Venezuela’s Election Violence: A Right-wing Rampage

August 10th, 2024 - by The Orinoco Tribune

Maduro Presents Report on Human and Material
Losses Caused by Far-Right Electoral Violence
The Orinoco Tribune

(August 4, 2024) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro presented a long report on the material and human losses caused by the far-right post-electoral violence at the beginning of the week. The president reported on these damages during a press conference with international media on Friday, August 2.

The following institutions and public spaces suffered damages caused by gangs affiliated to the far right:

  • 12 universities including the Central University of Venezuela,
  • seven pre-schools,
  • 21 primary schools,
  • 34 high schools,
  • six comprehensive diagnostic centers,
  • one specialty health center,
  • 30 outpatient clinics,
  • one pharmacy,
  • six CLAP food storage and distribution centers,
  • one community radio station (Radio Venceremos based in Carora, Lara state),
  • 11 stations of the Caracas Metro,
  • one train set on fire in Valencia,
  • 38 buses,
  • 27 monuments and statues, including of Simón Bolívar, Hugo Chávez, Cacique Coromoto, and José Gregorio Hernández,
  • 10 offices of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), some with people inside,
  • A sewage treatment station in Nueva Esparta state,
  • 10 military barracks, including the San Jacinto barracks in Aragua state,
  • Headquarters of the Ministry of Housing in Chacao was attacked with bullets and Molotov cocktails. Inside there were ministry employees with their children, who were there because they were on vacation and their parents took them to their workplace.
  • 10 offices of the National Electoral Council in 10 states. The violent gangs had plans to burn the main headquarters of CNE, but that was prevented.

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  • On Monday, July 29, there were two attempts to storm the Miraflores Palace, seat of the Venezuelan presidency. When the violent mob was restricted by security forces in O’Leary square, armed men shot at the CNE headquarters in El Silencio, Caracas.
  • 60 international observers, who were in the tent of international observers in Plaza Caracas, were attacked by a “bullet bath from thugs and delinquents.” The Bolivarian National Guard protected the observers, the CNE headquarters, launched a counter-offensive, and captured 20 members of the “comanditos.”
  • Mayor’s offices in Carirubana, Quíbor and other municipalities were set on fire.
  • El Valle public square and metro station in Caracas were vandalized.
  • The Maracay zoo was attacked.
  • At least 5,000 community and social leaders were threatened.
  • There are reports of deceased bystanders: people who were going home, who were attacked and their vehicles were burned.
  • Two soldiers of the Bolivarian National Armed Force were killed.
  • A brigadier general, a lieutenant colonel, a first lieutenant, 21 soldiers, and 120 officers of the Bolivarian National Police were injured.
  • An unprecedented cyberattack on the CNE transmission system which is still ongoing.
  • Cyberattack on the Patria System that provides Venezuelans with bonuses.
  • Cyberattacks on 25 domains of several State institutions.