Ronald Ojeda, a Venezuelan dissident living in Chile, is wanted by the socialist Maduro regime. found He was reportedly kidnapped on February 21, and died and was buried over the weekend.
Chilean authorities have vowed to investigate Ojeda’s death and continue an investigation begun after her abduction to determine whether Venezuela’s socialist regime had any involvement in her death.
official announced Ojeda’s body was discovered Friday night inside a suitcase buried under a cement structure in the Maipú commune in the Santiago metropolitan area.
Prosecutor Hector Barros said Ojeda was believed to have been dead for seven to 10 days by the time she was found, which “corresponds to the date of the kidnapping.”
“The murder of Ronald Ojeda is the most serious outcome that could have resulted from his kidnapping, and unfortunately that is what we are facing. We wish his family and loved ones… We express our condolences,” said Chilean Security Minister Carolina Toja. I have written on social media.
“We will continue to support the investigation being carried out by the Chilean Public Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that this crime is fully investigated and punished with the utmost severity,” she continued. “Fighting this crime must be an absolute priority for the government and a national mission.”
local government arrested It said it had arrested a 17-year-old Venezuelan national suspected of being involved in Ojeda’s kidnapping and murder, and identified two other suspects, who were still at large at press time.
chile newspaper El Mercurio report On Monday, the suspects Torren de Aragua (Aragua Train) is a Venezuelan transnational criminal organization with operations spread across several countries in the region. America.
Aragua Train, founded in 2012, is suspected of growing with the tacit “blessing” of the Maduro regime. El Mercurio Ojeda’s body had no obvious gunshot wounds, and police could not find any footprints or bullets that could be traced back to the killer, so the criminals were not careful when kidnapping and killing Ojeda. ” he pointed out.
Ojeda, 32, is a former lieutenant in the Venezuelan army. Maduro’s government imprisoned him in 2017 on charges of rebellion and treason. He escaped from prison in November 2017 and fled to Chile. reportedly He will be recognized as a refugee by the Chilean government in December 2023.
In January, the Maduro government accused Ojeda admitted that he was part of Operation White Bracelet, an alleged plot by the socialist regime to assassinate Maduro and other regime officials and attack multiple military units across Venezuela. Maduro’s government claims 33 former and current military personnel are involved in the alleged conspiracy.
Ojeda was reportedly abducted on February 21 by a group claiming to be from Chile’s immigration police, PDI. Surveillance camera footage released by Chilean media shows a group of people wearing Chilean police uniforms arriving at Ojeda’s apartment and dragging her out barefoot. underwear. Ojeda’s body was discovered 10 days later.
#22February #Ronald Ojeda #Chile
Venezolano Ronald Ojeda is an ally of Chile and Venezuela in exile.Acquisition of images by media @meganoticiascl – @VPITV pic.twitter.com/Bp6AbwaN9s— ReporteYa (@ReporteYa) February 22, 2024
Last week, before Ojeda’s body was discovered, journalists Asked Security Minister Toha on the possibility that the Maduro regime participated in the abduction of dissidents. Toha said the possibility was “unprecedented and extremely serious,” but suggested it was one of “many” possibilities being investigated by Chile’s public prosecutor’s office.
“It would be very serious and unprecedented,” Toha said at the time. “We’ve been told several times during this time that this kind of thing happened, but the truth is, it hasn’t happened.”
“It is an unprecedented and extremely serious situation, and it would be unprecedented in relations between Latin American countries,” she continued.
Diosdado Cabello, a close aide to the socialist regime and suspected drug lord Said Last week, Maduro’s government said it had “nothing to do” with Ojeda’s kidnapping.
“Venezuela has nothing to do with that kidnapping. Please solve the problem in Chile,” Cabello said. “Keep protecting the mafia. The mafia itself will denounce you.”
Venezuelan “opposition” unified platform coalition I was demanded to On Saturday, the Chilean government announced it would punish those responsible for Ojeda’s death. Some “opposition” parties, including the socialist Popular Will Party (VP), have accused Maduro’s government of being behind the kidnappings and killings of Venezuelan dissidents.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
