Venezuela violence concerns rise after election results release vote fails at an international forum as diplomatic pressure intensifies
Though the head of the Organization of American States called for Maduro's arrest, member countries couldn't pass a vote to pressure Venezuela to release election results, leading to more diplomatic efforts on Thursday.
There are ongoing diplomatic efforts after the Organization of American States failed to pass a resolution to put more pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to present evidence showing he legitimately won Venezuela's presidential election.
Most member nations have refrained from recognizing the official results announced by Maduro's regime, while some evidence suggests that opposition candidate Edmundo González actually won the majority of votes.
The uncertainty over the election results is fueling a fear of increased protests and violence amid the international debate and lack of consensus on how to react. The presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico plan on having a call Thursday to discuss ways to persuade Maduro to release vote tallies.
On Thursday afternoon, main opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, "I am writing this from hiding, fearing for my life, my freedom, and that of my fellow countrymen from the dictatorship led by Nicolás Maduro."
"Venezuelans are ready to throw off the dictatorship. Will the international community support us?" Machado pleaded.
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