Venezuela Will Prevail
In his delusional quest to cling to power, Maduro believes that with a campaign of terror and enforced silence, he can remain in control indefinitely. But he forgets that the victory led by María Corina Machado and realized in the election of Edmundo González Urrutia was achieved amidst this same landscape of abuse and systematic violations of civil rights. And yet, with unyielding dignity, the brave Venezuelans did what had to be done.
Maduro's attempt to steal the will of the people is unlike any previous cycle of repression, because this time, more than ever before, the very humanity of the Venezuelan people is at stake. Yes, their humanity. Venezuelans are not, and will never be, domesticated and subjugated animals, to whom the perpetual separation from their loved ones, their children, their parents, their siblings can be imposed. The street vendor, the bus driver, the influencer, the insurance agent, the police officer, the soldier, grandmother María, and the Hernández sisters all yearn to live with their families, to talk in person, to play dominoes, and to enjoy a bowl of sancocho together. And that is why they are determined to resist.
Is there a retreat? Yes, of course there is. The current level of persecution shows that the dictator's cruelty has been fine-tuned; his promises of violence and of imposing himself as the absolute dictator were not idle threats. But his strategy of fear is not sustainable in the long run, not only because of the resilience of the Venezuelan people but also due to the numerical capacity of his repressive forces. A corrupt elite can, for now, use their thugs to intimidate, but the overwhelming majority that rejects the dictator is evident in all sectors, including the military and police. The abduction of minors or individuals on the autism spectrum for a mere message on social networks will have consequences, not only in the realm of international justice but also in the hearts of the affected families. How can you ask the mother of an imprisoned child not to fight for their freedom? How can you ask this of the father, the siblings? Of the thousands of hostages, thousands more will soon be on the streets demanding freedom for their loved ones.
In times of dictatorship, using the enemy's strength to strike at the foundations that support him is essential. The outcry for the freedom of political prisoners and hostages is, in itself, a step towards the liberation of the country. Mothers, fathers, siblings, in vigils and hunger strikes in front of embassies and multilateral organizations. Faced with the imposition of censorship on digital media, the analog becomes the alternative: messages in bathrooms, on walls, in clandestine prints, leaflets raining down with messages of freedom.
The police officer and the soldier who don't know how to coordinate can, from now on, begin individual actions to preserve their safety, sabotaging essential units for repression: intentional failures in weapons, sugar in gasoline tanks, leaks of plans or sensitive information. The exiled also play a crucial role, being the voice of silenced Venezuelans, raising funds, weaving alliances, and generating pressure on international organizations to achieve concrete actions.
In his blindness, Maduro does not see that his own regime is a house of cards built on the suffering and oppression of a people that will never surrender. No matter how many shadows he tries to cast over Venezuela, the light of freedom continues to shine in every corner, in every Venezuelan heart that refuses to live on their knees. This is the inevitable end of every tyrant: when a determined people rise, no force can stop the tide of justice and freedom that will sweep away every trace of oppression. Venezuela does not bow down; Venezuela resists, and Venezuela will prevail.
Julio César Rivas
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