Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro marched in Caracas on Monday in favour of a new legislative superbody as hackers took down dozens of state websites to show their support for a pre-dawn armed assault on a military base the day before.
Those who attacked the army base near the city of Valencia said their “Operation David,” in reference to the biblical story of David and Goliath, was aimed at starting an insurgency against unpopular leftist Maduro. But no more assaults appear to have followed and anti-government protests in Valencia were quickly controlled by tear gas.
The new, all-powerful legislative assembly aims to lock in the “Bolivarian revolution” begun almost 20 years ago by late President Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s mentor and predecessor. Maduro has called the assembly Venezuela’s only hope of peace but opponents say it will cement dictatorship in the OPEC country.
“More than anything, this march is a call for peace,” a pro-Maduro activist told state television, giving her name as Ana.
About 2,000 people jammed the streets in front of Venezuela’s congressional complex, where the constituent assembly will hold its sessions. They chanted in support of the assembly and called for an end to over 4 months of opposition protests and unrest in which more than 120 people have died.