The US government is one of Maduro’s sharpest critics
The Treasury Department in Washington imposed further sanctions on two companies and their ships that bring Venezuelan oil to Cuba. The measures should be aimed directly against the sources of money of the Venezuelan security apparatus, it said. "Venezuela’s military and intelligence agencies should be warned that their continued support for Maduro’s illegitimate regime will have ramifications"said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Thugs gang "Colectivos" threatens opposition members
Most recently, members of the opposition-controlled National Assembly in Venezuela were intimidated. Suspected government supporters sprayed threatening messages on the houses of several parliamentarians. "We come for you. Sincerely. The colectivos", could be read on the facades on Friday. "The desperate dictatorship has hit rock bottom and tried to instill fear with state terrorism"wrote the self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó on Twitter.
The so-called "Colectivos" are gangs of thugs who rule entire neighborhoods in Venezuela, organize the distribution of subsidized food and do criminal business unmolested by the police. In return, the motorcycle gangs crack down on demonstrators in anti-government protests.
After the failed coup attempt, several MPs were charged with rebellion and treason. Some parliamentarians sought protection in foreign embassies in Caracas, others fled abroad.
Borders open again after months
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government reopened the borders with Brazil and the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba after almost three months. Maduro had shut it down in February after the opposition wanted aid deliveries brought into the country. Maduro saw this as a pretext for military intervention.
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"We have been assured that our sovereignty will be respected and that there will be no interference in our internal affairs"said Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami on Friday. The borders with neighboring Colombia and the other Dutch Caribbean islands Curaçao and Bonaire remain closed.
Sources used: dpa news agency
The people of Venezuela have taken to the streets in over 300 cities. Opposition leader Guaidó wants to overthrow head of state Maduro. Power outages and drinking water shortages anger the population.
With rallies in more than 300 cities, Venezuela’s opposition has protested against the power cuts that have been going on for a month and increased pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. "We not only demand water and light, but also democracy and the future"said the self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó on Saturday at the main rally in Caracas.
His socialist opponent Maduro responded with a call to the governments of Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and the Caribbean CARICOM countries to initiate a dialogue with the opposition. "I confirm my support and my willingness to seek a way of dialogue, negotiations and agreements for the benefit of Venezuela and its future"Maduro said on Saturday in front of his supporters, who were also in Caracas for a rally "against imperialism" got together.
International conference in Venezuela
Guaidó, on the other hand, called on the population to flock to the streets in even larger numbers on Wednesday. He also announced an international conference in Venezuela to pave the way out of the political and social crisis that has crippled the country for more than two months. Guaidó did not give an exact date for this meeting.
Two opposition MPs said they were temporarily arrested at a rally in Maracaibo. In clashes with the police, around 30 demonstrators were injured in the coastal city, the newspaper reported "El Nacional".
Investigation against opposition chief
The opposition leader mocked the ruling socialist-controlled Constituent Assembly after it lifted its parliamentary immunity on Tuesday: "As if we started our struggle twelve years ago in the student movement with immunity"he said to his followers.
The president of the parliament, which is controlled by the opposition, has two investigations underway for presumption and sabotage. Without immunity, he could be arrested. Most recently, he had been banned from holding political office for 15 years.
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The bitter power struggle between Guaidó and Maduro broke out openly on January 23.how to write a claim for an argumentative essay At that time, Guaidó declared himself interim president and denied legitimation to the head of state. Many western countries in particular have recognized Guaidó as the legal interim president. The powerful Venezuelan military, however, remains loyal to the president.
Sources used: dpa news agency
He had participated in the attempted coup by President Maduro in Venezuela. Now the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Edgar Zambrano has been arrested.
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According to the opposition, the deputy speaker of parliament was arrested after the failed coup attempt in Venezuela. Officials from the Sebin secret service arrested Edgar Zambrano on Wednesday and took him to the Helicoide prison in the capital Caracas, the National Assembly said. The agents surprised him in his car and towed him in the vehicle.
Zambrano is under investigation for treason, rebellion and conspiracy. Last week, he appeared in front of the La Carlota air force base in Caracas together with the self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader Leopoldo López, who had been released from house arrest, and several breakaway soldiers and had called on the military to side with the opposition .
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The attempt at overthrowing President Nicolás Maduro initially failed because the armed forces remained loyal to the socialist government. At least five people were killed and dozen injured in clashes between demonstrators and state security forces in the days that followed.
Sources used: dpa news agency
The Trump administration on Monday frozen the entire assets of the Venezuelan government. Now Maduro reacts.
After the imposition of new US sanctions, Venezuela’s head of state Nicolás Maduro stopped talks with the opposition for the time being. Maduro canceled a government delegation’s trip to the Caribbean island of Barbados on Wednesday, where negotiations with representatives of the Venezuelan opposition were planned on Thursday and Friday. Reason is that "severe and brutal aggression" the US government against Venezuela, it said in a government statement.
US President Donald Trump, who stands behind opposition leader Juan Guaidó in the power struggle in Venezuela, had the entire assets of the Venezuelan government in the United States frozen on Monday. Caracas condemned the act as "economic terrorism".
Maduro said on Wednesday that he wanted to establish a permanent dialogue with the opposition. "But this week North American imperialism has gone mad and stabbed Venezuela in the back." The opposition has celebrated Washington’s new punitive measures, said the left-wing nationalist. Negotiations are not possible under these conditions.
At the same time, the Venezuelan government stressed that the negotiation process should not be broken off. Rather, should "the mechanisms of this process are reviewed", it said in a statement.
Maduro can build on Russia and Cuba
Maduro and Guaidó have been fighting bitterly for power in the South American crisis state for months. However, representatives of the government and the opposition have held talks in Barbados over the past few weeks through Norway’s mediation to seek a way out of the conflict. The fourth round of negotiations was actually planned on Thursday and Friday.
However, the differences seem to be difficult to bridge: While the opposition is calling for Maduro to be replaced and for new elections, the government is betting on democratic cooperation.
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The US government is one of Maduro’s sharpest critics. When opposition leader Guaidó declared himself transitional president in January, the United States was one of the first countries to recognize him. Guaidó is now recognized by around 50 countries, including Germany.
Maduro, on the other hand, can count on the support of countries like Russia and Cuba – and the support of the Venezuelan military leadership.
Sources used: AFP news agency
Caracas (AP) – The self-proclaimed Venezuelan interim president Juan Guaidó wants to bring the government of head of state Nicolás Maduro to its knees with a series of strikes.
T-Online.de/TV
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"From tomorrow we will start with staggered strikes up to a general strike"said the opposition leader on Wednesday at a rally in Caracas. "The end of the unlawful takeover is near."
Guaidó called on his followers to hold out and not let up in the protests against the government. "If the regime thinks we have already reached maximum pressure, then it is wrong", he said. "Our sacrifices were not in vain. We reclaim space and stay on the streets until we have achieved freedom for Venezuela."
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Numerous people took to the streets in the capital Caracas and other cities of the South American country to protest against Maduro and to call for new elections. They chanted slogans like "Freedom, freedom" and waved Venezuelan flags. "We have to fight for our rights, we don’t get them for free"said a protester on TV station VPI. One man said: "We want Venezuela to be a better country."
In some places, security forces stopped the marches and used tear gas. "Don’t lose hope"said opposition MP Mariela Magallanes. "This development can no longer be reversed." Numerous government supporters also took to the streets on Labor Day. "The people defend the revolution"said the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Diosdado Cabello.
On Tuesday, Guaidó’s attempt to get the country’s armed forces on his side and to sweep Maduro out of office with a lightning strike failed for the time being. Some soldiers joined the opposition and released the opposition leader Leopoldo López, who had been imprisoned for years, from house arrest. The military leadership, however, reassured Maduro of their loyalty.
Maduro declared the uprising a failure and spoke of one "coup attempt". He announced that he would hold the masterminds of the rebellion accountable. "A coup would be if they arrested me"said Guaidó. "We will talk to the military and they will join our cause."
Protesters and security forces in Caracas had already fought violent clashes on Tuesday. Government opponents hurled stones and incendiary devices at the uniformed men. Members of the National Guard fired tear gas and shotgun ammunition into the crowd. On TV was an armored car crashing into a group of people.
With his most recent coup, Guaidó has put the power struggle back into motion. The young MP had appointed himself interim president on January 23 and has since tried in vain to force a change of power in the South American oil country. The USA, many EU states and numerous countries in Latin America have recognized him as the legitimate transitional president – China, Russia, Turkey, as well as Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua, however, continue to support Maduro.
According to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the US is still looking for a peaceful solution. Military intervention is possible, but Washington prefers a different solution, Pompeo told Fox Business on Wednesday. "Military action is possible. If this is what it takes, then what the United States will do." However, he emphasized: "We are doing everything we can to avoid violence."
Russia accused the US of contributing to an escalation in the crisis country Venezuela. It will "most drastic consequences" if Washington its "aggressive steps" in Venezuela, it said in a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after a phone call with Pompeo. For its part, the United States has accused Russia of propping up Maduro, thereby further exacerbating the crisis.
The crisis in Venezuela has reached a new high point, the secret service has now arrested the office manager of the opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
