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[Text/Observer Network Chen Sijia] According to a report by Venezuela Southern TV on August 6, Venezuelan President Maduro said on the 5th that he had deleted WhatsApp, a communication software developed by the US Meta company, from his mobile phone and called on supporters to follow suit. He accused "fascists" of using the application to incite violence and undermine social stability in Venezuela.

Maduro said in his speech: "Now we all communicate through WeChat and Telegram. Colombian drug dealers, traitors, and North American imperialism can no longer attack Venezuela through WhatsApp. We will get rid of technological imperialism."

Maduro announced that he deleted WhatsApp from his phone. “It is necessary to do this, to say no to WhatsApp, to get WhatsApp out of Venezuela, because criminals are here to threaten the youth and the leaders of the masses… WhatsApp, go to hell!”

Screenshot of Maduro deleting a WhatsApp video on his phone during his speech

Earlier on the 5th local time, Maduro attended a youth rally organized by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela in the capital Caracas, calling on Venezuelan youth to defend peace. He declared: "Some cowards hide behind anonymous mobile phones in Colombia, Peru, Chile and the United States... But I want to tell these cowardly fascists: You can hide, but the Patriotic Revolutionary Youth will be on the streets, and we will never hide."

At the rally, he accused "fascists" of threatening Venezuelan soldiers, police and mass leaders through WhatsApp, and called on Venezuelans to delete the app and use software such as WeChat and Telegram instead.

In the early morning of July 29, local time, the Venezuelan National Electoral Commission announced that the Grand Patriotic Alliance candidate and current President Maduro, who has been in power for 11 years, was re-elected as the President of Venezuela. The Electoral Commission's counting of 80% of the votes showed that Maduro won 51.20% of the votes, and the opposition alliance "Democratic Unity Alliance" candidate Gonzalez won 44.20% of the votes. But the Venezuelan opposition refused to accept this result.

After Venezuela officially announced the election results, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and other countries congratulated Maduro on his re-election, but the United States, the European Union and the Group of Seven all questioned the election results. Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, three Latin American countries led by left-wing governments, called on Venezuela to release the full voting results.

Venezuelan opposition supporters subsequently organized a series of demonstrations, and the resulting riots and violent clashes have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people. Maduro announced on the 6th that since the end of July, 2,229 people have been arrested for participating in violent incidents during protests initiated by the opposition. They are suspected of injuring innocent people and burning public facilities such as hospitals and schools.

Maduro also said earlier that opposition leader Machado and candidate Gonzalez were suspected of inciting post-election violence and trying to undermine government stability and "should be imprisoned." He accused the two of destroying the facilities of the National Electoral Commission of Venezuela, an act that could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Maduro said on the 4th when awarding medals to the troops injured in quelling the demonstrations, "We are confronting, defeating, containing and crushing a coup attempt against Venezuela." He emphasized to the members of the Bolivarian National Guard that "fascism" will not come to power in Venezuela, "I hope you can ensure the victory of order, law and constitution."

This article is an exclusive article of Observer.com and may not be reproduced without authorization.