A grand military parade marked 208 years since Venezuela became independent from Spain yesterday — as the country’s president Nicolas Maduro revelled in his might despite coming under mounting criticism for brutality.
Maduro applauded and pumped his fist as soldiers marked past, tanks rolled by and fighter jets roared overhead at a Caracus military base. A unit of camouflaged special forces, guns drawn, shouted their loyalty as they paraded by the president’s viewing stand.
‘We look to the heavens, asking for peace,’ Maduro said during a short speech. ‘All the while our military exercises play out. We plead to God with our missiles pointed.’
A unit of camouflaged special forces, guns drawn, shouted their loyalty as they paraded by the president’s viewing stand
A rival march that saw protesters join opposition leader Juan Guaido (pictured addressing the crowd) included families, students and members of the clergy. No immediate violence was reported. Previous opposition marches have erupted in deadly clashes with police
The parade served as a demonstration of Maduro’s continuing support from the military amid a political standoff with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is trying to oust Maduro and has the backing of more than 50 nations — including the United States.
Guaido, who led a rival march across town Friday, claimed presidential powers in January, at the time drawing throngs of supporters for demonstrations against Maduro, who has overseen the oil-rich nation’s historic collapse. More than four million Venezuelans have left the country amid food and medicine shortages and crushing inflation.
As head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Guaido claims that Maduro’s election in 2018 to a second, six-year term is illegitimate because the most popular political figures and parties were barred from running.
Maduro refuses to step aside, blaming Venezuela’s woes on an economic war against the country led by the Trump administration, and Guaido has not been able to lure a critical mass of soldiers to back him.
In his brief address, Maduro renewed his call for a dialogue with the opposition. As he spoke, members of Venezuela’s militia each held a cardboard box of the type used to distribute government-subsidised food
Maduro applauded and pumped his fist as soldiers marked past, tanks rolled by and fighter jets streaked overhead at a Caracus military base
Grasping a microphone with his shirt sleeves rolled up, Guaido urged the military to join his movement, saying that anyone in Venezuela who continues to support this ‘dictatorship’ is an accomplice to human rights abuses
A male supporter of Nicolas Maduro’s government holds a painting of Simon Bolivar — who was instrumental in the country’s uprisings against the Spanish Empire
In his brief address, Maduro renewed his call for a dialogue with the opposition. As he spoke, members of Venezuela’s militia each held a cardboard box of the type used to distribute government-subsidized food.
Despite the splashy military parade, Maduro has had some defectors. Colombian authorities say a few hundred soldiers have abandoned Maduro in recent months.
Most notably, Maduro’s spy chief Gen. Manuel Cristopher Figuera fled after a failed military uprising staged April 30 with Guaido and another popular opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez. Now in the United States, Cristopher Figuera says his mission is to ‘seek help to free my country from disgrace.’
In a sign of increasing international repudiation of Maduro, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, issued a scathing report Thursday accusing Venezuela’s security forces of nearly 5,300 killings last year.
As flags were raised tanks rolled through the military base as a show of strength and loyalty to President Maduro on the 208th independence day
A truck carrying Russian missiles passed spectators at yesterday’s parade. Maduro says the country is asking for peace with its missiles drawn
Pro-Government supporters joined the parade. The parade served as a demonstration of Maduro’s continuing support from the military amid a political standoff with opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is trying to oust Maduro and has the backing of more than 50 nations — including the United States
Members of the Bolicarian National Police stand guard at Romulo Gallegos avenue as the parade marches past
Venezuelans interviewed by the human rights workers referred to a particular security unit, FAES, as a ‘death squad’ or ‘extermination group.’
Maduro’s government has also undermined the rule of law and dismantled democratic institutions, the U.N. reported.
‘These measures are aimed at neutralising, repressing and criminalising political opponents and people critical of the Government,’ the report said.
Deputy Foreign Minister William Castillo blasted the report, saying it failed to reflect ‘the reality in our country.’ He demanded the report be corrected and said the government would heed ‘constructive’ and ‘balanced’ recommendations.
Security forces turned out at just 15 percent of 89 anti-Maduro demonstrations nationwide Friday, a dramatic departure from the government’s zero-tolerance stance, according to figures Guaido’s team provided, which could not be independently confirmed.
Guaido, who led a rival march across town Friday, claimed presidential powers in January, at the time drawing throngs of supporters for demonstrations against Maduro, who has overseen the oil-rich nation’s historic collapse
A show of force: Groups of soldiers man the tanks as they roll through the military base in front of large crowds who turned out to celebrate the country’s independence
National Assembly lawmaker Marco Quinones said that shows the government’s fear of international repercussions following the UN report, or it is proof of eroding support for Maduro among soldiers, who no longer want to repress their fellow citizens with tear gas and shotguns.
Across town, Guaido called on Venezuelans to take to the streets with him Friday for demonstrations marking 208 years since Venezuela won its freedom from Spain.
A few thousand joined him, far fewer than the number who turned out at demonstrations earlier this year. They marched toward the headquarters of a military intelligence agency in Caracas, where days earlier a navy captain opposed to Maduro was tortured to death, according to his wife and attorney.
A Pro-Government supporter paraded while holding a Venezuelan flag during the celebration. But the UN have reported Maduro’s government has undermined the rule of law and dismantled democratic institutions
Cadets held CLAP (Local supply and production committee) boxes in the military parade as a demonstration of the efforts of the president to provide the Venezuelan people with food
Grasping a microphone with his shirt sleeves rolled up, Guaido urged the military to join his movement, saying that anyone in Venezuela who continues to support this ‘dictatorship’ is an accomplice to human rights abuses.
‘We’re marching for freedom,’ Guaido said. ‘We’re turning our outrage into a movement, and we’ll be on the streets until we achieve freedom.’
The marchers included families, students and members of the clergy. No immediate violence was reported. Previous opposition marches erupted in deadly clashes with police.
Among the demonstrators backing Guaido was Melquiades Rosales, whose small business selling shower doors is failing. As a symbol of the country’s mourning, Rosales waved a Venezuelan flag made with shades of gray instead of the original vibrant yellow, blue and red.
‘So many of us are filled with hopelessness,’ Rosales said, adding that he hasn’t given up. ‘But we’re in this for a long-term fight. This dictatorship is so well-rooted in all the institutions.’
A member of the army posed for a photo next to two military vehicles as President Maduro revelled in soldier’s loyalty
Soldiers look out at the crowds from their position on top of tanks during the parade. Security forces turned out at just 15 percent of 89 anti-Maduro demonstrations nationwide Friday, a dramatic departure from the government’s zero-tolerance stance, according to figures Guaido’s team provided, which could not be independently confirmed
After the military parade soldiers sat down on top of their tanks while still holding guns. Venezuelans interviewed by the human rights workers referred to a particular security unit, FAES, as a ‘death squad’ or ‘extermination group’
Young girls sell their wares to passing crowds during the military parade as other children play on an old armoured military vehicle
A young boy has managed to climb to the top of the tank and along the gun as other children look on as the parade proceeds along its route
A Government supporter dressed all in red pretends to talk with President Nicolas Maduro on a telephone
A soldier looks out of the opening from inside a covered military truck. Maduro has refused to step aside, blaming Venezuela’s woes on an economic war against the country led by the Trump administration, and Guaido has not been able to lure a critical mass of soldiers to back him