2015:
Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma was Charged with Plotting “The Blue Coup”
Antonio Ledezma was elected Mayor of Caracas in 2008 and
reelected in 2013. Ledezma was a vocal critic of President Nicolas Maduro.
Ledezma was popularly known as “The Vampire.” [1]
On February 11, 2015, the newspaper El Nacional
published a Call for a National Transition Agreement to replace Maduro whose
government was described as being in its “terminal” phase. The Call was
coauthored by Ledezma, Maria Machado and Leopoldo Lopez.
On the night of February 11,2015,
three civilians and five junior military officers of the Venezuelan Air Force
were arrested by the National Intelligence Service (SEBIN). They were charged
with planning a coup d’etat against Maduro. (The Coup was referred to as the
“Blue Coup” because of the color of the Air Force uniforms). The plot involved
the bombing of targets in Caracas including the Presidential Palace, the
Electoral Board, and the HQ of Telesur. The bombing was meant to create chaos
and ungovernability which would lead to a takeover of the government.[8] The
attack was to occur on February 12, 2015. The attacks did not occur due to the
arrests on February 11.
On February 19, 2015, Ledezma was
arrested and charged with conspiracy in plotting the Blue Coup against Maduro.
On February 20, a judicial hearing was held. Public Prosecutor Katherine
Haringhton presented evidence linking Ledezma to the Blue Coup Plot.[2] The
Judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence to hold Ledezma for a trial.
Maduro cited the Call for Transition as evidence of a plan for a coup.[7] The
Latin American Parliament issued a statement condemning the thwarted coup plot.
The Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto
Samper rejected the coup attempt and indicated his support for President Maduro.[8]
Demonstrations in favor of Ledezma’s arrest
took place in Caracas:[4]
•
“The
Venezuelan masses are highly satisfied with Ledezma’s arrest since the Mayor is
responsible for huge human rights crimes in the past….. “
On March 9, 2015, President Obama declared a U.S. National
Emergency due to the situation in Venezuela. He sanctioned seven government
officials for human rights offenses, including Katherine Haringhton saying:[6]
•
“Haringhton charged several opposition members
including Maria Machado and Antonio Ledezma, with the crime of conspiracy
related to alleged assassination/coup plots based on implausible – and in some
cases fabricated-information.”
•
The
Obama White House released a statement calling for the release of all
“political prisoners” in Venezuela including Mayor Ledezma.[5]
On January 12, 2017, eight military and civilians were
sentenced for their role in the Blue Coup plot. [3]
On April 27,2015, Ledezma was transferred to his private
residence where he was to await trial under house arrest. On November 17, 2017,
Ledezma slipped past guards and fled to Columbia and then flew to Spain. After
his escape, Ledezma visited Washington DC in late November 2017 to meet with US
officials and give speeches at think tanks (like the American Enterprise
Institute). He later met with Vice-President Mike Pence in April 2018 and
requested stronger sanctions against Venezuela.
1.Venezuelanalysis, Venezuelan Opposition Mayor, Alias “the Vampire,”
Arrested for Role in Blue Coup Plot, 2/20/2015.
2.Venezuelanalysis, Caracas Mayor Indicted in Venezuela, Will Face
Trial, February 24, 2015.
3.Panam Post, Venezuela: Military and Civilians Sentenced for Alleged
Coup Attempt in 2015, January 12, 2017.
4.Counterpunch, The Coup d’Etat Attempt in Venezuela, February 24,
2015.
5. The White House, Statement by the Press Secretary on Venezuela,
March 9, 2015.
6. The White House, Fact Sheet: Venezuela Executive Order, March
9, 2015.
7. New York Times, Arrest of Caracas Mayor Plunges Venezuela into New
Crisis, February 20, 2015.
8.Venezuelanalysis, Amid International Outcry, Venezuelan Officials
Allege Blackwater, US and Canadian Links to Thwarted Coup, 2/17/2015.
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