Venezuelan Montrealers express fear, pride amid home country election dispute

Soraya Benitez says she has not heard from two of her friends who were arrested after they took part in demonstrations in Venezuela since Wednesday.

The Montrealer, whose nephews are also protesting in her home country, has been worried about her friends' safety. 

"The police in Venezuela come to people's homes or in the street, pick them up and they disappear," said Benitez, president of the Canada Venezuela Democracy Forum — an advocacy group. 

Venezuelans took to the streets on July 29, demanding that President Nicolás Maduro acknowledge that he lost Sunday's election to an opposition that is claiming a landslide victory. 

The opposition told reporters they have obtained more than 70 per cent of the tally sheets from the election.

Benitez said she was not surprised when she heard that Maduro had declared victory, adding that his "elections have always been rigged." Maduro has been in power since 2013. 

But this time, the Venezuelan-born Montrealer says things are different.

"We are right, and we have proof that we are right," said Benitez. 

Supporting community from afar

Just like Benitez, Maria Liliana Madriz is watching the images from her native country with anxiety and hope. 

She says she has lost sleep over the political unrest in her home country. 

"We're with our cells day and night, checking everything that comes, the second it comes and sharing it with all of our groups," she said. 

Madriz came to Montreal in 1998, the year Hugo Chávez was elected in Venezuela, fearing for her and her daughter's safety. 

Seeing the protests and pressure from the international community, she says she hopes this will be the start of negotiations. 

"We are with them. We want to be with them," Madriz said, whose brother is participating in several Venezuelan demonstrations. 

Reuters has reported that at least 20 people have been killed in those demonstrations, according to advocacy groups. The government stated more than a 1,000 others have been arrested in connection with the protests.

'Maduro doesn't represent change,' expert says

Venezuela has been plagued by a socio-economic and political crisis for years, with more than 7.7 million nationals fleeing the country since 2014. 

Simone Bohn, associate professor of political science at York University, says the situation could worsen, causing more Venezuelans to emigrate.

She said the country could face more unrest and violence in the near future if Maduro remains in power. 

"Maduro doesn't represent change, he represents continuity," Bohn said, noting that the results he announced are not "evidence-based."

She said many factors, such as using the state machinery to promote his candidacy, made the election unfair.

Countries including Canada have expressed concern about Maduro's claim to victory and called on the South American country's authorities to reveal detailed results from all polling stations.

While Benitez is worried about the safety of those disputing the election outcome, she is also supportive and proud of her nephews' political commitment.

"I couldn't tell them to stay home because if I was there, I'd be out in the street," she said.