Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

[OrangeScorpion]

I have found a link between the government of Maduro and Soros that makes me see the Venezuelan reality from a totally different perspective.

AECID is a Spanish international cooperation agency for development. It has been directly involved in the destabilization of those countries in North Africa (Libya, Iraq, Egypt, Syria). Among other imperialist activities. The AECID is the Spanish counterpart of government agencies or NGOs such as USAID, NED, IRI, NDI, Freedom House or the Open Society Foundations of Soros. The AECID has been involved in various attempts to destabilize countries such as Venezuela (forming and advising the opposition Leopoldo López), sometimes in the company of other agencies and NGOs linked to US intelligence services.

But this is where the story becomes interesting, the Western elite acting through organizations have not only supported the Venezuelan Right. Also to the Left. I'll try to prove it.

Ten years ago CEPS was created, an anti-capitalist Spanish organization that provides political consulting and is financed by AECID. So, in my opinion, the Western elite's interests are at CEPS.

CEPS has consulted with governments in Spain, Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador and Bolivia. One of the coordinators of CEPS is Alfredo Serrano. CEPS no longer exists but Alfredo Serrano has managed to climb the top of power in Venezuela and is now the economic advisor to Maduro. It seem that this man is a scammer, at least on his resume (currículum vitae):

http://<iframe width="640" height="...Mw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In addition, Alfredo Serrano holds a position as director of the Center for Strategic Studies Latin American Geopolitics (Celag), based in Quito, since 2014. This political consulting was created to give continuity to what had been the CEPS. Link: _http://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-gaditano-alfredo-serrano-adorador-hugo-chavez-201608111100_noticia.html

Maduro seems to be taking neoliberal measures and negotiating with foreign companies more and more, although officially he continues denouncing the imperialism and blah, blah, blah. It seems that he has stopped listening to the historical chavistas, even he has gone slowly eliminating the economists of Chavez. He feels devotion for Alfredo Serrano whom he calls the "Jesus Christ of the economy". Serrano even writes Maduro's speeches. Critical voices of the opposition but also of Chavismo blame Serrano of many of the economic problems of Venezuela and to be behind many antipopular measures of Maduro like the changes in the constitution of Chavez.

Link:_https://es.panampost.com/orlando-avendano/2016/08/11/alfredo-serrano-el-hombre-detras-de-la-crisis-economica-en-venezuela/

In addition, Maduro creates a new registration of political party. In my opinion, some are comforted thinking that this is done to stop the opposition, but the truth is that this has managed to corner the critical voices within Chavismo, like Marea Socialista.

According to Mariana Bacalao, researcher of public opinion and university professor:

Hugo Chavez was more pragmatic in decision-making, while Nicolás Maduro has a roof, made up of philosophers, ideologues or advisers who are not Venezuelans and who seem to "favor an international agenda, which has nothing to do with what need the Venezuelans".
Link:_http://www.elespanol.com/mundo/america/20160907/153735554_0.html

"They", the Western elite, created in 4 months the 15M (anti-austerity movement) and the birth of PODEMOS in Spain, then they left for Ukraine and in 4 months they mounted the Ukrainian revolution, using their experience in Spain, and they finished with the president Yanukovych. And, however, "they" have been infiltrating the Venezuelan Left and Right for 10 years and they can not get rid of Maduro???

I believe that "They" are in no hurry to kick Maduro out of government. The more violent the Right, the easier it is for Maduro to implement anti-popular measures that, perhaps, are benefiting the Western elite in some way. The Chavistas and the world Left forgive everything for Maduro because: he is heavily pressured by the US-funded Right, or because they have to defend Maduro reluctantly, because it will always be better to let the Right governs. So the more chaos is generated in Venezuela, the more facilities Maduro has to follow the imperialist agenda???

Sometimes I think the only real fight in Venezuela is between a left-wing elite versus a right-wing elite. No one is representing the interests of the people.

And I think that while everyone is watching the theater/circus in Venezuela, "they" continue to infiltrate and control the Left not only of Venezuela, but also of Latin America.

I will continue to investigate to see what else I can find, because I think this is very serious, but also a matter too big for me. I wonder, how many more foreigners like Alfredo Serrano are now in Latin America with dark intentions?

I have found two more foreigners: Sergio Pascual and Auxiliadora Honorato. Both are ex members of PODEMOS and now creators with Alfredo Serrano of the Center for Strategic Studies Latin American Geopolitics (Celag), remember, in Quito, Ecuador.

I share all this with you to receive feedback. Do you see, like me, that this is alarming? Or do you think I'm seeing ghosts where there are not?

 

[msante]

Sometimes I think the only real fight in Venezuela is between a left-wing elite versus a right-wing elite. No one is representing the interests of the people.

I feel so, too...

Thanks for this OS, it is needed put clear on dark here and see the situation with a big try of objetivity. My opinion about the Venezuela mess have shifted from some time to now. I have been witness of the arise of aspects in Maduro's behavior (and many of the people that are around him) that caught my attention, and in some point I felt that I could not defend never more a guy that is abusive with his people and carries out totalitarian practices.

Really I feel that many of us have kept anchored in the defense of Chavism but IMO the Chavism and the revolution died a lot of time ago. The people in Venezuela are suffering very much and, still when the Empire has put the sting in all this mess, I think that the situation is much more complex that what it is seen at naked eye. Many have tryied to compare Venezuela with Ukraine and Siria; still when there is many things in common, I think that in Venezuela there is uniques ingredients. Unlike many say, I am not so sure that Maduro became "severe" (so to speak at least - really I think that he became almost a tyrant today) because foreign interference. I suspect that Maduro and many of his "friends" had the devil seed (to put it in one way) from the begining and now they have great responsability for the crisis of the country.

What you (OS) bring here sounds plausible to me, and in some way this information, in principle, would explain many things about what many of us for a time called "errors" from Maduro's govern. Sadly I feel that for a long time I tryied to adjust many times to this category what I saw, and in some way justify Maduro's behavior, even when this behavior was quite clearly abusive and autoritarian.

Another important point to me is that, in the way that the medias are presenting information about this topic, it is difficult to find good information. There is a polarization on the medias; much of them are against Maduro, and some in favor (included RT, Sputnik, and others alternatives medias). So maybe look for better information in others sites and to try to connect the dots together will be the better option in this moment.

 

[Carl]

Sometimes I think the only real fight in Venezuela is between a left-wing elite versus a right-wing elite. No one is representing the interests of the people.

I feel so, too...

Thanks for this OS, it is needed put clear on dark here and see the situation with a big try of objetivity. My opinion about the Venezuela mess have shifted from some time to now. I have been witness of the arise of aspects in Maduro's behavior (and many of the people that are around him) that caught my attention, and in some point I felt that I could not defend never more a guy that is abusive with his people and carries out totalitarian practices.

Really I feel that many of us have kept anchored in the defense of Chavism but IMO the Chavism and the revolution died a lot of time ago. The people in Venezuela are suffering very much and, still when the Empire has put the sting in all this mess, I think that the situation is much more complex that what it is seen at naked eye. Many have tryied to compare Venezuela with Ukraine and Siria; still when there is many things in common, I think that in Venezuela there is uniques ingredients. Unlike many say, I am not so sure that Maduro became "severe" (so to speak at least - really I think that he became almost a tyrant today) because foreign interference. I suspect that Maduro and many of his "friends" had the devil seed (to put it in one way) from the begining and now they have great responsability for the crisis of the country.

What you (OS) bring here sounds plausible to me, and in some way this information, in principle, would explain many things about what many of us for a time called "errors" from Maduro's govern. Sadly I feel that for a long time I tryied to adjust many times to this category what I saw, and in some way justify Maduro's behavior, even when this behavior was quite clearly abusive and autoritarian.

Another important point to me is that, in the way that the medias are presenting information about this topic, it is difficult to find good information. There is a polarization on the medias; much of them are against Maduro, and some in favor (included RT, Sputnik, and others alternatives medias). So maybe look for better information in others sites and to try to connect the dots together will be the better option in this moment.

I am not very informed on Venezuela currently, but it seems to me that it is very easy for things to deteriorate when you have a combination of:
1) Imperial/CIA types with lots of funding, aiming to destabalize
2) Sub-par leadership I.E. normal people with normal human failings

If you think about it, in recent decades the US empire has given many countries the 'nudge' necessary to slide into chaos, and which countries were able to resist it? The only one that really comes to mind is Russia. And that is basically because Putin is a truly remarkable man. It really cannot be overstated. And it is in situations like this that you really see it - you need a very special person, a very 'advanced soul' to be a leader and to stave off the inevitable chaos.

Anyway this from Zero Hedge today, Venezuela has gone full-Mad Max:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-11/meanwhile-venezuela-real-mad-max-emerges?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

While Silicon Valley seems obsessed by 'blood boys', its another part of the world that appears to have gone full Mad Max. As the following clip shows a gang of bikers chase down and attack a truck (with molotov cocktails) to steal its sugar payload...
...

http://<iframe width="560" height="...jI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It really saddens me to see this happening and I feel for the people of Venezuela. With the world in its current state and trajectory, this kind of thing could be happening in any one of our cities in the near future.

 

[Alejo]

I think at this point the question should be asked: Cui bono?

This might help us see the man behind the curtain, I also feel we should abstain from making a black and white judgement of the situation, specially Maduro.

Like Carl said, it's counterproductive to compare or hope that Maduro will display the same resistance qualities as Putin has. He's just not Putin, which means he could cave in. After what's OS shared it occurs to me that, he could have been told at some point: "listen, you have no hope in a military confrontation but, we'll let you live and keep your "revolution" so long as you play by our rules. We will tell you how to operate.." and Maduro, being how he is probably didn't have the conviction to put his life in the line and said "sure!"

And in that context it would make sense why he'd never request direct help from Russia even after it had been offered. Maybe that was one of the conditions placed upon him.

Like most leaders in Latin America have displayed, maduro probably doesn't care if the country is in an absolute state of chaos so long as he gets his cut and gets to retire happily.

So that brings me to, Cui Bono? The same old team of course... the same old crew that owned the country prior to Chavez making an appearance. And they are in a sure footing to make a come back. Let's not forget that chaos in itself is an end for these people.

One could even think that the disastrous Maduro could have the job to be disastrous so that the need for reform is created and a new western-aligned nation of Venezuela is welcomed by the people. Is this better? Oh heck no! But that's where I see things going.

Totalitarian is not a term I would use to describe Maduro, if he were to be truly so we would not hear stories of an opposition being able to create such a loud mess and perhaps the level of repression would be great. Inept and away from reality is better, infiltrated by pathologicals is more apt in my view. Careless about the aforementioned seems to fit.

In the end, I still think that Ukraine and Libya are examples that apply. With the added ingredient that perhaps Maduro himself might be being used and manipulated (which sort of explains why they're taking so long in putting boots on the ground) But the destiny for the people of Venezuela looks just as bleak: "democratized" and robbed of their riches, deeper in debt, perhaps a civil war, chaotic and sad society where things like prostitution, slave trade and such become widespread.

In the end, sadly, the same group will take the cake.

 

[Windmill knight]

"They", the Western elite, created in 4 months the 15M (anti-austerity movement) and the birth of PODEMOS in Spain, then they left for Ukraine and in 4 months they mounted the Ukrainian revolution, using their experience in Spain, and they finished with the president Yanukovych. And, however, "they" have been infiltrating the Venezuelan Left and Right for 10 years and they can not get rid of Maduro???

I believe that "They" are in no hurry to kick Maduro out of government. The more violent the Right, the easier it is for Maduro to implement anti-popular measures that, perhaps, are benefiting the Western elite in some way. The Chavistas and the world Left forgive everything for Maduro because: he is heavily pressured by the US-funded Right, or because they have to defend Maduro reluctantly, because it will always be better to let the Right governs. So the more chaos is generated in Venezuela, the more facilities Maduro has to follow the imperialist agenda???

Very interesting. My impression is that Maduro has been taken for a fool. I don't think that Maduro staying in power is part of the agenda; otherwise how would we explain the heavy media bias against him, the international pressure and the violent opposition? To me it sounds more like this guy Serrano is there to increase the contradictions, accelerate the process and steer Maduro if he can. He reminds me of that guy from Lord of the Rings who was misadvising the king of the horse people.

Or, more likely, it could be that both things are true, that the plan is: Lets bring Maduro's government down, but while that happens, lets see if we can get him to make some concessions in favor of 'international capital'.

Regarding how long is taking for Maduro to fall as compared to Yanukovich, I'm not sure that's significant, as there are many factors involved. The "orange revolution" in Ukraine had already happened many years earlier so I don't think it's fair to say the whole thing only took four months; for a while the country was jumping from one side to the other before Yanukovich was in power and the events that triggered the coup took place. Also, the way the CIA topples governments, as described in 'The Secret Team', it doesn't sound like they necessarily have a master plan. Rather, it's more like they push and pull in different directions and for a long time until the thing finally collapses one way or another. Why Maduro hasn't fallen yet may have to do with many things, among others the hope that Hugo Chávez once inspired may still be present in many people, I don`t know.

 

[Galaxia2002]

Or, more likely, it could be that both things are true, that the plan is: Lets bring Maduro's government down, but while that happens, lets see if we can get him to make some concessions in favor of 'international capital'.

Well IMO that concessions are already been made to some degree, and maybe that's why Maduro sucks for the internation capital right now- The "work" is already made?

Although Venezuela has the right to exploit its own oil, Chavez and maduro made mixed companies with foreign capitals, that are since a time ago exploiting and extracting oil. Companies as Chevron, shell, petrobras are involved with participation rates less than half.

_http://www.avhi.org/convenios07.htm
_https://socialdemencia.blogspot.com/2014/03/el-mejor-titere-para-el-imperio.html

Petroboscán, S.A.= PDVSA + Chevron (EE.UU.)
Petroregional del Lago, S.A.= PDVSA + Shell (Reino Unido-Países Bajos)
Petroquiriquire, S.A. = PDVSA + Repsol (España)
Petrodelta, S.A. = PDVSA + Harvest-Vinccler (EE.UU.)
Petroindependiente, S.A. = PDVSA + Chevron (EE.UU.)
Petrolera Sino-Venezolana, S.A. = PDVSA + CNPC (China)
Baripetrol, S.A. = PDVSA + TECPETROL (Argentina) + LUNDIN (Suecia) + PERENCO (Reino Unido-Francia)
Boquerón, S.A. = PDVSA + TNK-BP (Rusia)
Petroperijá, S.A. = PDVSA + TNK-BP (Rusia)
Petrowarao, S.A. = PDVSA + PERENCO (Reino Unido-Francia)
Petrocumarebo, S.A. = PDVSA + VINCCLER (EE.UU.)
Petroguárico, S.A. = PDVSA + INPEX (Japón)
Petronado, S.A. = PDVSA + CGC (Argentina) + BPE (Ecuador) + KNOC (Corea del Sur)
Petrowayu, S.A. = PDVSA + PETROBRAS (Brasil) + WILLIAMS (EE.UU.)
Petroven-Bras, S.A. = PDVSA + PETROBRAS (Brasil) + COROIL (Francia)
Petrokariña, S.A. = PDVSA + PETROBRAS (Brasil) (2)

And now Maduro dictated that 12 % of the hole venezuelan land can be exploited by mining activities, this had a lot of opposition even between chavists, because implies big ecological problems and people forced displacement of Aboriginal people. I suppose he do this because oil extracting gives no enough money but the cost for the populations and lands are huge.

_https://jacobinmag.com/2017/07/venezuela-maduro-helicopter-attack-psuv-extractivism-oil

That said, we can pull three clear themes out of the government’s behavior: a revival of foreign investment in extracting industries, a growing militarization of the government, and the transformation of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) into an instrument of political control.

Maduro has suggested one solution to the massive hole in the state budget: the Arco Minero, Venezuela’s Amazon region. The area represents 12 percent of the national territory and holds a cornucopia of minerals, oil, and gas. Additionally, it is the country’s principal source of freshwater.

Chavez rejected a development proposal some years ago for environmental reasons and in recognition of indigenous communities human and territorial rights. But last summer, Maduro began inviting multinational corporations to bid for concessions.

He made the first offer to Barrick, the giant Canadian gold-mining concern that had been excluded from Venezuela a decade earlier. After Chavez nationalized the mines, the company demanded hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation payments. As a gesture of his good faith, Maduro has agreed to pay this debt as well as offer a ten-year tax holiday and develop the regional infrastructure at the state’s expense.


We can already see the environmental consequences of opening the region to the rapacious mining industry — populations displaced, land and rivers poisoned, fragile rain forest and mountain ecologies destroyed. In the Arco, the military began to expel the residents soon after the government’s announcement.

Indeed, the Maduro administration immediately placed the region under military control, suspending constitutional rights. A newly formed company, Camimpeg, will administer the resources. Although the ministry of defense will run this new organization, the enterprise is autonomous — that is, private — and not publicly accountable.

The military has become a uniformed sector of the ruling state bourgeoisie, with both political control and a central economic role. Even before the recent changes, over half the cabinet belonged to the military as well as half the state governors.
( I think this answer why maduro has not fall yet. The military has enjoyed wide economical concessions)

We should not confuse this with Chavez’s original project for a civil-military alliance in which the military would serve the interests of the majority. Rather, Maduro has turned to the military in hopes of protecting his power.

[...]

Maduro was using bureaucratic maneuvers to sidestep the Chavista constitution. He claimed that an economic war was being waged against Venezuela. While external forces have clearly deepened the crisis, largely internal developments — not to mention the government’s failure to deal with the situation — produced it.

In March, when the National Assembly refused to vote for the Arco Minero project, Maduro once again tried to avoid democratic measures, by having the Supreme Court strip the body of its powers. Luisa Ortega Diaz, who has served as attorney general since 2005 and who has unquestionable loyalty to Chavismo, declared the government’s actions unconstitutional. Maduro quickly withdrew his tame court’s decision.

The Arco Minero vote clearly demonstrates the paradox of Venezuela politics. A Chavista government was negotiating its return to the global market and to the extractive industries it had fought to escape. The deal will lay waste to the country and return the majority of the population to the misery of the pre-Chavez years.

The bourgeoisie whose purpose was to hasten that process were simply concerned that they should administer the surrender and destroy even the memory of Chavismo at the same time.

 

[Windmill knight]

Another interesting report by Abby Martin, this time focused on the 'economic war'. She also checks out if its true that all the media are biased in favour of the government (they're not), or if the shelves of supermarkets are empty (they're not). So where does the scarcity of some items and the hyperinflation come from? See:

http://<iframe width="560" height="...WY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[wodasi]

Mad Max Scenes In Socialist Venezuela - Mike Maloney & Jeff Clark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU8-sxnWu88&feature=youtu.be&a

 

[angelburst29]

One of the leaders of Venezuela's opposition movement Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) has been detained by security forces of Venezuela, according to Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Freddy Guevara.

One of Leaders of Venezuelan Opposition Movement Detained by Authorities
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707141055532786-venezuela-opposition-detained/

"We claim that Carlos Graffe, the head of Voluntad Popular in Carabobo [state] was kidnapped. They will not manage to prevent July 16 referendum," Freddy Guevara said on Twitter.

According to the information of the opposition, Graffe was detained by Venezuelan intelligence servicemen in the city of Valencia. His location is unknown.

The opposition has scheduled a referendum for July 16, which will question the legitimacy of constitutional assembly proposed by President Nicolas Maduro and the need for the elections in Venezuela.

Candidate for the Venezuelan National Constituent Assembly Jose Luis Rivas Aranguren was murdered on Monday in the northern part of the country, according to media reports.

Candidate for Venezuela National Constituent Assembly Murdered
https://sputniknews.com/world/201707111055425634-venezuela-national-constituent-assembly-candidate/

The incident occurred on Monday in Girardot, a municipality of the state of Aragua, the Telesur broadcaster reported.

The murderer reportedly shot Aranguren eight times and managed to escape. Further details of the assassination are unknown.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry called the attempts to influence any of the Venezuelan conflict’s parties and interfere in the country’s domestic affairs unacceptable.

Moscow Urges Venezuelan Gov’t, Opposition to Resume Dialogue
https://sputniknews.com/world/201707141055542804-russia-venezuela-peace-talks/

The Russian Foreign Ministry calls on the Venezuelan government and opposition to renew their dialogue as soon as possible to prevent the country from entering an armed conflict, the ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Friday.

In March, the Venezuelan Supreme Court decided to restrict the power of the state’s National Assembly. The decision was immediately reversed amid a backlash, but supporters of the opposition-controlled parliament, who strive for the dismissal of the court members, took to the streets in early April. The series of protests which then ensued have claimed at least 95 lives.

"We consider it necessary for the soonest resumption of responsible negotiations between the government and opposition, aimed at reaching a compromise, abandoning scenarios that involve the use of force, and preventing the country from sliding into abyss of an armed conflict," Zakharova said.

Zakharova called the attempts to influence any of the Venezuelan conflict’s parties and interfere in the country’s domestic affairs unacceptable. The spokeswomen went on to stress that Moscow did not want the situation in Venezuela to turn into an unmanageable conflict.

We do not see any alternative to the peace dialogue as a method of stabilizing the situation in the state," Zakharova said.

Zakharova also noted that Russia welcomed Venezuelan Supreme Court’s July 8 decision to change the sentence of opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez, who was given 13 years, nine months and seven days in prison in 2014, from jail time to house arrest.

"It seems that such an unequivocal signal of readiness to compromise should prompt a response from the opposition, which, unfortunately, has not happened yet," Zakharova added.

The cataclysmic devaluation of the bolivar in Venezuela and the brutal repression in the South American country now go hand in hand; state security agencies are increasingly demanding bribes in relatively strong Colombian pesos to release unjustly detained protesters.

Venezuela’s Currency Is So Devalued that Cops Are Demanding Bribes in Colombian Pesos
https://panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2017/07/11/venezuela-currency-devalued-colombian-pesos/

It is already public knowledge that the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) take advantage of opposition protests to arrest innocent young people, torture them, and then request bribes of between USD $500 and USD $1,000 to free them; however, in border states they are also increasingly charging such payments in Colombian pesos.

The opposition deputy for Táchira state, Franklin Duarte, denounced that the court bailiff in the region has demanded payments in foreign currency of the relatives of those detained in protests.

“The head of the Táchira sheriffs, Ever Beltran, is charging 80,000 Colombian pesos (approximately USD $24), to those seeking to bail out their loved ones. We make this complaint so that the presiding judge and president of the judicial judicial circuit, Yorley Perez, take measures,” said Duarte.

He explained that the sheriff is interfering in the cases and that merely to have the possibility a bail hearing, guarantors of the relatives must pay the 24 dollars, a small fortune given today’s economic realities in Venezuela.

The young detainees must not only face the possibility of being unjustly imprisoned for merely demonstrating against Nicolás Maduro, but also face the grim reality that their safety and health remains in the hands of police officers.

On May 16 the PanAm Post published a report with exclusive testimony that revealed that the GNB beats, kidnaps, and steals from Venezuelans who peacefully protest; but in addition they are taken prisoners. In many cases in complicity with the SEBIN (Venezuela‘s intelligence police), they ask for the familiar foreign currency to release them.

In Venezuela the only currency that can circulate freely and legally is the bolívar. The porous Colombian-Venezuelan border region has long been overrun with smuggling and criminal activity.

In Venezuela’s sad new reality of hyperinflation and socialist mismanagement, the stable Colombian peso appears to be emerging as a viable currency for every day use.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela's opposition party Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) is holding a so-called popular referendum, unauthorized by the government, against the policies of President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan Opposition Holds 'Popular Referendum' Against Maduro's Policies
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707161055593115-venezuela-popular-referendum/

Venezuela's opposition is holding a so-called popular referendum, unauthorized by the Venezuelan government, against the policies of President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday.

The vote is organized by the opposition party Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

The ballots include three questions on whether the voters reject and do not recognize the presidential decision to call the Constituent Assembly without gaining the support of the Venezuelans, whether the voters demand the country's Armed Forces to protect the 1999 constitution and the decisions of the National Assembly, as well as whether they agree on holding free elections and creating a national unity government.

According the Venezuelan opposition, more than 2,000 polling stations opened across the country. Venezuelans can also cast their ballots in 85 foreign countries.

Pictures circulated on social media showed people queuing at polling stations.

The country's National Electoral Council said that results of the referendum would not have legal force as only the electoral authorities have the right to hold such events. The opposition in response referred to Article 71 of the constitution, which allows holding consultative surveys.

Maduro has agreed to allow the referendum but urged its participants to behave peacefully.

At least one person has been killed and three more injured while voting on an unofficial referendum on Venezuela's president on Sunday, according to reports.

At Least One Killed, Three Injured by Gunfire During Voting in Venezuela
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707161055596044-deaths-injuries-gunshots-venezuela-vote/

Opposition leaders in the country say two people were killed and four injured at a voting center in the Catia neighborhood of western Caracas.

The injuries occurred during voting on an unofficial referendum called by the country's opposition. The symbolic plebiscite asked voters' opinion on President Nicolas Maduro's plan for a controversial new elected body and a constitutional rewrite, measures he says are necessary to bring peace to the protest-wracked country, but which many decry as undemocratic.

The opposition reports that the deaths came at the hands of government-affiliated paramilitary members.

Local reports say that two were killed when armed men of unknown affiliation drove on motorbikes through a crowd that had gathered near a church in Catia to vote and shot at random.

The Venezuelan Public Ministry reports that the death of 61-year-old Xiomara Escot and the injuries of three other people are under investigation. "Prosecutor's Office No. 124 is investigating the death of Xiomara Escot and the wounding of three people that occurred during the unlawful activities in Catia," the office said on Twitter.

Maduro has proposed creating a constituent assembly to help rewrite the country's constitution, which he says is needed to strengthen the country and help bring reconciliation. A body of 500 would be elected to take charge of the revision. The move has been criticized by the opposition and even some of his supporters.

The president says the opposition's referendum on Sunday is illegal.

 

[angelburst29]

The United States does not rule out barring imports of Venezuelan oil when taking action to address the situation in the country, a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday.

US Sanctions Against Venezuela Can Include Barring Oil Imports
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201707181055665293-us-sanctions-venezuela/

The official noted that Washington can take actions against the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro before the country’s planned national election on July 30.

"All options are on the table," the official stated when asked whether potential sanctions against Venezuela can include oil imports.

The US authorities would not disclose details of plans under consideration, the official noted, but underscored that options are "robust."

The United States called the effort to create a new Constituent Assembly a step toward a "full dictatorship."

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Samuel Moncada said Tuesday the country would reconsider its relations with the United States, if Washington takes strong economic measures against Caracas.

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Tuesday he believed the United States was preparing a plot against the Venezuelan authorities in order to seize the country’s oil.

Bolivian President: US Interferes in Venezuelan Affairs for Country’s Oil
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201707191055667100-bolivia-venezuela-oil-us/

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that the United States would take strong and swift economic actions if Venezuela called the Constituent Assembly.

"The economic conspiracy of Trump is aimed at the interference and supremacy over the Venezuelan people. Its goal is to seize its oil," Morales wrote on his Twitter page.

The Bolivian president added that some former presidents of Latin American countries "shamefully" supported the introduction of sanctions against Caracas.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela’s foreign minister said Wednesday the country will skip the summit of the South American Mercosur trade bloc in Argentina over policy violations and hostility of its members toward Caracas.

Venezuela to Skip 'Illegal' Mercosur Summit - Foreign Minister
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707201055708169-venezuela-mercosur-summit/

He argued the decision by the bloc’s four full members – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay – to meet while they were sued by Caracas over dispute settlement process violated international norms.

Venezuela has decided to abstain from this unlawful meeting over blatant violations of Mercosur regulations," Samuel Moncada wrote in a statement.

Moncada also claimed other members had been abusing Mercosur's mechanisms to "harass" Venezuela's government and its people.

The bloc, which accounts for over three quarters of the continent’s total gross domestic product, is convening in Mendoza this Thursday and Friday. Julio Borges, the president of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan parliament will be attending and the political crisis in Venezuela is likely to dominate the talks.

Soldiers will be deployed throughout Venezuela next week when the crisis-hit nation votes on a constituent assembly, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Wednesday.

Venezuela to Deploy Army for Controversial Legislative Vote
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707201055706543-venezuela-army-legislative-vote/

In a statement endorsing President Nicolas Maduro’s plan to elect a body that will have the power to rewrite the constitution, he said the vote was legitimate and sought to preserve peace.

That’s why soldiers will be deployed throughout the national territory on July 30… to guarantee the full exercise of the right to vote by all Venezuelans," the minister continued.

He rejected as "nefarious" a threat by US President Donald Trump to impose swift economic sanctions on the South American nation if its government went ahead with the plan to vote on the 545-member assembly, which President Maduro said was a way to end the ongoing political crisis.

Luis Almagro, the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), has thrown his weight behind targeted sanctions on Venezuela’s struggling government, in a testimony on Wednesday.

Organization of American States' Chief Backs Sanctions on Venezuela
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201707201055704744-us-venezuela-sanctions/

Speaking at a US Senate subcommittee hearing, the secretary general of the influential regional bloc said a "clear message" must be sent to President Nicolas Maduro that officials behind the ongoing crisis and civilian deaths must be "held to account."

We support sanctions on individuals who have committed crimes and are accused of corruption and we need more economic pressure on a government that is investing the money it earns through natural resources that belong to the people to fight and kill that very same people," he said in a released statement.

Almagro emphasized however that the curbs would not worsen the suffering of the Venezuelan people, who have already been hit by the worst economic and political turmoil in the history of this oil-rich South American nation. Around a hundred have died in anti-Maduro protests since April.

 

[angelburst29]

The Venezuelan permanent representative to the UN on Thursday distanced himself from a dissident fellow diplomat, Isaias Medina, who had to quit over his criticism of the nation’s president.

Venezuelan Envoy to UN Lashes Back at Mission’s Official Over Maduro Criticism
https://sputniknews.com/world/201707211055740893-venezuela-envoy-un-criticism/

"I condemn the conduct of Isaias Medina. We immediately relieved him of his duties. He does not represent us and has acted dishonestly," Rafael Ramirez, Venezuela’s top diplomat at the UN, tweeted.

In a July 14 letter published earlier in the day, Medina accused President Nicolas Maduro's administration of a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, which has claimed almost a hundred lives since April.

Medina also complained about not having been paid for three months and said he hoped the Venezuelan government would buy him a ticket back from New York.

A nationwide strike declared by the Venezuelan opposition ahead of the next week’s legislative vote descended into violence on Thursday, killing at least two young men, prosecutors said.

Venezuelan General Strike Rallies Claim 2 Lives – Prosecutors
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707211055743521-venezuela-strike-death-toll/

A 24-year-old man, identified by the Public Ministry as Ronney Tejera, was lethally shot on the outskirts of Caracas, while 23-year-old Andres Uzcategui died on barricades in the northern Carabobo state.

At least nine others were injured, among them Tejera’s two relatives who were reportedly attacked by a pro-government grassroots militia group.

Alfredo Romero, the executive of a non-profit rights group Penal Forum, said on Twitter 261 people had been arrested during strike action, lauded as successful by opposition leaders.

Freddy Guevara, the vice president of the opposition-controlled General Assembly, claimed 85 percent of the nation had joined the 24-hour strike, which is due to end at 6 a.m. local time on Friday (10:00GMT).

The chief of Venezuela’s Business Integration Council, a major entrepreneurial body, Gerson Hernandez, said however that only 2 percent of companies went on strike. Neither figure could be independently verified.

 

[Galaxia2002]

I know one person that had participated doing barricades, and he is a non pathological person, as far as I know, but as you know there are pathological ones, as a friend was witness recently:

He watched this from his apartment. There was a barricade of the opposition in the street with young people with their faces covered. Next to them a student of a military school was walking around. Just for wearing that uniform they stripped him and started to spray gasoline to burn him. If neighbors do not stop them, the poor guy will be now dead. People in the city realize that and they are afraid not just from the paramilitary of the government but of opposition irrationals.


So this is kind of Mad Max and to confirm that see this:

Arrested government Mayor after being caught looting in the state of Aragua

_http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/detuvieron-alcalde-oficialista-tras-ser-sorprendido-saqueando-aragua_194439

On Thursday, officials of the criminal police (Cicpc) detained Mayor Brullerby Suárez, form the "Mario Briceño Iragorry" municipality, in Aragua state, after being caught looting in a commercial premises in the company of armed groups.

The fact was registered in the avenue University of the Limon.

National Assembly (AN) Conrado Pérez disseminated the information through his Twitter account, and indicated that Suárez was imposed in the position by the vice president, Tareck El Aissami.

This match with reports from the first lootings in May in "el valle" a popular place in Caracas, where some people told that was the paramilitary pro government groups "colectivos" who started the lootings.

That's what I say that I think factors of the government are playing to chaos too, but I don't understand how they think to manage that in the future.

On the other hand the goverment want to incorporate some of its paramilitary in the transformation of the constitution, what a beauty thing!

_http://www.elcorreodelorinoco.com/valentin-santana-candidato-constituyente/

Apparently the Constituent Assembly of Maduro is not only unconstitutional, but allows the participation of suspected fugitives from justice such as the case of Valentín Santana.

According to information from the El Cooperante portal, the leader of the group "La Piedrita" allegedly has three arrest warrants dated January 31, 2007, March 24, 2008 and January 2009. Two of them issued by the 45th Control Court of Caracas and 5 of Judgment of Vargas, both attribute him charges of presumed homicide.

However, it should be added that in 2009 the late President Hugo Chávez described Santana as "criminal" after he threatened to kill Marcel Granier, president of the 1BC Companies, through an article published in the weekly Fifth day newspaper.

Apparently Vladimir Santana is being "harassed" by the police because he would be involved in the murder of a woman during the votations of the opposition in Catia as angelburt reported:

At Least One Killed, Three Injured by Gunfire During Voting in Venezuela
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201707161055596044-deaths-injuries-gunshots-venezuela-vote/

Opposition leaders in the country say two people were killed and four injured at a voting center in the Catia neighborhood of western Caracas.

The injuries occurred during voting on an unofficial referendum called by the country's opposition. The symbolic plebiscite asked voters' opinion on President Nicolas Maduro's plan for a controversial new elected body and a constitutional rewrite, measures he says are necessary to bring peace to the protest-wracked country, but which many decry as undemocratic.

The opposition reports that the deaths came at the hands of government-affiliated paramilitary members.

Local reports say that two were killed when armed men of unknown affiliation drove on motorbikes through a crowd that had gathered near a church in Catia to vote and shot at random.

Santana said that after this order, the criminalistic police has made several searches. "I warn Cicpc (the police) that the most likely is to be killed by them, but I'm not going to kneel, we have to vote on the 30th and defend our country"

 

[angelburst29]

Fraudulent manipulation by Western stooges.

Venezuela: Once Again, Interference From the USA in Latin America 19.07.2017
http://www.pravdareport.com/world/americas/19-07-2017/138200-venezuela_interference_usa-0/

Remember the attempted coup d'état in Venezuela in 2002, which failed miserably as Hugo Chavez thrashed his treacherous assailants like a Grand Master of Chess humiliating a rookie with a fool's mate in three seconds flat? Well ladies and gentlemen they are trying it on again, this time using traitors inside Venezuela ("Opposition") to create chaos.

This week (on Sunday) the "Opposition" organized an illegal and unofficial public consultation on Government plans to appoint a new Constituent Assembly with powers to substitute the National Assembly, giving it the possibility to alter the constitution. The other side of the coin is that the National Assembly is a bastion of Opposition members blocking Government measures, willfully sabotaging the process of Government and creating chaos to then blame the Government of President Nicolas Maduro of mismanagement.

The Venezuelan Government has accused the Opposition of staging an illegal act which anyway is fraught with fraud, manipulation and violation of the principles of a democratic vote. Of the 102,000 registered Venezuelan voters abroad, some 600,000 voted, for instance. Jorge Rodríguez, leader of PSUV, declared that there is evidence that some people voted seven times, others 14 times.

European Union duped, swallowed nonsense hook, line and sinker

He states that the western observers, including the EU, were duped into thinking that "voters" was the same thing as "votes". They fell for the Opposition swansong hook, line and sinker, including outrageous acts such as adding 50,000 votes to the result in the State of Aragua, a practice which was allegedly commonplace among Opposition campaign managers.

Communication from the Government of Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela repudiates the unusual communiqué published by the White House, 17/07/2017.

It is a document never seen before, because of its low level and poor quality, and makes it difficult to understand the intentions of the aggressor country intellectually. Obviously, the United States government is accustomed to humiliating other nations in its international relations and believes that it will receive the subordination it is accustomed to. The gap that the United States government is digging into its relations with Venezuela hampers a rational prediction of its actions for the entire international community.

The United States government unabashedly shows its absolute partiality with the violent sectors and extremists of Venezuelan politics, who favor the use of terrorism to overthrow a popular and democratic government.

The moral ruin of the Venezuelan opposition has dragged President Trump to commit an open aggression against a Latin American country. We do not know who could have written, let alone authorized, a communiqué of so much conceptual and moral poverty.

The thin democratic veil of the Venezuelan opposition has fallen, and reveals the brutal interventionist force of the US government, which has been behind the violence suffered by the Venezuelan people in the last four months.

This is not the first time we have denounced and confronted threats as wild as those contained in this unusual document.

We call upon the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean and the free peoples of the world to understand the magnitude of the brutal threat contained in this imperial communiqué and to defend sovereignty, self-determination and independence, fundamental principles of international law.

The original constituent power is contemplated in our Magna Carta and it is only up to the Venezuelan people. The National Constituent Assembly shall be elected by the direct, universal and secret vote of all Venezuelans and all Venezuelans, under the authority of the National Electoral Council as contemplated by our legal system. It is an act of political sovereignty of the Republic, nothing and nobody can stop it. The Constituent Assembly Goes Ahead!

Today the Venezuelan people are free and will respond united before the insolent threat posed by a xenophobic and racist empire. The anti-imperialist thinking of the Liberator is more valid than ever:

"The United States seems destined by Providence to infest America with misery in the name of freedom" Simón Bolívar.