Venezuelan in SWLA calls for justice following his country’s recent election

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - From the time he was in his twenties, Andres Nava was an activist protesting the tyranny and repression in Venezuela.

“We are broken. Over 26 years with this same struggle, the same battle, asking the world to see us,” Nava said.

Amid impoverished people and horrible human rights violations, he stood for what he believed. Nava said one time he was held in a jail in Venezuela for ten hours. When it became too dangerous, he sought asylum in America.

“You know they have your phone tapped, they knew where you were, who you are, where your family is. They have you on the military list. You definitely need to consider getting out,” Nava said.

Several Venezuelans are protesting following the country’s recent election. The opposition says it obtained more than 70% of tally sheets from the election, and they show Edmundo Gonzalez had more than double the votes of the country’s President Nicholas Maduro.

Nava is now an American citizen living in Lake Charles and still hopes fervently that there may be justice for Venezuela.

“He (Maduro) needs to be brought to justice. He needs to pay for all the criminal acts that he has done and all his government cabinet. Most definitely there needs to be justice for all of us. On behalf of the people who have already died, for the families that have been broken,” Nava said.

Nava hopes the international community will help to make others see the subterfuge and corruption.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy spoke on the Senate floor Monday. He said an international coalition is needed to ensure the political transition Venezuelans started at the polling booths. Here is more of his speech.