An opposition mayor was arrested by Venezuelan intelligence agents on Wednesday and another was jailed for the next 10 months as protesters continue to confront the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Daniel Ceballos, the mayor of San Cristobal near the Colombian border, was detained by the national intelligence service Sebin and accused of “civil rebellion,” Reuters reported.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court also jailed another opposition mayor, Enzo Scarano of San Diego in central Carabobo state, for 10 months and 15 days. Mr. Scarano was apprehended for failing to comply with a previous order to take down barricades.
Protests in Venezuela have been going on for weeks in reaction to high inflation, shortages of basic goods, power outages and a dismal economy. The county’s opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez remains behind bars for terrorism charges, where he has been since surrendering to government officials Feb. 18.
At least 31 people have died during events tied to anti-government clashes since February 12, Reuters reported.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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