"Jesus Armas was asleep inside Venezuela's most infamous political prison at the start of January when a thunderous explosion and a blackout announced the start of a new era. The activist remembers roars of excitement rippling through the jail's cells as befuddled guards scurried around like something really big was happening. Prisoners began to belt out Venezuela's national anthem, a stirring battle cry against tyranny: Glory to the brave people! Down with the chains! Death to oppression!"
"Only three days later, during a rare family visit, did the 39-year-old learn that Venezuela's authoritarian president, Nicolas Maduro, had been captured during a nocturnal assault ordered by Donald Trump. In that moment I realised we had a real opportunity to have a transition to democracy, Armas said last week after being allowed to leave the El Helicoide prison after 14 months one of more than 440 political prisoners freed after Maduro's demise."
"Four days after his release, Armas was still trying to comprehend the most startling twist in Venezuela's turbulent recent history and how it might shape the country's future. It's weird, he said, while preparing to head to the latest pro-democracy protest since Maduro's downfall. We are not totally in a transition, but I think we are a few steps in that direction."
A pre-dawn explosion and blackout on 3 January signaled a dramatic shift in Venezuela's political situation and sparked excitement among prisoners. Detainees in El Helicoide sang the national anthem as guards reacted in confusion. Three days later, family visitors informed prisoners that President Nicolás Maduro had been captured during a nocturnal assault ordered by the United States. Jesús Armas, freed after 14 months, was among more than 440 political prisoners released after Maduro's downfall. Public pro-democracy protests resumed rapidly, and many former detainees expressed cautious hope that the country was moving toward a democratic transition.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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