Firebrand still fighting for freedom in Venezuela

From hiding to Nobel laureate — Maria Corina Machado continues her fight for Venezuela's democracy as US President Donald Trump raises tensions in the region. Regina Garcia Cano of the Associated Press reports

- Regina Garcia Cano of the Associated Press reports

MARIA Corina Machado has long been the face of resistance to Venezuela's 26-year ruling party. Now, she is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who prompted millions of Venezuelans to reject President Nicolas Maduro in last year’s election, appeared in public for the first time in 11 months on Thursday, following her arrival in Norway, where her daughter received the award on her behalf the previous day.

Machado had been in hiding since January 9, when she was briefly detained after joining supporters during an anti-government protest in Venezuela's capital Caracas.

Her Nobel win for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in her South American nation was announced on October 10.

Hours after waving from the balcony of a hotel to a cheering crowd gathered outside on Thursday, Machado told reporters that she would continue the fight for her homeland’s democracy and promised to return soon.

“My return will be when we believe the security conditions are right, and it won’t depend on whether or not the regime leaves,’ she said. “It will be as soon as possible”

Machado, an industrial engineer and daughter of a steel magnate, began challenging the ruling party in 2004, when the nongovernmental organisation she co-founded, Sumate, promoted a referendum to recall then President Hugo Chavez.

‘The initiative failed, and Machado and other Sumate executives were charged with conspiracy.

She drew the anger of Chavez and his allies the following year for her Oval Office meeting with then US President George W Bush. Chavez considered Bush an adversary.