THE TYRANT HAS BEEN CAPTURED, LONG LIVE FREE VENEZUELA!

A month ago, we Venezuelans celebrated the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Latin America’s "Iron Lady," María Corina Machado. Today, one month later, we good-hearted Venezuelans remain stunned with emotion, and with great joy, we celebrate that Nicolás Maduro, the tyrannical dictator of Venezuela, has been captured by U.S. forces in a historic operation that will mark the future of our country and the entire region.

It was in the early morning hours of January 3rd when, unexpectedly, what we had all been waiting for for years was finally happening. At first, there was much confusion; videos and rumors circulated through all media outlets, and no one could believe what was occurring. Many people did not know how to react and were also somewhat afraid. However, around 6:00 a.m., the President of the United States, Donald Trump, reported the capture of the Venezuelan tyrant, who, along with his wife, was heading to the United States to finally face justice for all the crimes they perpetrated over the years—not only in Venezuela but also through a criminal network that extended across the entire American continent, directly affecting the United States of America.

Maduro fell; he was overthrown and is gone forever. And Venezuelans like myself celebrate and categorically applaud, through every possible means, this action that awakens a new possibility for change and a golden opportunity to begin building a new country. We all wanted this to happen; we desired it from the bottom of our hearts, and now that this long-awaited day has arrived, we must begin to organize as citizens to manage the political transition that will lead us to that new country where we will be free.

I have noticed, however, that many Venezuelans within the country are reserving their right to celebrate and express their support for Maduro’s capture, as the regime is still using its repressive arm to intimidate people based on Article 5 of the "External Commotion Decree" signed by Maduro before his capture. This is concerning and must not be permitted under any circumstances. We Venezuelans refuse to remain hostages of a repressive regime, and we demand to live in freedom and to be able to CELEBRATE a milestone in our history and the end of years of torture, repression, and DICTATORSHIP.

It is time to lose our fear. It is time for the cry of liberty to drown out the sound of chains. Let us celebrate with our heads held high, because the path to democracy is no longer a dream—it is our reality.

LET US CELEBRATE AND SHOUT TOGETHER.

THE DICTATOR HAS FALLEN. LONG LIVE FREE VENEZUELA.