Venezuela's decimated 'Resistance' protesters stay off streets for election

Supporters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro cheer outside the polling station where his is voting during presidential elections in Caracas, Venezuela. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro makes the victory sign after voting in presidential elections in Caracas, Venezuela. Ricardo Mazalan / AP Photo

With an image of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez behind him a Venezuelan citizen casts his vote at a polling station during the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela. Marco Bello / Reuters

A large sign supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sits atop a building during the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela. Marco Bello / Reuters

Venezuelans queue outside a polling station as they wait to cast their vote during the presidential elections in Caracas. Federico Parra / AFP

Venezuelan citizens check electoral lists at a polling station during the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela. Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters

Elderly Venezuelan citizens depart after casting their votes at a polling station during the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela. Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Reuters

Venezuelan citizens check in at a 'Red Point,' an area set up by President Nicolas Maduro's party, to verify that they cast their votes during the presidential election in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Carlos Jasso / Reuters

Activists in Venezuela's western state of Tachira have for years been at the forefront of demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro and helped lead violent protests during an election last year to create an all-powerful legislature.

But youth demonstrators dubbed "The Resistance" don't plan to be on the streets on Sunday, when President Maduro stands for re-election in a vote that the opposition has called a fraud.

Most won't even be in the country.

Their ranks have been decimated by emigration as a police crackdown has left many in jail or seeking to avoid it, and a hyperinflationary economic crisis has led many to seek reprieve in neighboring Latin American nations.

"I had to leave my country because of the persecution of my companions and family members, and because of the lack of jobs and terrible economy," William Quintero, 32, an activist who this month moved to Colombia, said via text message.

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"As long as this leftist government remains in power, I don't see it as a country of opportunities."

Nationwide protests in 2014 first began in Tachira's capital San Cristobal, with Mr Maduro's critics building barricades throughout the hilly Andean city where inhabitants have traditionally been known for being reserved and courteous.

A second wave of protests across the country in 2017 lasted for four months, culminating in the July election of a legislature known as the Constituent Assembly that has given the ruling Socialist Party unchecked powers.

President Maduro's government has imprisoned dozens of opposition leaders ranging from mayors to university student agitators. The opposition calls them political prisoners, but Mr Maduro says they are terrorists seeking to overthrow him.

"Seventy per cent of the protesters left the country in 2015, and the rest left in 2017," said Miguel Garcia, 26, who was active in both rounds of protests.

He left for Chile after his brother was jailed by intelligence agents in what human rights groups called an arbitrary detention.

"We're sure that when the government falls, the doors will be open and that's when we can come back to the country," Mr Garcia said.

President Maduro on Sunday faces challenger Henri Falcon, who is ignoring a boycott of the vote by the opposition Democratic Unity coalition, which says the ballot is prone to fraud by the Socialist Party.

The coalition said it would not even be in a position to document potential fraud because the vote was called on such short notice that it did not have time to prepare a network of polling station witnesses.

Some opposition activists have said they will gather at polling stations and urge people not to vote, but are not planning wide-scale demonstrations.

A man looks for his names moments before casting his vote at a polling station during presidential elections in Barquisimeto on May 20. Luis Robayo / AFP

Mr Maduro insists the election will be free and fair, and accuses the opposition of refusing to participate because it knows it cannot win.

Polls show his approval rating hovering near 20 per cent due to anger over 14,000 per cent annualized inflation, chronic shortages of food and medicine and the rising incidence of malnourishment and preventable diseases.

A government assistance programme created by President Maduro delivers boxes of basic goods such as cooking oil and rice, but it is plagued with complaints that it favours those who support the Socialist Party.

Mr Maduro's government insists it is the victim of an "economic war" led by opposition leaders with the help of Washington.

Fernando Marquez, 24, is a member of the opposition party Popular Will and one of the few street activists who remain in San Cristobal. He said the opposition's inability to develop a clear strategy against Mr Maduro has demotivated protesters and caused the movement to wither.

"Last year we were a large army, a youth army with a rebellious spirit fighting against a dictatorship," said Mr Marquez, who acknowledged that nearly all of his friends are now out of the country.

Instead of demonstrating on Sunday, he said, activists plan to monitor polling stations for irregularities.

"This isn't an election, it's a fraud. If we protest we would be recognising it as an election," he said.