Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

[angelburst29]

Venezuela's Maduro says Trump merits 'a thousand impeachments'

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, under fire all year to quit from the United States and its allies, exulted on Monday in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, though he did not expect the White House to let up against him.

Amid criticism, Colombia defends assertions that Venezuela's Maduro supports rebels

Colombia on Monday publicly defended a dossier it says proves Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro supports guerrilla groups and drug traffickers but removed the armed forces' head of intelligence after widespread criticism of the report.

Venezuela chides Peru for 'xenophobia' against migrants

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government accused Peruvian authorities on Sunday of fomenting "xenophobia" against the large Venezuelan exile population after a series of incidents of apparent mistreatment of migrants.

 

[Galaxia2002]

Talking about the xenophobia unleashed against Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador and especially Peru, I found this article . The discrimination and bullying have increased enormously in Peru in response to a crime of murder of two people and subsequent dismembering of the corpse by 5 venezuelans in Lima, peru. It is true that many delinquents left the country and they are damaging the reputation of good citizens and workers, as is often the case. I hope they catch all the criminals who in Venezuela do what they want at will. We are tired of so much criminality and impunity.

The Making of a Public Enemy: Venezuelans in Peru

In 1857, in a context of extreme poverty, disease and ethnic tensions, the papers of New York City created the “Dead Rabbits” moniker for an Irish gang that was active at the Five Points slum, an episode made famous by a book and a Scorsese movie. This labeling of fear and violence survived the gang’s disbanding and stuck to the Irish community, as a prejudice that went on for, at least, decades.

The Irish immigration of that time was driven by famine; they were leaving their country en masse during an era later called “the Great Hunger,” to find the media-brewed hostility that other migrant communities have met: Tamils in British Columbia, Jews in Quebec, Zimbabweans in South Africa, Moroccans in France, Somalis in Italy, Gypsies everywhere. We’ve seen, more recently, how the fact that refugees and immigrants are portrayed in traditional and social media as enemies at the gates, has spread hate crimes, defensive legislation and the rise of nativist populism, especially Muslims in Europe and Canada, and Latinos in the U.S.

Now we’re witnessing more and more episodes of xenophobia against Venezuelans in the Andean region, especially in Ecuador and Peru, where a certain type of media has chosen to connect with a growing unease about the Venezuelan immigration, associating it to theft, kidnapping and brutal murder.

The Perfect Storm

We’ve been posting a lot about the explosive Venezuelan migration: there are around 4,3 million Venezuelans abroad, according to UN agencies. That’s more than 10% of the country’s 32 million population, as was established by the not very reliable national census of 2011.

What is less known is that a good deal of this Venezuelan migration, made of people with no history as migrants, is moving into countries way more used to sending people abroad than they’d like to admit.


So, on one hand, we have a nation (Venezuela) with decades of experience on how to live with newcomers—Spanish, Italian, Lebanese and Portuguese from the 30s to the 70s; Colombians, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Chileans, Argentinians, Chinese and many others from the 70s until a few years ago— with the institutional and social tools to integrate those immigrants into our society, especially if they were white and European. Those coming from places like Guyana, Haiti or the Dominican Republic had to endure racism and exploitation, in some cases. As for Colombians, Peruvians, and Ecuadorians, in that order, they were frequently accused of introducing crime and prostitution among us, but they could live and raise their kids peacefully, until crisis under chavismo made them think of going back. Venezuelans used to see ourselves as a sort of superior South American: we’re so prosperous that these people come to live here by bus or crossing rivers illegally.

On the other hand, we have nations with long experience in migration, used to receiving remittances, issuing laws for the nationals who come back, weaving networks of Peruvians in Miami, Ecuadorians in Madrid, Colombians in New York City, etcetera. Terrorism, economic crisis and centuries-long poverty forced these non-oil-blessed countries to send millions of folks to North America and Europe since the 70s. They looked at Venezuela as the rich, vain kid in the neighborhood.

Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans (many of them with no experience traveling abroad, with no professional skills, some of them sick, some of them criminals) are entering these countries, which are in better shape than Venezuela but far from capable of offering employment or social protection with the same strength that American, Canadian or European institutions can provide. These receiving countries have had to improvise new legislation and have required international assistance to handle this influx with their very limited resources of health services, schools, shelters and border security. The social and political pressure on the authorities is huge, as well as the temptation to use this crisis for the political advantage of local leaders and adversaries of their current administrations.

“Veneco”

This is the context where a xenophobic wave against Venezuelans has been gaining speed in Peru, during these final weeks of September. In 2019, the speech about Venezuelan immigration has been turning sour, as the influx keeps growing and the scenes of Venezuelans begging or camping on the streets (which is more intense and dangerous in the border towns) get more common.

Then came the news of a frustrated bank robbery in a Lima mall by Venezuelan criminals, members of the Tren de Aragua gang, one of the most dangerous in Venezuela but with no proof of being properly organized in Peru, besides the group captured on that particular event. Since then, the media has been labeling Venezuelans as criminals, using the pejorative veneco to tag newsworthy killers, kidnappers, rapists or robbers, whether they are indeed Venezuelans or not.

This is happening especially in the so-called prensa chicha, the abundant tabloids still quite influential in Peru. The prensa chicha is so important that Alberto Fujimori used it successfully to attack and blackmail the opposition during his authoritarian regime. Cheap, with one or two daily editions, these colorful publications full of nude models, gore and fake news have connected with the real worries among common Peruvians on the effects of this massive immigration, and they have modeled the veneco as the common enemy, one who not only kills but mutilates and is capable of making ceviche—the flagship dish of coastal Peruvian cuisine, raw seafood cooked with lime and pepper—with the meat of his victims.

According to this narrative, Venezuela is a country completely taken over by pillage and murder, and the migrants are a source of contagion not only for that violence but for disease, moral disintegration and even chavista socialism. The centennial newspaper El Comercio published an infographic describing the Venezuelan criminal as extremely violent, causing uproar in the Venezuelan public opinion, and also a UN report where 62% of the Venezuelans living in Peru say they have suffered discrimination.

The chicha papers—some of them owned by El Comercio—are selling more issues while making the distrust spiral turn into widespread hate against Venezuelans. Of course, they’re not alone. In the fringe of Peruvian politics, there’s a nativist movement, etnocaserismo and its leaders have spent years calling for an armed insurrection against all politicians, favoring a regime inspired in the alleged purity of the Inca race. Now, the etnocaseristas are part of the agitators calling for the expulsion of venecos, as it’s shouted out loud in demonstrations. Carlos Scull, representative of the National Assembly in Peru, and the Peruvian government say they’re handling the situation, but it’s not looking good.

There have been episodes of police harassing Venezuelans on the streets. Some Venezuelan women are being abused, under the suspicion of prostitution or their mere vulnerability: “Men are always harassing us for being venecas,” says Estefanía, from Merida. “Some girl I know was almost raped in the place where she lives. You won’t see that in the news, of course.” Andrés, from Cabudare, says that people in Peru used to be helpful, but now “they all see us as if we’re criminals.” And Andrea, also from Venezuela, says that all murderers in the media seem to be venecos: “I’m really thinking about leaving this country.”

 

[angelburst29]

Talking about the xenophobia unleashed against Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador and especially Peru, I found this article . The discrimination and bullying have increased enormously in Peru in response to a crime of murder of two people and subsequent dismembering of the corpse by 5 venezuelans in Lima, peru. It is true that many delinquents left the country and they are damaging the reputation of good citizens and workers, as is often the case. I hope they catch all the criminals who in Venezuela do what they want at will. We are tired of so much criminality and impunity.

All three of those Countries, (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) are experiencing inner turmoil. Outside immigration is only one problem.

Peru:
Explainer: Rebellion in Congress - How Peru tipped into political crisis

Oct. 2, 2019 - Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra's drive to clean up the ruling class after a series of graft scandals has left the South American country with an open rebellion in a dissolved Congress as its political crisis takes a dramatic turn into the unknown.

Peru military, police back Vizcarra as rebel lawmakers vow loyalty to VP

Oct. 2, 2019 - Peru's armed forces and police reaffirmed allegiance to President Martin Vizcarra late on Monday after his move to close Congress prompted dozens of dismissed lawmakers to pledge loyalty to vice president in a deepening political standoff.

Peru's VP gives up claim to the presidency in blow to opposition

Oct. 1, 2019 - Peru's vice president renounced her claim to the presidency on Tuesday in a surprise twist to a constitutional crisis, dealing a fresh blow to a rebel band of former lawmakers resisting President Martin Vizcarra's dissolution of Congress.

Peru's Vizcarra unveils new Cabinet as leadership challenge fizzles out

Oct. 3, 2019 - Peru's centrist President Martin Vizcarra swore in a new Cabinet on Thursday as a challenge to his leadership by dismissed lawmakers fizzled out, potentially ushering in a rare period of political calm in the South American nation.

Ecuador:
Ecuador declares state of emergency amid protests

Oct. 3, 2019 - Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno declared a state of emergency on Thursday as massive nationwide protests broke out against the elimination of four-decade-old fuel subsidies.

Violent protests in Ecuador caused by fuel price rise are ending: President
Oct. 3, 2019 - Protests caused by the elimination of fuel subsidies are ending, Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said on Thursday, after their removal sparked the Andean oil producer's worst civil unrest in years.

Ecuador declares state of emergency as fuel protesters battle police

Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno declared a state of emergency on Thursday as protesters hurled stones and erected burning barricades after the end of decades-old fuel subsidies as part of a $2 billion government fiscal reform package.

Ecuador president refuses to scrap fuel measure causing protests

Oct.4, 2019 - Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said on Friday he was open to talks with protesters but would not withdraw his decision to cut fuel subsidies that have triggered the worst unrest in years.

Ecuador transport unions suspend protests against cuts to fuel-subsidy
Ecuadorean transport unions agreed on Friday to suspend protests against President Lenin Moreno's scrapping of fuel-subsidies, a union spokesman said, after two days of unrest that halted transport nation-wide and resulted in almost 370 arrests.

Ecuador unions call off anti-austerity protests after 370 arrests in two days

Oct. 4, 2019 - Ecuador's transport unions on Friday called off protests against the scrapping of fuel subsidies by President Lenin Moreno after two days of unrest that halted transport nationwide and resulted in almost 370 arrests.

Ecuador indigenous groups, workers keep pressure on Moreno

Oct. 5, 2019 - Ecuadorean indigenous and union organizations kept protests going on Saturday and promised no let-up in their push to overturn austerity measures by President Lenin Moreno's government that have convulsed the nation for three days.

Colombia:
Colombia’s Trasandino pipeline damaged in bombing
Oct. 5, 2019 - Colombia's Trasandino pipeline was damaged in a bomb attack, state-run oil company Ecopetrol said on Saturday, spilling crude into a nearby river.

Venezuela:
Russian deputy prime minister in Venezuela to support Maduro

Oct. 5, 2019 - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov met Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday to underline Moscow's support for the leftist leader that has helped him stay in power despite intense Western pressure to quit.

Toothpick and two generals helped Venezuela opposition leader survive jail

During four months in a small military jail cell, Venezuela's Congress vice president scratched the days on a wall with a toothpick, held a hunger-strike, and made unlikely friends with two generals who have fallen foul of the socialist government.

Aruba says it will require Venezuelans to obtain visa to visit
The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba will require Venezuelans to obtain a visa to visit, its government said on Wednesday, adding to the nations that have tightened entry restrictions on the crisis-hit country because of mass emigration.

Venezuela detains local head of oil joint venture with China: sources
Venezuelan authorities have arrested the president and two other officials in a corruption investigation at state oil company PDVSA's Sinovensa joint venture with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), oil sector and intelligence sources said on Saturday.

 

[mabar]

"We are ready": Venezuela issues its first credit card without Mastercard backup

A month ago, the international operator announced that it was ceasing to provide services to two Venezuelan state banks in order to avoid being sanctioned by the U.S. State Department.

The state bank of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Force (Banfanb) issued its first credit cards without the Mastercard code after the operator suspended its services a month ago.

"We're ready! The new plastic Banfanb cards are ready for our clients", the institution published in its Twitter account.

In the social networks, the financial institution of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) stated that the interbank connection is fully restored.

What happened?
A month ago, the payment operator Mastercard suspended its services to Banfanb and Banco Agrícola, also a state-owned bank.

Mastercard based its decision on the executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which froze all assets of the Venezuelan government in his country and prohibits transactions with him.

The OFAC has sanctioned some one hundred Venezuelan officials - among heads of public powers, ministers, governors, military, directors of state and private companies, including the Venezuelan president himself - whom it accuses of supporting the "authoritarian regime" of Nicolás Maduro or of being related to the trafficking of illicit substances.
Other sanctions

This decision, which includes the Venezuelan state-owned universal bank within the same South American country, has already been implemented to freeze international operations, mainly.

On March 22, Washington sanctioned the Venezuelan Economic and Social Development Bank (Bandes) and its subsidiaries in Uruguay and Bolivia.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

 

[Galaxia2002]

Adobe Deactivates All Creative Cloud Accounts and Software in Venezuela Due to Trump Order

Due to Executive Order 13884, issued by President Trump on August 5, Adobe has deactivated all Creative Cloud accounts in Venezuela (and consequently, all associated software) and will not be issuing refunds to any customers.


The executive order, titled "Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela," was issued as a response to the continuing crisis involving the disputed Venezuelan presidential election of May 2018. As a result, the U.S. government has blocked almost all financial transactions and services between the U.S. and Venezuela. Consequently, Adobe has deactivated all Creative Cloud accounts in the country.
Adobe has emphasized that these actions are being taken solely to comply with the executive order. In addition, because of the order forbidding financial transactions, they are unable to issue refunds. Due to a lack of an expiration date on the order, Adobe's actions will continue indefinitely, with accounts of Venezuelan users scheduled to lose all access on October 28. As such, if you live in Venezuela, be sure to download any data you have on your account as soon as possible, as you will not be able to access it after the aforementioned date.

You can read more on Adobe's page regarding the executive order.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela designers turn to piracy after Adobe announces it will cut service

Venezuelans desperately explored piracy workarounds on Tuesday to continue using Adobe programs after the software developer said it will cut access to its products for the country's users, citing U.S. sanctions.

Critics said the move demonstrated the unintended consequences of the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

San Jose, California-based Adobe Inc, whose products like Photoshop and InDesign are widely used by designers, illustrators and digital marketers, said on Monday it was “deactivating all accounts in Venezuela” to comply with the sanctions, which are part of Washington’s effort to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

A slew of Venezuelan creative professionals took to social media to argue that Adobe’s move would have a devastating impact on freelance designers and marketers, who are already struggling with a hyperinflationary economic collapse.

Gremiana Gonzalez, a graphic design student at the University of the Andes in western Merida state, offered instructions on Twitter on how to “crack any app in the Creative Cloud,” referring to Adobe’s collection of programs.

“In a way it goes against my principles because I am not completely in agreement with piracy, but in these circumstances either you use pirated software or you don’t eat,” Gonzalez said in a text message. “I know that just like me, many Venezuelans depend completely on freelancing, and Adobe’s suite is the most widely-used, best-acclaimed and easiest to access.”

Adobe said its software will stop working in Venezuela on Oct 28.

Francisco Rodriguez, a prominent Venezuelan economist who has launched a nonprofit to help alleviate the OPEC nation’s humanitarian crisis, circulated a petition requesting the U.S. Treasury Department to issue a license exempting software service providers from the sanctions.

“Adobe’s decision to suspend services in Venezuela has revived the debate over the impact of sanctions,” Rodriguez wrote on Twitter. “But maybe we are leaving aside the most relevant question: what can we due to mitigate the impact of these measures on Venezuelans?”

Exclusive: As Trump grows frustrated on Venezuela, U.S. to 'squeeze' Cuba, scrutinize Russia

The Trump administration is preparing new sanctions on Cuba over its support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and is taking a "closer look" at Russia's role in helping him remain in power, the U.S. special envoy on Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, told Reuters.

Lender CAF proposes $400-million Venezuela credit: Guaido

Latin American development bank CAF has proposed a $400-million credit line to Venezuela, but it will not be administered by President Nicolas Maduro's government, the opposition leader said on Tuesday.

 

[Galaxia2002]

Oracle suspends contracts with its partners in Venezuela

The U.S. software company Oracle suspended its contracts with partners in Venezuela, claiming that it complies with the restrictions imposed by Executive Order 13884 of the administration of Donald Trump, which on August 5 imposed new sanctions on the Venezuelan government Nicolás Maduro and prohibited any negotiation with the ruling chavismo, either individuals or companies.

According to the specialized computer site Bleeping Computer, the decision was taken by Oracle and Venezuelan companies, even since September 26th, almost two weeks before a similar measure from another U.S. company was known.

This is the second U.S. company that in less than a week takes measures of this nature, after learning that Adobe will cancel the accounts of Venezuelan users from next October 28, claiming that maintaining relations with the country is to breach the sanctions of Trump against Venezuela.

Oracle is one of the largest data management companies in the world, providing services to banks, insurance companies, universities, among other sectors.

Bleeping Computer assures that Oracle's senior vice president, Marcia Solveria, began to send letters to her Venezuelan partners, to whom they indicate that they can no longer work in the country or offer their licenses.

However, there has not been an official pronouncement by the software giant, as Adobe did on Oct. 7 when it sent e-mails to its Venezuelan customers.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

 

[angelburst29]

With John Bolton out, it appears Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are trying to fill the void? Both are trouble makers and support the Hawks in Congress and Israeli Policy. Cruz even flew to Hong Kong, where there's heavy protesting in the streets, no doubt instigated by the U.S. and was denied a meeting with the Leader.

Rubio, Cruz ask Trump to keep Citgo in Venezuela opposition's hands

U.S. lawmakers including Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz wrote a letter to President Donald Trump this week requesting that he take executive action to prevent holders of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA's bonds from seizing U.S. refiner Citgo.

HK leader ditches meeting Ted Cruz, says the U.S. senator

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam scrapped a meeting with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz the highest profile U.S. politician to visit the city since anti-government protests broke out more than four months ago, the senator said on Saturday.

Venezuela denies entry to Guatemalan president-elect, scuppering meeting with opposition leader

Venezuelan authorities on Saturday denied Guatemala's president-elect Alejandro Giammattei entry into Venezuela, where he was scheduled to meet with opposition leader Juan Guaido.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela wins seat on U.N. rights council despite U.S. opposition

Venezuela was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday with 105 votes and a round of applause, despite fierce lobbying against it by the United States and rights groups, and the late entry of Costa Rica as competition.

Rubio, Cruz ask Trump to keep Citgo in Venezuela opposition's hands

Venezuela ready to hand control of state oil company to Russia’s Rosneft — paper
Venezuela ready to hand control of state oil company to Russia’s Rosneft — paper

Inside the PDVSA (Petroleo de Venezuela SA) building in Caracas © Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, October 17, 2019 - The government of Venezuela is ready to hand over full control over its state-run oil company PDVSA (Petroleos de Venezuela) to Russia’s Rosneft, El Nacional newspaper said citing own sources in the industry.

According to the paper, the initiative was put forward with an aim to secure the writeoff of Venezuela’s debt to Russia in exchange.

El Nacional said the initiative received a largely positive feedback in Moscow. In that regard, several commissions have already been sent to Venezuela to estimate the current situation of PDVSA and the viability of the initiative.

Russian experts reportedly came to a conclusion that the company should undergo a serious layoff to restore its competitive performance, the paper said.

So far, Nacional wrote, a search is under way for legal ways to hand control over PDVSA to Rosneft without privatization. In line with the country’s legislation, the move is to be approved by Venezuela’s unicameral parliament, the National Assembly, which is under control of the opposition.

The United States imposed sanctions on PDVSA in January 2019, against the background of a political crisis in Venezuela. Washington also said the company’s assets in the US, amounting to $7 billion, will be frozen. The restrictions will be lifted only after the Venezuelan opposition assumes control over PDVSA.

Rosneft is one of the major investors in Venezuela, implementing several projects on oil exploration and development with Venezuela’s PDVSA. The companies also manage a joint operational base Perforosven.

On September 10, US Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said that at some point in the future, the US might introduce sanctions against Rosneft for its cooperation with Venezuela, although it was not ready to do so at the moment. Prior to that, Abrams admitted that Rosneft’s activities in Venezuela were not in breach of US sanctions on the country.

In November 2017, Russia and Venezuela signed an intergovernmental protocol on debt restructuring of $3.15 bln for 10 years with minimum payments in the first six years. The state debt includes payments twice a year - in March and September.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuelans Rally in Caracas to Support Maduro

Sun Oct 20, 2019 - People rallied on the streets of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to show their support for President Nicolas Maduro.

Thousands of demonstrators, waving Venezuelan flags, marched through the streets in Caracas on Saturday, World News reported.

Members of Venezuela’s militia groups also joined the mass rally in the capital city.

“If here in Venezuela it happened that the Bolivarian revolution fell, it would be a huge setback for the people. But rest assured that Venezuela will not fall!” said Diosdado Cabello, president of Venezuela’s National Constituent Assembly, in an address to the marchers in Caracas.

“Venezuela rises, and his men and women are kneeling on the ground, rifle at the shoulder, with the backpack of Hugo Chavez in the back. Loaded with dreams and hopes to build socialism,” Cabello added, referring to the former, socialist leader of the country.

Venezuela on Thursday won a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) despite fierce attacks from US-allied Latin American countries opposed to Maduro’s government. The country secured one of the two seats allotted for Latin America with 105 votes in the UN General Assembly. The development was hailed as a victory.

 

[Ruth]

The US has it's eye on Venezuela. It makes sense that they want it for it's resources. They are now breaking international law and local law in order to obtain this.

 

[angelburst29]

Recent activity has Guaido running for "re-election" on January 5th and to help that re-election, Venezuela's opposition-run congress tried to approve a measure to allow "absentee voting" for those Legislators, who left the Country or went into hiding. Venezuela's Supreme Court overturned the decision. I'm surprised that VP Pence and Pompeo aren't in the media promoting Guaido?

Venezuela detains lawmaker ahead of Guaido re-election vote: opposition
Venezuelan police detained a lawmaker from Juan Guaido's opposition party on Friday, the party said, the latest in a wave of legal actions against lawmakers ahead of Guaido's bid for re-election as National Assembly leader on Jan. 5.

Venezuelan court overturns congress decision to allow virtual votes
Venezuela Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a decision by the opposition-run congress that allowed lawmakers to vote virtually after a government crackdown pushed dozens of legislators out of the country or into hiding.

Venezuela congress allows remote voting to thwart government pressure on opposition

Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Tuesday approved a measure allowing lawmakers to vote on legislation without being present, a response to a government crackdown that has left dozens of legislators in hiding or in exile.

Southern Venezuela military facility raided, one soldier dead: officials
Assailants raided a military facility in southern Venezuela early on Sunday morning, stealing weapons and killing one soldier, authorities said.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said police and the military had recovered all the stolen weapons and detained some suspects.
He blamed the attack on “extremist sectors of the opposition,” without naming any individuals.

Bolivia announces entry into Lima Group to resolve Venezuelan crisis
Bolivia on Sunday announced its entry into the Lima Group regional bloc that was set up to find a way out of the Venezuelan crisis.

U.S. conservative activist, Venezuelan pastor team up on aid effort

A conservative U.S. activist has teamed up with a prominent Venezuelan evangelical pastor to bring a $500,000 humanitarian aid shipment to the crisis-stricken country, the two men said in interviews this week.

Randy Brinson, an Alabama-based gastroenterologist who also runs a voter-registration nonprofit, said the delivery of two shipping containers filled with medicine and ready-to-eat meals would arrive in January thanks to a deal brokered by the pastor, Javier Bertucci, with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Comment: A gastroenterologist who wants to send "two shipping containers" with ready-to-eat-meals? Guess ... that's what the medicine is for? Have you ever tried to eat one of those meals? They are almost as bad as US military canned rations - USDA approved!
The "prominent evangelist Pastor" might have more on his hands - to save - then Souls? A-men!

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela arrests 11 after weekend raid of military outpost: Maduro

Venezuela has arrested 11 people in connection with a weekend raid of a remote military outpost in southern Bolivar state, but some suspects have fled across the border to Brazil with stolen weapons, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday.

Authorities have accused Brazil, Colombia and Peru - all adversaries of socialist Maduro who recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the rightful president - of complicity with the attack, in which one Venezuelan soldier was killed. All three countries’ governments have denied involvement.

In an evening address on state television, Maduro called on Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to cooperate.

“Capture the assailants in Brazilian territory and return the weapons to the Venezuelan armed forces,” Maduro said.

He said the 11 detainees included both military and civilian suspects, without providing details.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela arrests 11 after weekend raid of military outpost: Maduro

Venezuela asks Brazil to turn over 'deserters' suspected of raid
Venezuela on Saturday asked Brazil to hand over five military "deserters" who are suspected of involvement in a raid on a remote military outpost in southern Venezuela last weekend, officials said.

Brazil steps up Venezuela border patrols after deserters cross
The Brazilian army stepped up patrols on the border with Venezuela on Friday, a day after picking up five deserting Venezuelan soldiers amid rising tensions between the two countries.

 

[angelburst29]

The Venezuelan soldiers who participated in the U.S.-backed coup attempt in April of this year and subsequently fled to the U.S. have been incarcerated in ICE detention camps ever since. Telemundo, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, secured an interview with Major Hugo Parra, the highest-ranking of the handful of soldiers who answered self-declared President Juan Guaidó’s call to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. After the coup ended in spectacular failure, Parra revealed that he fled the country, ending up in the United States on April 11, where he expected to be given a hero’s welcome for his part in the Trump-approved insurrection.

Pro-Coup Venezuelan Soldiers Who Fled to the US Now Locked Up in ICE Detention Center
Pro-Coup Venezuelan Soldiers Who Fled to the US Now Locked Up in ICE Detention Center

December 27th, 2019 - Instead, he was immediately detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), first kept in a facility in Texas, then later transferred to the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana. He has been refused all requests for bail or appointments to see a judge, one of nearly 42,000 people, most of them from Latin America, currently locked up in ICE prisons.

Thus, his attempts to bring about a U.S.-backed far-right military regime in Venezuela ended ironically with him in the custody of a militarized authoritarian system he was trying to establish.

Guaidó has attempted three coups this year, in January, April and November. All were backed by the United States. The last of the three was so unsuccessful that it was barely noticed even inside the country. Guaidó, someone that over 80 percent of Venezuelans had not heard of in January, has seen his popularity wane throughout the year as his increasingly desperate attempts to seize power continued to fail.