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Venezuela Celebrates 200 Years of Independence

By Various

Today Venezuelans have been celebrating 200 years of independence with formal ceremonies and cultural events around the country, as well as a giant civic-military parade in Caracas.

On 5 July 1811 the congress of Venezuelan provinces adopted and signed the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence, marking the point when Venezuelans decided to break away from the Spanish Crown and establish a new nation. The new nation was based on a range of premises including equality, abolition of censorship, and freedom of expression that were radically opposed to the practices applied during the preceding three centuries of colonisation.

Women of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) in the civic-military parade to mark the bicentenary today (Loel Henríquez

Women of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) in the civic-military parade to mark the bicentenary today (Loel Henríquez)

Fireworks in Caracas at 12am marked the start of the day of celebrations (CdO)

Minister for justice Tarek El Aissami (left) and vice-president of the country, Elias Jaua, raise the national flag (CdO)

The National Assembly building is decorated for the occasion (CdO)

Part of the civic-military parade (AVN)

Venezuelan soldiers shout in unison during the march (Axis of Logic)

Presidents, prime-ministers, and foreign ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean were present, together with Venezuelan m

Presidents, prime-ministers, and foreign ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean were present, together with Venezuelan ministers and other Venezuelan authorities (AVN)

A PDVSA float at the parade (PDVSA)

(Axis of Logic)

Indigenous groups took part in the march wearing traditional indigenous dress (Axis of Logic)

Children in the civic-military parade (Axis of Logic)

There was a main celebration in the centre of Merida, but this comunal council held its own ceremony in the Plaza La Columna, th

There was a main celebration in the centre of Merida, but this comunal council held its own ceremony in the Plaza La Columna, the first column in the world erected for Bolivar (Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalysis).

In Merida soldiers raise the flags of the state and of the five republics, as rain finally clears (Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalys

In Merida soldiers raise the flags of the state and of the five republics, as rain finally clears (Tamara Pearson/Venezuelanalysis)

Published on Jul 5th 2011 at 7.42pm

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