The arrest of ally Guaidó puts the Venezuelan opposition to the test

A few hours after the spectacular arrest of his best ally, Juan Guaidó He sought new tactics to defend himself against the crackdown on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro against opposition lawmakers. On Thursday, Guaidó asked the Organization of American States to study "all options" against the regime and its supporters who, once again, keep faith in the streets after the arrest of the Vice President of the National Assembly, Edgar Zambrano.

The government "wants to persecute the deputies to look stronger," Guaidó, president of the powerless legislature in Caracas, told reporters. He called another wave of demonstrations at the national level. "It will not stop us."

The The arrest of Zambrano marks a new crackdown on Guiadó's allies after the insurgency last week, supported by many of the most virulent opponents of the government. The ruling Socialists periodically arrest elected officials and the Venezuelan High Court has recently called for the appearance of ten legislators. Zambrano, who appeared with Guaidó and two dozen defectors in an opening to the armed forces to rebel, was among them.

They ignored the call

The uprising of April 30 disappeared after only a few hours, when the superior army ignored the call for the regime's abandonment and the security forces took control of the streets of Caracas. Since then, Maduro and his confidants have sworn that those responsible would be duly punished.

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Wednesday night, Zambrano left the headquarters of the Democratic Action in Caracas, aboard an armored vehicle. dozens of agents Sebin, as it is called intelligence agency, surrounded the area. After refusing to leave his vehicle, the agents towed the car with the politician still inside and posted on Twitter his transfer to the headquarters of the agency, El Helicoide, on the other side from the city.

"We were surprised by the SEBIN," Zambrano wrote from inside his black SUV while they stopped him. "By refusing to leave our vehicle, they used a crane to force us directly to the helicoid.The Democrats will continue to fight."

The ally of Maduro Diosdado Cabello, president of the Constituent Assembly, created to escape the opposition-dominated legislature, said Thursday on state television the congressman remained in detention and more arrests could be made. "Justice was rendered last night," said Cabello, telling the episode to members of the Socialist Party at a rally in the state of Monagas. "Whenever the revolution is attacked, there should be a revolutionary response."

Zambrano and at least nine other members of Congress are the subject of an investigation by the government for crimes that include treason, civil rebellion and conspiracy to publicly support Guaidó in his attempt to overthrow Maduro. Maduro says the failed uprising is a coup and took drastic action against army dissidents and in street protests.

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