PR Venezuelan community reacts to Maduro & Flores’ court appearance in New York

By THE STAR STAFF

Members of the Venezuelan diaspora expressed hope for justice following Monday’s court appearance of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where they face charges including drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

“Our expectation, shared by the vast majority of Venezuelans, is that justice will be served and that they will pay with the full weight of the law -- not only for the crimes they have committed, but for the pain, suffering, death, and family separations in Venezuela,” said Mary Carmen Díaz, vice president of Casa Venezuela.

Sonia Cosme, president of the nonprofit organization, echoed that sentiment, noting the long struggle to remove Maduro through peaceful means.

“After trying every peaceful avenue, we could not remove Nicolás Maduro,” she said. “We understand this is a process that has already begun. Venezuela will move forward because it has resources and opportunities.”

She added: “That distorted, unequal, asymmetrical Venezuela -- without freedoms, without freedom of expression, without rights -- that is not the Venezuela we want.”

The remarks were made at a Venezuelan restaurant on Juan Ponce de León Avenue shortly after Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty to several charges.

Also present were Tomás Sorondo and Silvia Casado, spokespersons for Vente Venezuela-Puerto Rico, a political organization aligned with opposition leaders Edmundo González and María Corina Machado. They emphasized the importance of maintaining international visibility and organizing the diaspora.

“We will speak out as many times as necessary because we are convinced the process will continue and all will pay for the crimes committed,” Casado said.