Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro Calls for the Arrest of Opposition Leaders, Air Force Officers
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro recently ordered to arrest Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, several opposition leaders and senior Venezuelan Air Force officers, National Interest reports.
Maduro's actions support people's claims that the Latin American country is undergoing a collapsing regime.
Ledezma was hauled away on allegations of "an American-led coup." If proven not true, the arrests only proves another way the Venezuelan government's abusive and authoritarian actions toward their citizens has plagued the country.
Maduro continues to blame the United States for Venezuela's issues as the nation is nearing bankruptcy and many of its residents are being deprived from basic goods.
Yet, opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez is held on charges of treason without trial for over a year. He is just one of the 6,000 political prisoners in Venezuela.
The daughter of Caracas mayor Antonieta Ledezma said her father "was unjustly imprisoned and has effectively been kidnapped by this government," CNN reports.
"The world needs to know what my country and what my family is going through," she said.
The 23-year-old joined a group of protesters in New York Times Square Monday to fight against Venezuela's government.
"My dad has been accused of conspiracy. He is a man who wants the freedom of my country. That is the only thing that he has done," she said.
"There is no explanation. My dad is the mayor of a city, and the government has not only disrespected him but all of his human rights."
She has yet to speak to her father since his arrest but believes he is in good spirits.
"He's trying to stay strong," she said. "He has an unbreakable spirit, and his only fear at this moment is losing the country that he loves. The government may have incarcerated his body but never his thoughts and ideas."
Other Latin American countries will be affected if the oil-rich nation continues to face an economic and political collapse.
If too many of the countries fall, it will raise a higher risk of narco-terrorist activity and other security challenges.
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