They throw tear gas during student and graduate elections at the UCV
The president of the Federation of University Centers of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), Jesus Mendozadenounced that in the middle of the student and graduate election process, unknown persons detonated three tear gas bombs in the Faculty of Humanities and Education.
In statements to Unión Radio, the leader assured that they reproach the intimidation actions to try to stop the electoral process.
«We reproach these types of actions, because they are actions carried out by people who do not have the votes, They do not believe in university autonomy or as a culture of peace. There are people who are affected, one lady had to be treated by firefighters. “We remain firm, because this electoral process has to end (…) there are still four hours left until the process closes,” he expressed.
#AtMoment | Unknown assailants detonate tear gas bombs in the Faculty of Humanities and Education, during the student and graduate electoral process
Let’s be clear, at the UCV the minutes are not lost. Let’s save the UCV! pic.twitter.com/eFuL0q7jYI
— Long live the UCV (@VivaLaUCV) November 15, 2024
Mendoza reported that in the midst of the irregular situation, unknown people tried to steal electoral boxes, but they were guarded by students, who thwarted that action..
Miguelangel Suárez, candidate for the FCU-UCV, condemned the attempt to sabotage the elections.
“Ucevistas want to count us in, let us vote because we are committed to this entire process. From Save the U, we want to tell you that we must rescue the university from the violent. Enough of them ruining an election party! like today with such reprehensible acts!”, he pointed out.
Tear gas bombs
In a video that was published on the X account, VivaLaUCV, You can see how students ran to avoid inhaling the smoke from the tear gas that was thrown into the spaces of the Faculty of Humanities and Education.
#InVideo | They try to stop the electoral process at the Faculty of Humanities and Education after detonating tear gas bombs.
It is from these violent people that we want to save the university! pic.twitter.com/5Qp4tcoSja
— Long live the UCV (@VivaLaUCV) November 15, 2024
The situation caused voters to disperse to open places to avoid the effects of the gas. Suárez assured that despite the incident the university community is determined to exercise their right to vote at any time.
From early this Friday the students went to the faculties of the house of higher education to participate in the elections. Some 25,000 students are called to elect their representatives in the student centers and the Federation of University Centers (FCU).
Two student groups are competing for the Federation of University Centers in this Friday’s elections: All for the UCV, led by Ángel Rodríguez, and the Save the UCV movement, led by Miguelángel Suárez.
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