Juan Guaidó: "We must speed up the process and it can not be tolerated anymore"

CARACAS.- Supporters of the president

Nicolás Maduro

and the Leader of the Opposition

Juan Guaidó

They took to the streets today to protest, just hours after a third round of domestic blackouts in 20 days, which caused the collapse of water services. , transport and telecommunications.

Venezuela

.

Security forces dispersed some of the opposition demonstrations in Caracas with tear gas and prevented them from concentrating in the west of the capital, while Guaidó organized a major national demonstration for Saturday. next.

"We must speed up the process and this can no longer be tolerated: on April 6, we must complete the first phase of the Libertad operation process," he told a crowd in the city of Los Teques, 20 km from Caracas.

That day, the armed forces and officials will be united "so that they will not submit to this regime, but to democracy," Guaidó said in the first of three acts that he led in the state of Miranda light and water, the most recent expression of the country's vertiginous collapse.

Guaidó, who is campaigning for Maduro's exit, setting up a transitional government and calling for elections, said that they were gathered in that city to reject "taunts and mockery." the lies aroused by the crisis of electricity ".

"They created the problem they created!" He threw.

Thousands of people, including many public sector employees, were forced to travel long distances on Friday night due to the endemic absence of groups and the paralysis of the subway service, which carries about three million of people a day.

Although they protested peacefully, opposition demonstrators who took to the streets eventually clashed with security forces in parts of Caracas, after police officers in uniform The rioters forced them to disperse, especially in areas where pro-government sympathizers were concentrated at close range.

"I refuse to leave Venezuela because I am sure that there is much to be done … (…) We will continue to fight in the street," said one opponent who identified herself as being Andrea at one of the friction points in the capital. .

"Here's the light every time, we do not have water, we do not have internet, the water service is terrible for a year and with these power outages has become much worse, here are some Elderly, there are children, we need services, "said another protester who joined his neighbors to protest in the middle of the cacerolazos.

Supporters of Maduro embarked on an "anti-imperialist march for peace" from several points of Caracas to a downtown square in order to reject "interference" from the US and the US. Europe in the country's internal affairs. Express your solidarity with the workers of the Corpoelec State Company.

This organization is in the eye of the storm for what many consider to be a perfect example of inefficiency and corruption. The experts report to their administrators and to the governments of Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, the fact that due to lack of maintenance, the electrical system is almost in ruins.

Maduro, along with Guaidó, called for a "great mobilization" to "say no to imperial terrorism" and called the "colectivos" or Chavist shock groups to "zero tolerance with the guarimbas", as he calls the protests violent.

"They incite hatred, we call for love, they incite war and we make a daily call for peace," said Jesus Camargo, coordinator of Chavez's social movements.

The Maduro government attributes the country's energy crisis in the dark to alleged "attacks" by the opposition, backed by the United States, against the Guri hydropower plant, which generates 80% of the energy consumed by the country.

These side events have become a model in Venezuela in recent weeks, as warring factions struggle for power in a country plagued by economic turmoil and an alarming humanitarian crisis.

The rallies also took place a few hours after the Red Cross declared its readiness to provide humanitarian aid to Venezuela next month.

AFP, ANSA and AP agencies