Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

[angelburst29]

Aug 07 2019 - Maduro Says Has Evidence Bolton Masterminded His 2018 Murder Attempt

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that he had evidence, proving that US National Security Adviser John Bolton had masterminded the 2018 attempted assassination of the Venezuelan leader.

In August 2018, a military parade in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, attended by Maduro, was interrupted by what the authorities announced was an assassination attempt on the life of the president.

Later Caracas noted that several drones detonated close to the presidential box during Maduro's address. The Venezuelan president was unharmed, but seven soldiers sustained injuries. Maduro blamed the alleged attack on the Venezuelan right-wing opposition, as well as the US and Colombian governments.

“A year passed since the attempted assassination. I can say today that I have evidence, proving that the attempted assassination was committed at the instruction of John Bolton from the White House … Everything is leading to John Bolton, who has a criminal way of thinking, a mindset of a murderer … I cannot accuse [US] President [Donald] Trump at the moment but I have all the reasons to ask for an investigation into [the activities] of John Bolton,” Maduro told US journalist Max Blumenthal, as broadcast by the state television.

In December, Maduro accused Bolton of preparing a plan to overthrow and kill him.

Venezuela is experiencing a political crisis that intensified in January after the US-backed opposition leader, Juan Guaido, proclaimed himself interim president. The United States, as well as the European Union, imposed sanctions on Venezuela and froze its assets. Maduro called Guaido a US puppet and accused Washington of orchestrating a change of government in order to claim Venezuelan natural resources.

Aug 07 2019 - Venezuela Denounces New US Sanctions as 'Threat' to World

Venezuela's vice president called the latest US sanctions freezing the assets of President Nicolas Maduro's government a "global threat" and an attack on private property.

Delcy Rodriguez said on Tuesday that "the US has to understand once and for all that they aren't the owners of the world", Al-Jazeera reported. "Every country that has investments in the US should be very worried because this sets a dangerous precedent against private property," she added.

Rodriguez also stated that the US measures were likely to bring additional hardship to the Venezuelan people, who were already suffering from the effects of hyperinflation and a deep recession.

The US move, which follows repeated rounds of sanctions against Maduro, includes the authorisation of penalties against "foreign persons" who provide support for his government, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Tuesday. "I want to be clear that this sweeping executive order authorises the US government to identify, target and impose sanctions on any persons who continue to provide support to the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro," noted Bolton, at a meeting in Peru's capital Lima to discuss Venezuela's political crisis.

"We are taking this step to deny Maduro access to the global financial system and to further isolate him internationally," he added.
Luis Vicente Leon, an economist with the Caracas-based Datanalisis firm, said the new sanctions "will severely affect the government" financially but was unlikely to "help create conditions for change".

Aug 07 2019 - Venezuela Asks UN Security Council to Probe Incidents Involving US Spy Planes

The government of Venezuela has sent a letter to the UN Security Council asking it to investigate incidents involving US spy planes and naval assets in Venezuela's air and maritime space, the country's envoy to the United Nations Samuel Moncada told reporters on Tuesday.

"In that letter, we relate how the US government is provoking military incidents in Venezuela by sending spy planes into the flight information region without any warning," Moncada stated, RIA Novosti reported.

Moncada pointed out that the US Southern Command has so far sent airplanes into Venezuela's airspace 55 times.

The diplomat also accused the United States of "showing muscles against Venezuela by sending military assets" in the country’s territorial waters and promoting economic terrorism against Venezuela. Moncada added that the United States is trying to manufacture a war, but warned that militarization of relations with Venezuela is dangerous.

The Venezuelan government is asking the UN Security Council to exercise its power to investigate any threats to the peace in region, Moncada said.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela government to skip Barbados talks to protest U.S. sanctions

Venezuela's government will skip a round of Norway-brokered talks on Thursday and Friday to protest a new set of U.S. sanctions meant to force President Nicolas Maduro from power, the Venezuelan information ministry said on Wednesday.

Chinese foreign ministry slams U.S. 'interference' in Venezuela
An order by U.S. President Donald Trump to freeze the Venezuelan government's assets and cut off its funds is an act of "gross interference" and a violation of the norms of international relations, China's foreign ministry said.

 

[angelburst29]

Norway in contact with Venezuelan parties on talks after Maduro suspends meeting
The Norwegian government said on Thursday it remains in touch with Venezuela's government and opposition about continuing talks to resolve the country's political crisis after President Nicolas Maduro called off this week's round of Oslo-mediated discussions.

U.S. sanctions on Venezuela may worsen crisis: U.N. rights chief (Bachelet - I'm sure you will find a way - to blame Maduro!)

The United Nations human rights chief said on Thursday that the latest unilateral U.S. sanctions on Venezuela were "extremely broad" and she feared they would significantly exacerbate the crisis in terms of people's access to food and health.

Colombia arrests eight, breaks up $670 million VAT fraud 'cartel'

Colombia has broken up a criminal network which helped companies evade some $670 million in value added taxes over the last 12 years, President Ivan Duque said on Thursday, in an operation he said was a "really hard hit" to corruption.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela pro-Maduro legislature to assess early congress elections

Venezuela's pro-government legislature on Monday agreed to create a commission to evaluate holding 2020 legislative elections early, which would create an opportunity for the government to reclaim control of the opposition-dominated congress.

Venezuela's Guaido says government plans to dissolve opposition-run legislature

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido said on Sunday President Nicolas Maduro's government is preparing to dissolve the opposition-run legislature and call new legislative elections, potentially escalating Venezuela's political crisis.

 

[Voyageur]

Interesting speech (with a Spanish translation) by Blumenthal (The Greyzone) back on August 2nd. The video was TeleSur's. It is about the EPC (Embassy Protection Collective) and more.

‘Regime change begins at home’ – Max Blumenthal speaks in Venezuelan presidential palace

August 2, 2019


The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal and the Embassy Protection Collective address the media after meeting with President Nicolás Maduro at Miraflores palace in Caracas, Venezuela.

By Max Blumenthal

Transcript
I am representing, alongside my colleagues Anya Parampil and Ben Norton, an independent media organization with no formal relationship to this government or any other government.

We are here because our government, and a corporate media which acts as an arm of its foreign policy, is pursuing a dangerous and catastrophic policy of siege and regime change.

We have seen the catastrophes that this same policy has caused for Central America, for Iraq, for Libya, for Syria, and for so many people across the world, in Korea, and elsewhere. And we are here to renounce this policy.

We are here as citizens and also as journalists, to break the blockade that our government has put not only on this government, but on relations between the American people and the Venezuelan people seeking to build a new society through the Bolivarian Revolution.
And it is for that same reason that we participated in an Embassy Protection Collective to not only defend the Venezuelan embassy, but to defend the principles of international law and the basic truth about this regime change policy.

We have absolutely no fear of any attack that occurs in the media or from our own government because we decided that the people of Venezuela, who are suffering under siege, should have relations with the people from America, and that we should listen and have a dialogue with each other.

We have no fear of any of the intimidation. And as you saw, when we were inside and outside the embassy, there was absolutely no fear of any attack or intimation.

So because our government, including many self-proclaimed progressives, refuses to sit down in dialogue with this government, and because our media refuses to go to the barrios and to meet with the campesinos who are suffering under sanctions, it is our job to do that for them.

We have come here in the spirit of peace and diplomacy, and we will return to our country to tell the truth about the crushing effects of sanctions, but also the gains of this revolution.

Because in our country there are millions of people — as President Maduro said in our meeting, and which he understands — there are millions of people suffering without homes, without hope; students with debts they can’t pay off; people who can’t afford healthcare. And we need a revolution in our country. We too need to construct a new society, and a new media.

Nuestra lucha es la misma. Este es nuestro mensaje a usted. (Our struggle is the same. This is our message to you.)
Because we love the people of our country in the United States, because of our love for our neighbors and our communities, and because of our love for the people that we have met in this country, and because of our hatred for an empire which also abuses our neighbors and our communities, we believe that regime change begins at home. Thank you.

Edit: fix quote.

 

[angelburst29]

In a stunning "act of aggression" - Venezuela has placed their country "on top of all our oil".




Venezuela's Maduro accuses former Colombian president Uribe of plotting to kill him

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday accused former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe of plotting to assassinate him in cohorts with Colombia's U.S. ambassador Francisco Santos, and exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Lester Toledo.

Norwegian delegation in Venezuela to restart dialogue: sources, Guaido

A delegation from the Norwegian government has come to Venezuela to restart talks between the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition that were halted last week after Maduro's allies pulled out, according to four sources and opposition leader Juan Guaido.

 

[angelburst29]

Russia, Venezuela sign deal on warship visits to each other's ports: Ifax

Russia and Venezuela signed an agreement on Thursday governing visits by the countries' warships to each other's ports, the Interfax news agency reported.

Panama Canal will not block Venezuela vessels despite U.S. sanctions
The Panama Canal will continue authorizing vessels coming from Venezuela provided they present the necessary paperwork, the waterway's chief said on Wednesday, suggesting a new round of U.S. sanctions on the South American nation should not make a difference to canal traffic.

 

[angelburst29]

In Venezuela talks, Maduro allies said they would consider fresh elections: sources

FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country's rightful interim ruler, attends a session of Venezuela's National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela August 13, 2019. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero/File Photo

August 19, 2019 - Allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had discussed holding a presidential election in the coming months during talks to find a breakthrough in the country’s political crisis, four sources told Reuters on Monday.

Opposition politicians will travel to Washington to speak to U.S. officials this week, the sources said.

Maduro and a delegation representing opposition leader Juan Guaido have been meeting in Barbados as part of talks to resolve a political stalemate in the struggling OPEC nation that is suffering from a hyperinflationary economic collapse.

Guaido’s delegation had proposed a presidential vote in six to nine months on a number of conditions including changes to the elections council and supreme court, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential.

The government had in theory agreed to a presidential vote on the condition that the United States lift economic sanctions, Maduro be allowed to run as the Socialist Party candidate, and that the vote be held in a year, one of the sources said.

However, the government has since pulled out of the talks to protest a new round of sanctions by Washington, and no new date has been set to resume the discussions, despite a visit by Norway foreign ministry officials - acting as mediators - seeking to revive them.

U.S. officials have expressed support for an election but without Maduro as a candidate, which may be a point of discussion, two of the sources said.

Venezuela’s information ministry, Norway’s foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Preparing groundwork for an election requires a raft of changes to state institutions, including both the elections council and the supreme court - both of which have aggressively intervened in election processes to favor Maduro.

Another possible roadblock would be the existence of the Constituent Assembly, an all-powerful legislative body controlled by Socialist Party supporters that opposition leaders say could also intervene in any potential vote.

Pompeo to travel to Ottawa for talks on trade, Venezuela, China

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Ottawa for a day of meetings with Canadian leaders to discuss bilateral relations, Venezuela's crisis and Canadians detained in China, the State Department said on Monday.

 

[angelburst29]

Russia to Help Counter Pressure on Venezuela, Says Lavrov - Other Media news - Tasnim News Agency

August, 21, 2019 - Russia stands in full solidarity with Venezuela in countering pressure and blackmail against that country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday, opening a meeting with Venezuela’s Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

He recalled that a meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) had been held in Caracas in July. "Its participants reiterated their solidarity with the people and government of Venezuela in upholding the norms and principles of international law, primarily those enshrined in the UN Charter," he said.

"We will always be committed to these principles, will always stand in solidarity with you and uphold every nation’s right to choose the path of its development independently and oppose any illegitimate unilateral methods of blackmail and pressure," Lavrov stressed, Tass reported.

He added that the two sides planned to discuss in detail cooperation between Russia and Venezuela in international affairs, including in the UN and other multilateral platforms.

Thank you, Putin! Venezuelan vice president conveys Maduro’s gratitude to Russian leader

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez © Alexandr Sherbak/TASS

Moscow August 21, 2019 - The sanctions illegally introduced by the US against Venezuela opened up new doors for closer cooperation between Moscow and Caracas, according to the vice president.

Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez stated at Wednesday’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that she was conveying Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s personal message of gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I have brought with me personal thanks from our President Maduro to Russian President Vladimir Putin, you, your government and your people for the support and assistance that you have been providing to our country. Today, Russia is fighting side by side with us and other peoples for independence, freedom and sovereignty," she said.

Rodriguez noted that the sanctions illegally introduced by the US against Venezuela opened up new doors for closer cooperation between Moscow and Caracas.

Earlier, Washington tightened sanctions against Venezuela and blacklisted four officials from the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) of Venezuela. US Vice President Michael Pence stated that the US viewed those on the list as being guilty of human rights violations.

Venezuelan vice president says discusses bilateral, global issues with Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez © Mikhail Metzel/TASS

The high-ranking official castigated the US sanctions as "illegal".

MOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez discussed bilateral cooperation and global issues with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, as she herself wrote on Twitter.

"I have had a wonderful meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. We discussed our wide-ranging cooperation and the global agenda, including ways to protect the UN Charter. We, Venezuela and Russia, reject any kind of [foreign] interference," the tweet reads.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov and Delcy Rodriguez also confirmed their commitment to developing military-technical cooperation between the two countries.

"They have had a substantive discussion of bilateral issues, lining out practical steps on increasing Russian-Venezuelan strategic cooperation," the ministry informed. "They have reaffirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts on projects in the sphere of economy, science, advanced technology, culture, and military-technical cooperation."

The ministry noted that the situation in Venezuela was the main issue discussed during the talks. "The Russian side has expressed solidarity with the friendly people and government of this country, along with the firm support of the policy excluding destructive interference in the regulation of the situation," the Russian Foreign Ministry added. "We have stressed the importance of finding political solutions to internal disputes in Venezuela based on national dialogue and strictly within the constitutional framework."

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuelan politicians may take the field if MLB bars players, socialist party No. 2 says

Venezuela's upcoming baseball season will go on "even if we have to play ourselves," socialist party No. 2 Diosdado Cabello said on Monday, criticizing a move by Major League Baseball (MLB) to restrict players from participating because of U.S. sanctions.

Venezuelan migrants flood into Ecuador ahead of new visa restrictions

More than 85,000 Venezuelan migrants crossed into Ecuador from Colombia in the last month, ahead of new visa restrictions from Quito that took effect on Monday, the Colombian government said.

Venezuelan migrants to get regional vaccination cards under 10-nation pact

Venezuelan migrants will be provided with a regional vaccination card beginning in October, health officials from 10 countries agreed on Monday, in an effort to ensure they receive needed vaccines and are not given double doses.

 

[angelburst29]

This development is of NO benefit to Maduro.

U.S. opens Venezuelan diplomatic office in neighboring Colombia

The State Department on Wednesday launched a U.S. representative office for Venezuela in Bogota, Colombia and said it will continue its opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and support for opposition leader Juan Guaido from there.

U.S. opens Venezuelan diplomatic office in Colombian capital

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday opened a representative office for Venezuela in Bogota, Colombia, and said it will continue its opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and support for opposition leader Juan Guaido from there.

Venezuelan migrants flood into Ecuador ahead of new visa restrictions

More than 85,000 Venezuelan migrants crossed into Ecuador from Colombia in the last month, ahead of new visa restrictions from Quito that took effect on Monday, the Colombian government said.

Venezuelan migrants to get regional vaccination cards under 10-nation pact

Venezuelan migrants will be provided with a regional vaccination card beginning in October, health officials from 10 countries agreed on Monday, in an effort to ensure they receive needed vaccines and are not given double doses.

 

[angelburst29]

U.S. hopeful EU will impose sanctions on Venezuela in coming months: U.S. envoy

Washington's envoy for Venezuela said on Thursday he was hopeful that the European Union will impose sanctions against Caracas "in the coming months" amid stalled talks to resolve the country's political crisis.

Slovenia to resettle Venezuelans with Slovenian ancestry
At least 47 Venezuelans with Slovenian ancestry will be resettled in Slovenia to escape the economic meltdown that has given rise to "unbearable conditions" in the South American country, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.

U.S. to pay for thousands of doses of HIV drugs for Venezuelan migrants

The United States said on Wednesday it will provide thousands of doses of HIV medication to treat Venezuelans in Colombia as part of regional efforts to manage care for millions of migrants fleeing the crisis-hit nation.

Cuba asks Canada to help end U.S. sanctions on Venezuela

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez urged Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday to help end U.S. sanctions on Venezuela in their third meeting since May on the South American country's political and humanitarian crisis.

Colombian dissident rebel leader issues new call to arms three years after peace deal

A group of former rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said in a video posted overnight that they will embark on a new offensive, threatening to resume five decades of armed conflict against the government.

 

[angelburst29]

It must be my warped mind ... but every time I come across a photo of Guaido - he distinctly reminds me of a younger version of Obama?

Venezuela's Guaido backs use of satellites to track guerrillas

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday backed the use of satellites to help locate guerrilla groups that have crossed into Venezuela from neighboring Colombia, days after dissident rebels launched a new offensive.

Peru to boost border security after stricter entry rule for Venezuelans

Peru plans to beef up security at its border with Ecuador to prevent illegal immigration, after stricter entry requirements for Venezuelans led to a 90% drop in legal crossings, a government official said on Monday.

Venezuela opposition says Norway talks must focus on elections

Norway-backed talks between Venezuela's opposition and the government of President Nicolas Maduro must focus on elections, an opposition negotiator said on Monday, as the dialogue proceedings remain stalled after the government walked out.

 

[goyacobol]

It must be my warped mind ... but every time I come across a photo of Guaido - he distinctly reminds me of a younger version of Obama?

I wouldn't say you are warped because I have thought the same thing too. His gestures also might be a part of it I think.

 

[angelburst29]

I wouldn't say you are warped because I have thought the same thing too. His gestures also might be a part of it I think.

I think, it might be identifying with a stereo-type thing - that they share some of the same mannerisms and gestures and basically resemble the same body-build and some facial features? (Think - I'm over due for a mini-vacation?) Whatever?

Venezuela's Maduro warns of Colombia attack, orders military exercises

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday ordered the armed forces to be on alert for a potential attack by Colombia's government and announced military exercises on the border amid the rearmament of a group of former guerrilla commanders.

Former FARC guerillas on Thursday announced a rearmament in a video that Colombian authorities believe was filmed in Venezuela, spurring concern of a worsening of the Colombian armed conflict and expansion of armed groups in Venezuela.

“I’ve ordered the strategic operations commander of the Bolivarian Armed Forces and all the military units on the border to declare an alert ... in the face of the threatened aggression by Colombia toward Venezuela,” Maduro said in a televised broadcast.

A set of military exercises that are carried out each year will be held between Sept. 10 and Sept. 29 in the states of Zulia, Tachira, Apure and Amazonas, which border Colombia, Maduro said. They are the third such exercises this year.

Despite the dramatic rhetoric, the statements are consistent with frequent disputes between the two nations for over a decade that at times included troop movements for political effect. Previous spats have ended in grudging reconciliation.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment. Colombian authorities have repeatedly denied planning to attack Venezuela.

The United States, which has launched a broad set of sanctions against Maduro’s government in efforts to hasten his departure, says Venezuela’s government provides a safe haven to Colombian armed groups.

Earlier, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido backed the use of satellites to help locate guerrilla groups that have crossed into Venezuela.

“We are going to authorize the use of satellite technology to facilitate the location of these irregular groups, of camps within the country’s borders,” Guaido said in a televised presentation.

“We are going to collaborate with the Colombian government on intelligence activities.”

Colombian President Ivan Duque has promised to persecute the rebel group, whose leaders said they were returning to armed struggle because Duque had betrayed the 2016 peace accord that lead to the FARC’s demobilization.