Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

Venezuela crisis: the view from Caracas farmers' market - BBC News [2018]
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCn9cCWwbo
Venezuela's economy has been in recession since 2014 - it's economy has shrunk by a third since then and the IMF thinks things could get worse next year with an estimated drop of 18% more.

As the G20 nations meet in Buenos Aires, Venezuela is a worry nearby the summit for many of those attending including the host president Mauricio Macri.

It's rare for international correspondents to be granted access to report from Venezuela, but the BBC's Vladimir Hernandez managed to send this report from Caracas.
Why Colombia has taken in 1 million Venezuelans [Vox 2018]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU0RqwweuWY
Colombia is currently dealing with a massive wave of refugees coming from Venezuela. Venezuelans are fleeing their home because of a severe economic crisis under President Nicolas Maduro. There are high inflation rates and there isn’t enough food available for people within Venezuela to even eat. Thousands of Venezuelans cross the Simon Bolivar bridge located at Cúcuta every day and Colombia doesn’t seem to be turning anyone way.

This borders episode looks at why Colombia doesn’t turn away these refugees, the shared history of the two nations and how there may be a limit to Colombia’s acceptance of incoming Venezuelans.

Vox Borders is an international documentary series by Emmy-nominated producer Johnny Harris exploring life at the edge of nations.
 
I find the timing of former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson sudden public appearance - interesting - considering PDVSA ex-executive admitted to taking bribes. I suspect, Tillerson, a former Mobile/Exxon CEO and prior to him becoming Sec. of State - might have been involved with the PDVSA scandal? Tillerson was the one pushing Trump to exercise a Coup against Maduro.

December 23, 2018 - Venezuela Navy intercepts Exxon Oil Ship in Guyanese waters: Guyana
Venezuela navy intercepts Exxon oil ship in Guyanese waters: Guyana | Reuters

GEORGETOWN/CARACAS - Venezuela’s navy on Saturday “intercepted” a ship exploring for oil on behalf of Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) in Guyanese waters, neighboring Guyana’s foreign ministry said in a statement, in the latest incident in a century-old border dispute.

A series of offshore oil discoveries in recent years have given Guyana the potential to become one of Latin America’s largest producers. In OPEC member Venezuela, by contrast, crude output has tumbled to its lowest levels in nearly 70 years amid an economic crisis.

The Ramform Tethys vessel, which belongs to Norwegian company Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) and was conducting seismic survey work on behalf of Exxon, stopped exploration and turned east after being approached by the Venezuelan navy, PGS spokesman Bard Stenberg said in a statement.

“Guyana rejects this illegal, aggressive and hostile act,” Guyana’s foreign ministry said in a late Saturday statement, adding that the move “demonstrates the real threat to Guyana’s economic development by its western neighbor” and “violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.”

The ministry added that it would report the incident to the United Nations and send formal communication to Venezuela’s government. It said it would inform the governments of the various homelands of the 70 crew members aboard the vessel, flagged by the Bahamas, of the “threat to their safety.”

An Exxon spokeswoman said seismic explorations in the western portion of Guyana’s Stabroek Block “have been paused until they can be safely continued,” and that the vessel was operating in Guyana’s exclusive economic zone.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro has previously criticized Guyana’s decision to allow oil exploration to go ahead in the waters off the shore of the Essequibo region, a sparsely populated and dense jungle area equivalent to around two-thirds of Guyanese territory that Venezuela also claims.

Guyana says Caracas agreed to relinquish the area after a ruling by an international tribunal in 1899, but Venezuela later backtracked on that decision. The United Nations earlier this year referred the dispute to the International Court of Justice, a move welcomed by Georgetown but criticized by Caracas.

The dispute has heated up in recent years as Exxon has announced the discovery of more than 4 billion barrels of oil off the shore of Guyana, an English-speaking nation of 750,000 with no history of oil production.

The latest incident comes less than a day after Guyana’s parliament toppled the current government in a no-confidence vote, paving the way for elections in three months.
 
https://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/302118-venezuela-asamblea-nacional-desacato-usurpacion-presidencia said:
The National Assembly in contempt declares the "usurpation" of the Presidency of Venezuela

he agreement was made this Tuesday during a session of Parliament, whose acts have been declared null and void by the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice.

The Venezuelan National Assembly (AN), which is in contempt, on Tuesday approved an agreement on the "usurpation of the presidency" by President Nicolas Maduro, who was recently sworn in by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) for the period 2019-2025 and ratified by the plenipotentiary National Constituent Assembly (ANC).

The president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, who in recent days assumed the "charge of the presidency", a figure that according to legal experts is not contemplated in the Venezuelan Constitution, reported on the decision through his Twitter account.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dw-EnzhXgAEF3LA.jpgThe National Assembly, which has been in contempt since 2016, and whose acts are null and void, according to several judgments of the Venezuelan highest court, bases its agreement, described as "historic" by Guaidó, on Articles 233, 333 and 350 of the Magna Carta of the South American country.
https://twitter.com/jguaido/status/1085231870521065473
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
 
A possible Coup? Venezuela has captured a group of military officers who stole weapons and kidnapped four officials, hours after a social media video showed a sergeant demanding the removal of President Nicolas Maduro.

January 21, 2019 - Venezuela captures rogue officers after uprising at Military outpost
Venezuela captures rogue officers after uprising at military outpost | Reuters

r
Venezuelan National Guards fire tear gas during clashes with demonstrators during a protest close to one of their outposts in Caracas, Venezuela January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
 
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-22/pence-appeals-venezuelans-rise-against-dictator-maduro-following-failed-military said:
Pence Urges Venezuelans To Rise Up Against "Dictator" Maduro After Failed Military Revolt

It appears the White House is ready to stoke the flames of anti-Maduro unrest following Monday's dramatic failed military revolt launched by 27 low-ranking officers and their subsequent arrests in the Cotiza neighborhood of Caracas, which sparked overnight protests and sporadic clashes with police after opposition leader Juan Guaido made a broad appeal to the military in a speech, urging them to demand Maduro step down. Guaido and other opposition leaders in the National Assembly have declared Wednesday a nation-wide protest day seeking to topple the regime itself a historic date commemorating the end of Venezuela's military dictatorship in 1958.

On Tuesday US Vice President Mike Pence urged the Venezuelan people to "make your voices heard" in follow-up to Guaido's risky appeal, which appears a continuation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's comments throwing the United States' full weight behind Venezuela's opposition seeking to depose President Nicolás Maduro, which he made over a week ago while in the Middle East after Maduro was sworn in to a widely contested six-year second term.

VP Pence's words were issued in a video posted to social media wherein he asserted, “Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to to power." The video begins with Pence greeting in Spanish “Hola, I’m Mike Pence” but ending with a somewhat grimmer tone: “Vayan con Dios!” or “Go with God.”

Pence also praised Guaido, head of the opposition held National Assembly who previously called himself Venezuela's "legitimate" power, as the "courageous" leader of “the last vestige of democracy in your country,” referencing the legislative body. This week the government-stacked Supreme Court declared it would throw out recent measures by the National Assembly that declared Maduro's presidency illegitimate.

Pence said in the video he was delivering the message on behalf of Trump and the American people. Referencing the planned Wednesday protests, the vice president said:

As you make your voices heard tomorrow, on behalf of the American people, we say to all the good people of Venezuela, ‘Estamos con ustedes,’ we are with you.”

The country remains on edge Tuesday as following the mutiny and subsequent successful government crackdown, which further involved the rebellious unit briefly kidnapping several officials stealing weaponry at a police outpost a mere kilometers from the presidential palace, pockets of anti-Maduro protests were sparked in the capital city demanding the release of the detained soldiers, whose actions the government condemned as "treasonous" and "motivated by the dark interests of the extreme right," according to a statement announced on state TV. Maduro's right-hand man, Diosdado Cabello, also boasted on Twitter while speaking of the rebels: "They were neutralized, surrendered and captured in record time."

Pence's video remarks calling Maduro a "dictator" and essentially calling for a coup comes after months of both the Trump administration and US Congressional leaders becoming increasingly unrestrained in publicly calling for outright regime change. After Monday's coup attempt Florida Senator Marco Rubio went so far as to encourage more such military defections.

Meanwhile Venezuelan Foreign Minister Arreaza just days ago told Democracy Now that "Nothing that the opposition does is without the permission or authorization of the State Department... They say, 'We have to make consultations with the embassy. We have to make consultations with the Dept of State.'"

Vice President Mike Pence on Twitter
 
Quote from: Mabar
Pence Urges Venezuelans To Rise Up Against "Dictator" Maduro After Failed Military Revolt said:
Pence Urges Venezuelans To Rise Up Against "Dictator" Maduro After Failed Military Revolt

VP Pence isn't the brightest light bulb in the pack but he is spotlighting himself, not only as opposition to Maduro but as a possible accessary to the opposition party "Popular Will" and "to the Coup"? I haven't come across any comments by Trump on Pence's position yet? Maybe, Trump is too distracted from the Shut-down and a possible "Coup" scenario on his end?

Venezuela’s government said on Tuesday that a group of military officers who stole weapons as part of a failed revolt on Monday had delivered the arms to opposition party Popular Will, which the party dismissed as “lies” and an attempt to divert blame.

January 22, 2019 - Venezuela Government says opposition linked to Military revolt; party denies charge
Venezuela government says opposition linked to military revolt; party denies charge | Reuters
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Demonstrators stand behind a burning barricade during a protest close to a National Guard outpost in Caracas, Venezuela January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Some two dozen officers attacked a National Guard outpost in the Caracas neighborhood of Cotiza, a km (0.6 mile) from the presidential Miraflores palace, leading to opposition demonstrations in nearby parts of Caracas.

Popular Will called the allegation the “same lies and manipulation” and said the party’s struggle to re-establish constitutional order was peaceful. In a statement on Twitter, Popular Will accused Rodriguez of trying to mask discontent within the military by accusing the party of stealing the arms.

Government officials often describe Popular Will as a terrorist organization, which the party dismisses as an intimidation tactic.

Rodriguez said the officers involved stole 51 rifles but that authorities had only recovered 40. The officers were arrested after the incident.

Congress has called on citizens to take to the streets to protest against President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday, the 61st anniversary of the collapse of a military dictatorship.

The marches are held every year, but the opposition is unusually energized following Maduro’s Jan. 10 inauguration to a disputed second term that governments around the world have decried as illegitimate.

Popular Will lawmaker and congress chief Juan Guaido, who was briefly detained by intelligence agents this month, has received international support amid growing criticism of Maduro. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence released a video on Tuesday in which he expressed support for Venezuela’s opposition and Guaido.


January 22, 2019 - "Hola, I'm Mike Pence': US VP delivers message of support to Venezuelans
'Hola, I'm Mike Pence': U.S. VP delivers message of support to Venezuelans | Reuters



A spate of protests in Caracas on Monday, sparked by a brief military uprising, have spread hope that a new leader of the congress, Juan Guaido, could unify the opposition and dislodge Maduro, who this month began a second term under a barrage of criticism that his election was illegitimate.

January 23, 2019 - Venezuela's opposition takes to streets to seize momentum against Maduro
Venezuela's opposition takes to streets to seize momentum against Maduro | Reuters
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Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with supporters in Caracas, Venezuela January 22, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

Guaido has said he would be willing to replace Maduro as interim president, with the support of the military, to call free elections. The opposition-controlled congress, considered by many abroad as Venezuela’s last remaining bastion of democracy, has declared Maduro a “usurper” and the United States has thrown its backing behind Guaido.

Guaido, 35, has called for the military to disavow Maduro and has promised a future amnesty for those that help bring about a return to democracy.

Addressing members of the military on Monday, Guaido said: “We’re not asking you to launch a coup d’etat, we’re not asking you to shoot. We’re asking you not to shoot at us.”
 
hmm some developments today.

Venezuela: US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido proclaims himself interim President
source: Venezuela: US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido proclaims himself interim President

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has taken an oath and sworn himself in as interim president, as droves of protesters take to the streets calling for President Nicolas Maduro’s exit.

followed a short time after by
Trump recognizes US-backed head of Venezuela’s opposition Juan Guaido as country’s interim president
source: Trump recognizes US-backed head of Venezuela’s opposition Juan Guaido as country’s interim president

US President Donald Trump has recognized Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president in a provocative move against the elected government of Nicolas Maduro.
"Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela," Trump said in statement.
He added he would use "the full weight of United States economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy" and encouraged other governments in the Western Hemisphere to also recognize Guaido.
US-backed Guaido, who is currently the President of the National Assembly, swore an oath and declared himself interim president on Monday as thousands took to the streets calling for Maduro to leave office.

Of course ... that is not considered as meddling in another country's internal affair...
 
Quote from: Artofdream
US President Donald Trump has recognized Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president in a provocative move against the elected government of Nicolas Maduro.
Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela," Trump said in statement.

To say, "I'm disappointed in Trump!" is an understatement!

President Maduro will be responding in the next few hours, if the reports are valid? Maybe sanctions?

Jan. 23, 2019 - Maduro Orders ‘Total Revision’ of Venezuela-US Diplomatic Ties After Washington Calls for Regime Change
Farsnews

Slamming the speech as shameless US meddling in his country’s internal affairs, Maduro in response promised his supporters to announce specific measures against Washington in the coming hours.

“Enough of aggressions and conspiracies, enough is enough!” Maduro said, rejecting the “imperialist interventionism” and open calls for coup d'état that he called unprecedented in the 200-year history of US-Venezuela relations.

"Mr. Pence doesn't have a job. Now he wants to come and run Venezuela, handing out instructions on what should happen" at the anti-government protests on Wednesday, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez noted, accusing the White House of openly "promoting instability and violence" in the Latin American country.

 
https://www.rt.com/news/449542-maduro-addresses-supporters-us-guaido/ said:
Venezuela breaking diplomatic relations with US after its attempt to stage coup – President Maduro

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said Caracas is breaking off diplomatic relations with the US, giving American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country, after Donald Trump recognized the opposition leader as interim head.

Maduro announced the move to a large crowd of cheering supporters from a balcony of the presidential Miraflores Palace in Caracas, shortly after the US, and then several Latin American countries, decided to recognize the opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.

US President Donald Trump earlier sided with Guaido, who on Wednesday proclaimed himself the country’s acting head, “officially” recognizing him as such. Maduro’s government, in its turn, was described by Trump as an “illegitimate regime.”
 
The situation is getting really - intense! If anything comes out of this - at least Maduro will know which Countries are "for or against him".

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido took an oath swearing himself in as the South American country’s interim president on Wednesday, as hundreds of thousands marched to demand the end of socialist President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

January 23, 2019 - Venezuela opposition leader swears himself in as Interim President
Venezuela opposition leader swears himself in as interim president | Reuters

Juan Guaido, President of Venezuela's National Assembly, gestures as he speaks during a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Guaido, the head of the opposition-run Congress, has said he would be willing to assume the presidency on an interim basis with the support of the armed forces to call elections.

Against President Maduro:

January 23, 2019 - Trump recognizes opposition leader Guaido as Venezuela's interim President
Trump recognizes opposition leader Guaido as Venezuela's interim president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Colombia recognizes opposition lawmaker Guaido as Venezuela's president
Colombia recognizes opposition lawmaker Guaido as Venezuela's president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Costa Rica president says recognizes Guaido as Venezuelan leader
Costa Rica president says recognizes Guaido as Venezuelan leader | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Brazil recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's interim President
Brazil recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's interim president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Paraguay recognizes Venezuela's Guaido as interim President
Paraguay recognizes Venezuela's Guaido as interim president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Guatemala recognizes Guaido as Venezuela president: Foreign Minister
Guatemala recognizes Guaido as Venezuela president: foreign minister | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Argentina's Macri recognizes Guaido as interim Venezuelan leader
Argentina's Macri recognizes Guaido at interim Venezuelan leader | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Peru recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's interim president
Peru recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's interim president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Chile recognizes opposition leader Guaido as Venezuela's president
Chile recognizes opposition leader Guaido as Venezuela's president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Canada to recognize Venezuela opposition leader as new president
Canada to recognize Venezuela opposition leader as new president | Reuters


Stand by Maduro:

January 23, 2019 - Venezuela Defense Minister disavows opposition president
Venezuela defense minister disavows opposition president | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Bolivia's Morales reaffirms backing for Venezuela's Maduro
Bolivia's Morales reaffirms backing for Venezuela's Maduro | Reuters

January 23, 2019 - Mexico still recognizes Maduro as Venezuela president, 'for now': spokesman
Mexico still recognizes Maduro as Venezuela president, 'for now': spokesman | Reuters
 
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