Venezuela's attempt at producing a Muammar Qadaffy..., the country’s socialist dictator, is forced to step down.
"Civil society is no longer supporting Maduro, and
The former political prisoner, who lives with his family in an upscale Caracas suburb and spoke exclusively to The Post last week, refused to be identified for fear of being rounded up by roving bands of paramilitaries sent by "an increasingly desperate Maduro" to crack down on opposition, he said.
"I have to work without public exposure right now, or I risk going back to jail and not being able to do anything," said the activist engineer who endured months in solitary confinement for his pro-democracy activities. He was released last year, but was forced under house arrest.
Still, he said he continued to work in secret, trading coded text messages with his fellow activists using Whats App ‐ "the most secure way of communicating," he said.
After the house arrest was lifted a few months ago, he was prohibited from leaving the country and has to report to local authorities every few weeks.
But despite being forced further underground, he said he was "elated" by the recent turn of events in Venezuela after the Trump administration officially recognized Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself the country’s interim leader after becoming president of the National Assembly.
"That recognition sent a big surge of hope among most of my countrymen," the activist said. "It gave us renewed energy to continue fighting."