Venezuela arrests opposition mayor of Caracas: witnesses

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Venezuela arrests opposition mayor of Caracas: witnesses

BY BRIAN ELLSWORTH
CARACAS Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:28pm EST

(Reuters) - Venezuelan intelligence agents on Thursday arrested opposition leader and Caracas metropolitan mayor Antonio Ledezma, witnesses said, after accusations he was involved in a coup attempt against President Nicolas Maduro.

The agents took him from his office in the banking district of Caracas, without giving a reason, according to witnesses including an opposition legislator and Ledezma's wife.

"I just saw how they took Ledezma out of his office as if he were a dog," wrote opposition legislator Ismael Garcia via Twitter. "They broke down the doors without an arrest warrant."

The arrest adds to tensions one year after the start of three months of opposition demonstrations demanding the resignation of Maduro, whose popularity rating has tumbled amid a recession and chronic product shortages.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/20/us-venezuela-opposition-idUSKBN0LN2EA20150220

[polly7]

1. Love it! Kick and Recommend!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141018604 Check out the posts and pictures, they're great!

Unfortunately the thread was locked, but this is very good news.

Venezuelan Opposition Leaders Released 'Transition' Statement

Three key figures of the Venezuelan opposition – Leopoldo Lopez, Maria Corina Machado, and Antonio Ledezma – all of whom have to varying degrees been connected to the radical sector of Venezuela's opposition, happened to sign and distribute the following communique on February 11, a mere day before the coup plot that President Nicolas Maduro denounced was to take place.

Leopoldo Lopez, Maria Corina Machado, and Antonio Ledezma
To what extent did these three individuals know of the coup plot? We do not know yet, but the fact that they came out with a statement a mere day beforehand, for a “National Accord for the Transition” of the Maduro “regime,” suggests that they must have known about the plot. National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello did name Antonio Ledezma as one of the individuals who was supposed to sign a statement in support of the coup.


http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/Key-Opposition-Leaders-Released-Transition-Statement-before-Thwarted-Coup-20150213-0004.html

Would the U.S. or Canada tolerate a plotted coup against the gov't? No. Why should Venezuela?

[hack89]

2. So they gave Maduro an opportunity to conjure up a fake coup and arrest them.

big tactical mistake when your opponent is desperate. Political instability on top of an economic collapse is not good. I bet the army will step in soon before things get out of hand.

[polly7]

3. No, it was no fake coup attempt.

Big tactical mistake thinking they could get away with it. Not the sharpest tacks in the box.

[hack89]

4. There is absolutely no evidence

beside what Maduro wants us to hear. I know that is good enough for you but they do have a long history of crying coup every time things go to shit so I think I will wait for some independently verified facts.

[polly7]

5. I think they know just a bit more than both you and I about it all,

and have no doubt with this arrest that they're quite sure of the reality of it. There is plenty of evidence though, ignore it ........ no big deal.

[Marksman_91]

6. K. Shows us the evidence, then. At least not one conjured by the Maduro administration itself