Broadside issued by the provisional Governing Board (Junta Patriotica) to the people of Caracas, dated two days after the January 23, 1958 coup deposing Venezuelan dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez (see text and translation below). Immediately following the news of Perez Jimenez’ flight to the Dominican Republic, known supporters of the fallen regime were singled out for looting, retaliation and attacks; this handbill orders an immediate halt to these activities and condemns them as criminal. The provisional government, led by Admiral Wolfgang Larrazabal, would hold power until Romulo Betancourt’s election as president of Venezuela in December of 1958.

Text reads: “La Junta Patriotica – Que ha luchado y continuara luchando por los intereses del pueblo y por sus derechos ciudadanos, hace saber que los saqueadores son enemigos del pueblo y que los instigadores a robos, incendios y ex-agentes de Seguridad, que estan fuera de la Ley y tanto esta Junta como lod trabajadores y las Autoridades los consideran como vulgares delincuentes” [trans: “The Patriotic Board / which has fought and will continue to fight for the interests of the people and for their civil rights, makes it known that the looters are enemies of the people and that the instigators of robberies, fires and ex-Security agents, who are outside the Law and both this Board: its workers and the Authorities consider them as common criminals.”].

$250