Tens of thousands of opposition activists flooded the streets of Venezuela yesterday to demand the military allow in desperately-needed aid, as President Nicolas Maduro’s supporters rallied against “imperialist intervention.”
Opposition leader Juan Guaido called the Youth Day demonstrations to honour 40 people killed in anti-government rallies and press for the food and medicine to be brought into the economically-ravaged South American country.
While waiting for the National Assembly leader to speak in east Caracas, his supporters chanted: “Freedom!”
“We’re asking the military authorities to let in the aid and to protect it so that it reaches those most in need,” Juan Perez, 68, said.
Guaido, who stunned the world on January 23 when he declared himself acting president, said the protest would “demand the entry of humanitarian aid that will save the lives of more than 300,000 Venezuelans.”
Taking his authority from the constitution, Guaido says Maduro’s presidency is “illegitimate” as it was founded on flawed elections.
He is trying to force the socialist leader from power so he can set up a transitional government and hold new presidential elections.
Maduro meanwhile called a march of young leftists in the centre of Caracas denouncing foreign intervention in Venezuela’s affairs and collecting signatures of people who reject US President Donald Trump.
The fate of tonnes of aid piling up in Colombian collection centres at the border with Venezuela has become central to the power struggle between Guaido and Maduro, who is backed by the powerful armed forces.
Venezuela is in the grip of recession and hyperinflation while millions of people are suffering from a shortage of basic necessities.
Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, take part in a rally to press the military to let in US humanitarian aid, in Urena, Tachira State, Venezuela, on the border with Colombia, yesterday.
