Machado briefly detained amid protests
Jan. 10, 2025
Thousands of Venezuelans gathered in cities around the country to protest against the government, though turnout was smaller than it has been in the past. At least 17 arrests were made at protests throughout the country, according to Foro Penal, and security forces prevented gatherings in some cities. In Caracas government efforts to deflect protests included sound stages broadcasting noisily, hooded paramilitaries and a heavy deployment of security forces that militarized most of the capital. (El País)
People turnout to protest despite a context of significant repression in the aftermath of presidential elections last July, which President Nicolás Maduro claims to have won, without evidence. More than 2,000 people have been detained, including high profile critics disappeared this week. (Efecto Cocuyo, Caracas Chronicles, Associated Press, Reuters, see yesterday’s post.)
Security forces were omnipresent in Caracas, but permitted the demonstration in the capital, attended by an estimated 7,000 people, reports Reuters. Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has been in hiding since August, appeared in public to address the gathering.
She was detained when leaving, members of her team said she was tracked with drones, but was quickly released. She said the driver of her getaway motorcycle — her usual form of transportation from protests — received a bullet wound in the episode. She said she would give further details regarding the episode today. Yesterday an aide said she had been forced to film videos while detained. (Efecto Cocuyo, Miami Herald, Guardian, New York Times, Financial Times)
In the hours after her detention, several videos of Machado emerged, showing the opposition leader dressed in black, in what appeared to be a public park, denying that she had been arrested and reporting that she was well, causing confusion, reports Pirate Wire Services. Two hours later, Human Rights Watch announced that they had confirmed Machada had indeed been detained and called for her immediate release.
Governments in the region, and U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, condemned Machado’s detention yesterday. (AFP, Reuters)
Maduro will swear in for his third consecutive term today, despite claims from the political opposition — backed by independent, international audits — that the government stole a landslide victory from Edmundo González Urrutia. González was in the Dominican Republic yesterday and maintains that he will somehow take office today. Some speculate that he will hold his own swearing in ceremony in some other part of Venezuela’s territory, or a consular space.
Entering Venezuela will be difficult, but others expect him to try. There are rumors that he would attempt to enter Venezuelan territory from Colombia accompanied by former heads of state. (El País)
Maduro’s inaugural ceremony has been boycotted by most heads of state, who don’t recognize his victory, and takes place in a context of militarized shut down — “paranoia over a potential invasion has intensified within the government’s top leadership,” reports El País.
More Venezuela
Maduro’s new term “will solidify Venezuela’s position as a regional crime hub,” reports InSight Crime, the political situation will likely prompt another wave of migration from Venezuela, and strengthen Venezuelan criminal syndicates that will move in their wake, which “will present threats to nations across Latin America and the Caribbean, with effects being felt as far as the United States.”
Guyana’s government said that it will seek help from the International Court of Justice to stop Venezuela from electing a governor to rule its western Essequibo region, an area Venezuela has long claimed should belong to it. (Associated Press)
Panama
Yesterday Panama marked a national holiday remembering the killing of 21 protesters by police and U.S. troops in 1964 — a commemoration that has a new resonance this year amid threats from Trump to retake the Panama Canal from the country. (Associated Press, Reuters)
Mexico
A U.S. government report found that 74 percent of arms used by Mexico’s criminal cartels come from the U.S., most from Arizona, New Mexico, California and Texas. (El País)
Mexican electoral authorities said President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to increase funding for the upcoming judicial elections. (Animal Político)
Ecuador
Ecuadorean Vice President Verónica Abad accused President Daniel Noboa of endangering the country’s constitutional order by not stepping down to campaign for reelection next month. (El País)
Colombia
An investigation by Colombia’s Special Transitional Justice (JEP) has cast a new spotlight on the actions of paramilitaries in Medellín in the 2000s — hundreds of people were forcibly disappeared in the city. (Silla Vacía)
Uruguay
Former Uruguayan President José Mujica announced that his esophageal cancer has spread to his liver, and that he has chosen to forgo further treatment. Mujica gave frequent interviews over the past year, despite his illness, and celebrated his Frente Amplio’s presidential victory in November. But yesterday the former leader asked to be left alone. (Associated Press)