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From CNN: In a poor Caracas neighborhood, the letter “X” is appearing on people’s homes – crude chest-high slashes of paint that residents say amount to a threat.
Residents living in 23 de Enero, once the stronghold of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, believe pro-regime paramilitary groups are behind the spray paint. The groups, known as colectivos, are marking people who had protested the outcome of July’s presidential election, residents told CNN.
“There are some fifty homes in my street, and thirty-two have been marked,” said one resident, who asked to use the alias “Pablo”, due to fear of retaliation for speaking out.
The Xs appeared in Pablo’s neighborhood days after Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory at the polls on July 28 – a result disputed by the opposition and questioned by foreign observers.
Members of a Venezuelan paramilitary unit took photos of his neighbors as they stood outside their homes and called for Maduro to step down by banging pots. The next morning, “we woke up and all the houses were marked with a cross,” Pablo said.
The report further quotes Pable as explaining that he heard the rattling of a spray can as his own door was being painted in the middle of the night.
“The following days, they would ride around the street saying this mark is for cowards and that they would come back with guns if anyone protested,” Pablo said.
The Venezuelan government previous had an app that would allow anyone to report “public administration malfunctions.” Now the same app is being promoted to allow anyone to anonymously report opposition supporters.
Maduro touted the app at a recent rally, declaring, “This is the app to snitch on the fascists.” It has since been blocked on Apple’s App store but is still available on Google Play, CNN reported.
One local resident who spoke with CNN said her home has not yet been marked with the X symbol, but she is now afraid to join any protests against the Maduro regime.
She said about 80% of the people in her area are also supporters of opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, but are too afraid to speak out.
“A couple days after the election, two young protesters were taken away, there’s no trust among neighbors also because of the app,” the woman said.
Maduro opponents in Venezuela woke up to the word X spray painted on their homes. They say pro-regime paramilitary groups are targeting them as fear of repression mounts in Venezuela. Latest by @StePozzebon and me. https://t.co/oghl38Q4tY
— Tara John (@tarajohn) August 15, 2024
Dennis Michael Lynch announced in his podcast Friday morning that a new survey reveals there are an estimated 10 million Venezuelans who plan to leave their country in 2025, and are likely headed to the United States.
WATCH:
New survey reveals 10 Million (10,000,000) Venezuelans plan to leave their country in 2025, likely heading your way. If #Kamala wins we’re screwed. Vote #Trump2024 pic.twitter.com/CCGKaJfz0T
— Dennis Michael Lynch (@TrustDML) August 16, 2024
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
