Venezuela’s high-risk fight for control
Opposition leader gambles with push for more mass protests
Violent clashes erupted across Venezuela after opposition leader Juan Guaido´ launched what he described as a military-backed challenge to President Nicola´s Maduro, summoning thousands of people to the streets to demonstrate against the socialist leader.
It was a high-risk gamble for Guaido´, the leader of the National Assembly, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela in January. And it was unclear whether it would succeed.
Maduro declared on television that the opposition had attempted to impose an “illegitimate government” with the support of the US and Colombia.
Guaido´ sought to keep the momentum going by releasing his own video message in which he pressed Venezuelans to take to the streets again today.
Dozens of people were injured by rubber bullets, tear gas and live ammunition in melees across Venezuela, according to local observers and hospital officials. An armoured vehicle ran into a cluster of Guaido´ supporters.
A group of hooded men in a progovernment militia — the feared colectivos — fired live ammunition into a crowd of protesters, witnesses said. And a colonel loyal to Maduro was shot in the neck, the defence minister said, but the extent of his injuries was unclear.
US President Donald Trump accused
Cuban “Troops and Militia” of conducting military operations in Venezuela to cause “death and destruction to the Constitution of Venezuela”. If the alleged activities didn’t immediately stop, Trump tweeted, his Administration would impose a “full and complete embargo, together with the highest-level sanctions,” on Cuba.
There were protests across the nation, according to the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, and violent clashes in at least five states. At least 25 people were detained, according to Foro Penal, a local organisation that tracks political detentions.
Guaido´ made a surprise appearance at a military base in eastern Caracas, where he was joined by opposition politician Leopoldo Lo´pez, freed earlier from house arrest. They were surrounded by a small band of armed men in military uniforms wearing blue armbands to show their support.
Guaido´ urged other troops to join what he called the final stage of “Operation Liberty”.
“People of Venezuela, the end of usurpation has arrived,” Guaido´ said. “At this moment, I am with the main military units of our armed forces, starting the final phase of Operation Liberty. People of Venezuela, we will go to the street with the armed forces to continue taking the streets until we consolidate the end of usurpation, which is already irreversible.”
Maduro insisted that the military remained loyal to him. “Steel nerves,” he tweeted. “I have talked to commanders in all the regions of the country and they’ve manifested their total loyalty to the People, the Constitution, and the Homeland. I call for maximum popular mobilization to ensure the victory of peace. We will win!”