Democrats Raise their Voices in Venezuela

Last week, the voice of opposition leader Leopoldo López was heard once more from his cell at the Ramo Verde military prison in Greater Caracas asking citizens who truly believe in democracy to raise their voices in order to demand the restoration of their violated rights at a massive demonstration that took place last Saturday. López, through a pre-recorded video statement, demanded the government of Nicolás Maduro the cease of repression and censorship, as much as the release of all political prisoners. In addition, he demanded the National Electoral Council (CNE) the announcement of a final date for the parliamentary elections to be held this year, in which both the OAS and the European Union should be present as observers. At the same time, López announced that he and Daniel Ceballos, the former mayor of the San Cristóbal municipality in Táchira state currently being held at a prison in San Juan de los Morros in Guárico state, had begun a hunger strike until these goals were achieved. More…