Australia and Brussels joined protests against election results

Dozens of Venezuelans demonstrated in the Australian city of Sydney on Saturday to denounce electoral “fraud” in the recent elections in Venezuela and to claim the victory of Edmundo González Urrutia, in the context of a protest organized in several countries.

“I want Venezuela free” or “Sovereignty, peaceful transition to democracy: Long live free Venezuela, glory to the brave people,” read some of the banners displayed in downtown Sydney, where the national anthem was sung.

Meanwhile, children wrapped in Venezuelan flags held signs with phrases like “I want to know Venezuela” or “I want to hug my grandfather,” and the attendees chanted: “Who are we? Venezuela, what do we want? Freedom!”

The march in Sydney, called in response to “the sovereignty of the people,” demands that “the real results” of the presidential elections be recognized, that “the real humanitarian crisis” that Venezuela is experiencing be recognized, and that the international community support their demands.

Venezuelans in Australia and New Zealand are among the first groups to join the “great protest” called by anti-Chavez leader Maria Corina Machado to “speak out for the truth.”

They also joined

Some 250 people demonstrated in central Brussels on Saturday to protest against the official results of Venezuela’s presidential election, in which they claim victory for opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.

“This government has us in poverty, with little freedom of expression (…) If we had been there, we would probably also be in prison, we cannot say that we do not agree,” Wilmer Veliz, originally from the Venezuelan city of Valencia and who has been living in Brussels for eight months, told EFE.

With his presence at the demonstration, one of those called today by the Venezuelan opposition in cities around the world, Veliz said that he wants “the world to see that we are 8 million Venezuelans who are abroad and are still active.”

He said that they are “a majority of Venezuelans around the world who want the best for our country, who want that freedom.”

“This way we can put a little pressure on and encourage all the Venezuelans in Venezuela, so that they know that we are with them,” said Veliz, who attended the event with other Venezuelan friends.

Another protester, Mohamed Joubas, a Venezuelan who moved to the Belgian capital ten years ago, attended the protest with his family and children.

“Edmundo González won the elections (…) We have the records, we have all the evidence,” he told EFE.

In his opinion, the solution is for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his accomplices to leave peacefully.

“History will tell us whether they want to leave peacefully or not peacefully. The winner wins, and the winner loses,” he said.

The protesters chanted songs and displayed banners reading “We voted for a free Venezuela” or “We have the records. We have the truth.”

Europe / EFE