VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/LOPEZ-FAMILY Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez sentenced to almost 14 years in prison; wife says he is 'noble'
Record ID:
140077
VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/LOPEZ-FAMILY Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez sentenced to almost 14 years in prison; wife says he is 'noble'
- Title: VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/LOPEZ-FAMILY Opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez sentenced to almost 14 years in prison; wife says he is 'noble'
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE - FEBRUARY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LOPEZ HANDING HIMSELF OVER TO AUTHORITIES
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA9SVLR3ANDZIRCKXPMM46NSX6H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Just hours after hardline Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was jailed on Thursday (September 10) for nearly 14 years, his wife Lilian Tintori spoke to supporters, saying her husband is "noble" and fighting for "a better Venezuela."
The 44-year-old was ordered to return to the Ramo Verde military jail to serve a sentence of 13 years and 9 months on charges of inciting 2014 anti-government protests that spiralled into violence killing more than 40 people.
Tintori told journalists she would tell the couple's two children that their father is a noble man, fighting for the rights of his people.
"That they must be very proud of their father: that's what I'm going to tell Manuela and Leopoldo Santiago. The most noble struggle a man can undertake is the struggle for freedom, for justice, the rights of his people. And that's what Leopoldo is doing," she said.
The ruling enraged foes of socialist President Nicolas Maduro who say Lopez is an innocent scapegoat, but it brought cheers from grassroots government supporters who view the U.S.-educated activist as a dangerous conspirator.
Lopez has for years been one of the most prominent hardline figures in Venezuela's opposition. He was a successful and popular mayor of the Chacao district of Caracas until 2008.
Hiss case has become a cause celebre for opposition supporters over what they deem the Maduro government's trampling of human rights. The U.S. government, the United Nations and international rights groups had all called for Lopez's release.
Tintori said her husband is fearless and wants to improve conditions in his country.
"When one has no fear, when they have the truth and they have the arguments, one goes on the path of goodness and that path of goodness is today for all the Venezuelans, all the Venezuelans who want a better Venezuela," she added.
Outraged supporters of Lopez cried and some took to social media to vent their anger, hailing Lopez as a Venezuelan "Nelson Mandela."
The sentence was handed down after a marathon session at the heavily guarded Palace of Justice, in which judge Susana Barreiros ruled Lopez, who was arrested in February last year, had masterminded the violence and street riots that erupted for three months.
Though Lopez had publicly called for peaceful resistance to the Maduro government and was behind bars during most of the unrest, prosecutors said his speeches sent subliminal messages and constituted a call to violence.
Lopez's critics paint him as a dangerous radical in the pocket of Venezuela's wealthy elite and the U.S. government and point to his attempts to unseat President Hugo Chavez in 2002.
Lopez's team plans to appeal, and the ruling may bring protests against Maduro. But opposition leaders are trying to keep supporters focused on a December parliamentary election where polls show the ruling Socialist Party may fare badly due to Venezuela's economic crisis. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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