Thousands of Venezuelans are on the streets, asking for immediate elections but, so far, only getting relentless repression in return from the armed forces. About nine Venezuelans protesters have been killed in the last days of protests, which are seen as intensifying. President Nicolas Maduro has threatened to put 500,000 rifles in the hands of his followers, many of whom are organized in bands of criminals, to “defend” the revolution, a clear act of aggression the people’s right to march peacefully.
This unbalanced posture by Maduro has already received a critical reply from the United Nations. Strongman Diosdado Cabello, a leader of chavismo has also stated that “the revolution does not care about what the world says”, no doubt meaning that they will continue to escalate armed repression in the coming days. The regime just took control of the General Motors automobile plant in Valencia, about 80 miles southwest of Caracas, forcing the company to abandon Venezuela.
Governance in the
country is at a critical low and the probability of default grows larger this year. A report by
Reuters, see: http://www.reuters.com/article/venezuela-oil-tankers-seizure-idUSL2N1HD1MI informs that Venezuelan oil cargoes have been
retained by Russian debtors, since the state oil company is not honoring its
debts. The report states: : “political allies
such as Russia are losing patience with delinquent payments from Venezuela,
whose obsolete tankers are struggling to export oil and even to supply fuel to
the domestic market. PDVSA also owes millions of dollars to Caribbean terminals
- including the one in Saint Eustatius, which is owned by U.S. NuStar Energy,
according to a PDVSA executive and an employee at one of the facilities”. Large debtors such as Canadian mining company Crystallex
are pursuing seizures of Venezuelan assets in North America after being awarded
about $1.3 billion by a World Bank decision in payment for the confiscation of
its assets in Venezuela.
Thousands of Venezuelans are moving across borders into Colombia
and Brazil and efforts are made by hundreds to reach the small ABC islands in
the Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Availability of food and medical supplies
is deteriorating rapidly.
The government has
practically ceased to operate normally. The country is in a permanent state of
emergency. Control is being exercised through forcible means in violation of basic human
rights.
This situation is well documented and the OAS, regional
governments and the United States Department of State are fully informed of the
situation. Yesterday Secretary of State R. Tillerson answered a question about
Venezuela in the following terms: “SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, we are concerned that the government
of Maduro is violating its own constitution and is not allowing the opposition
to have their voices heard, nor allowing them to organize in a way that
expresses the views of the Venezuelan people. Yes, we are concerned about that
situation. We’re watching it closely and working with others, particularly
through the OAS, to communicate those concerns to them”. Obviously hard decisions concerning
Venezuela can no longer be postponed and action should now replace words.
Venezuelans are clearly asking for urgent help from the region.
This is a May Day call.
May Day, May Day.
Es un otro masacre comunista que llega! Maduro se transforma en Pol Pot! Y como antes, el mundo mira y no hace nada...
ResponderEliminar
ResponderEliminarI think one of the few measures of the opposition's success is the growing awareness within the American media of the seriousness of the situation in Venezuela and especially the dramatic scope of the opposition's reach. Maduro's widespread unpopularity is now presented as an established fact in almost every news report. We were not seeing this a few weeks ago.
Here are some articles from today, April 20 in some prominent American media sources:
New York Times Covers Wednesday's Protests
Washington Post on 'Mother of All Protests'
Bloomberg on Continuing Tense Situation
The protests are gradually getting the attention of the outside world. From my perspective, it has taken too long, but better late than never.
The fact that now the poor Venezuelans, that had supported the Chavez regime are now sick and tired of the incredibly poor situation they now face, have now become in great measure part of the opposition and are actively participating in marches and protests, have changed the level of the confrontation. These people from the barrios and cerros are used to a tough life and are not afraid to confront the police and National Guard violently.
ResponderEliminarAdditionally, the soldiers and national guards are people that are from the same extraction and social level, so they have families and friends which now are part of the opposition. This could change the face and position of the forces supporting the regime, which seems to be giving a lot of weight to the illegals and jailed thugs they have released and armed as a so called militia.
The tide is turning......the narc-criminal-dictatorship will not give up easily. The Venezuelan people will overcome the dictatorship with a little help from the OAS (send peace keeping troops ASAP).......American Air force, drones and Navy......boots on the groumd troops from the rest of the Latin American countries (Mexico, Brasil, Argentina,Peru, etc.)
ResponderEliminarOAS, what are you waiting for? milk and cookies?
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ResponderEliminar