USA: Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says the opposition movement has removed the mask of democracy from Maduro

Record ID: 858690

  • Title: USA: Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says the opposition movement has removed the mask of democracy from Maduro
  • Date: 21st March 2014
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 20, 2014) (REUTERS) VENEZUELAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO WALKING TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) VENEZUELAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO, SAYING: "Exactly what has happened is that Venezuela has awakened, and has awakened, and we are moving along, and the world should know well that this process is not reversible." AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) VENEZUELAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO, SAYING: "We want to make our case is that what we're seeing is a state policy of repression and torture that has been the decision this regime took once it realized the magnitude and the power of this civic movement." AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO, SAYING: "I would like to insist in that our movement has been successful. What we have accomplished in seven weeks is to take off the democratic mask from Mr. Maduro." VENEZUELAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND OPPOSITION LEADER MARIA CORINA MACHADO, SAYING: "The threat has reached a new level now. From the latest information that we have is that Mr. Cabello has accused me of assassinations and homicide and the prosecution has been sent to the judicial system, and of course I have the right to defend myself in the judicial tribune and this will be brought to the national assembly and it will require 2/3 of the judicial vote to process this case, and obviously what they've said in Caracas is what awaits for me is jail."
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2014 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
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  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADU2199W37Y31V60FCLM4RPXTP
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  • Story Text: Venezuelan Congresswoman and Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado said in Washington, D.C. Thursday (March 20) that the opposition movement in Venezuela has been successful.

    "What we have accomplished in seven weeks is to take off the democratic mask from Mr. Maduro," Machado said at an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
    Machado, a 46-year-old engineer, has been one of the most visible leaders in six weeks of opposition demonstrations against socialist President Nicolas Maduro that have unleashed the country's worst unrest in a decade.
    Machado said the Venezuelan government is almost like a dictatorship.
    "We want to make our case is that what we're seeing is a state policy of repression and torture that has been the decision this regime took once it realized the magnitude and the power of this civic movement."
    Venezuela's Congress on Tuesday (March 18) requested a criminal investigation of Machado for crimes including treason in relation to her involvement in anti-government protests that have left dozens dead.
    In Washington, D.C. Thursday (March 20), Machado was asked what will happen to her when she returns to Venezuela. Machado said, "The threat has reached a new level now...and obviously what they've said in Caracas is what awaits for me is jail."
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