Venezuelans living in Ottawa are holding a peaceful demonstration on Saturday, calling for a transition to democracy in their home country.
The rally comes a week after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, last Saturday, delivering multiple air strikes in the process. The pair was taken to New York to be tried on drug trafficking charges. They have pleaded not guilty.
Organized by the Venezuelan Diaspora of Ottawa-Gatineau, Saturday’s rally is calling for the release of political prisoners, an end to repression, respect for human rights, and a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela.
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Many Venezuelans living in Canada are pleased with Maduro’s removal and say it is time to restore democracy in the South American nation.
“We’re here to express our vision for a free Venezuela and tell our truth about our persecution and the dictatorship over the past 27 years,” said United for Venezuela rally organizer Victoria Ramirez.
“The Venezuelans have been fighting for 27 years for freedom. We have tried everything. There’s no option that we didn’t exhaust and at this point we needed the help and we appreciate the help. We are grateful to the United States for capturing Maduro and arresting him because he has committed crimes against humanity and all his regime.”
The Venezuelan community in Ottawa, along with other advocates, gathered at Human Rights Monument on Elgin Street.
Participants say they want the international community to see what’s going on in Venezuela.
“We’re trying to be as patient as possible, but we also need to be firm and strong. We really, really need the support of the international community, government, non-government organizations because our country has been kidnaped for 26 years,” said attendee Karina Urdaneta, a member of the diaspora. “We cannot ask a person who has been kidnaped to free yourself. We need international support.”
“Venezuelan people back home are fighting for life or death. They can’t speak freely. They can’t have freedom of assembly. They don’t have a right to free and fair elections. Whenever we speak about things back home, we get sent to jail. We get killed without due trial or due process. What we need to realize for a lot of Canadians here is for us to be aware of why Venezuelans are gathering here today and to stand on the right side of history,” added attendee Samuel Salazar.
Ana Rizo said the Venezuelan people want to see a change in government.
“The message that we’re trying to portray is that Venezuelans are interested in a change of regime,” Rizo said. “We have more than a thousand political prisoners. I can understand some people don’t like Trump but I think that what we are trying to say is that without this step, none of this would have been possible because this is a criminal regime. They were not going to leave peacefully, unfortunately.”
