Venezuela rallies Maduro backers after alleged assassination try
CARACAS, Venezuela — Pro-government factions mobilized thousands of Venezuelans dressed in red — the color of the ruling socialist party— onto the streets of the capital on Monday in a bid to show the country remains united around President Nicolas Maduro after what the government described as a thwarted assassination attempt.
“This river of red,” Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza declared as the crowd waved flags and carried posters with Mr. Maduro’s image. “It could have been another red running through these streets.”
Authorities say they have now captured all those behind the attack using two drones armed with explosives. The names of those detained have not been released, but chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab said the six people arrested could face chargesincluding treason, attempted homicide and terrorism.
“They need to pay the penalty Venezuela’s law calls for,” Diosdado Cabello, a socialist party leader, told the crowd. “There won’t be any moreforgiveness.”
Public employees are required to attend such progovernment rallies to ensure a strong show of support. Yet, even as Venezuelan leaders sought to project a nation united behind Mr. Maduro, analysts warned the incident makesthe already unpopular leader even more vulnerable as he struggles to reverse a crippling humanitarian and economic crisis considered worse than the Great Depression.
Diego Moya-Ocampos, a Venezuelan analyst with the London-based consulting firm IHS Markit, warned Saturday’sfailed attack could be a sign that low-level insurgent groups are now escalating to a more violent approach.
“This is a manifestation of institutions not being able to channel the political, economic and social crisis that Venezuela is going through,” hesaid.
Mr. Maduro was addressing hundreds of uniformed soldiers Saturday in a speech celebrating the 81st anniversary of the National Guard when an explosion pierced the air. Authorities say two
2⅕ drones, each packed with pounds of C-4 plastic explosive, were aimed at the stage where Mr. Maduro, his wife and a slate of the nation’s highest-ranking government leaderswere gathered.
The military managed to knock one of the drones off course electronically and the other craft crashed into an apartment building two blocksaway.
Images captured on live television showed Mr. Maduro and his wife looking up at the sky as the explosion struck and then hundreds of soldiers scrambling from the scene.
In his rallying speech, Mr. Cabello told Venezuelans there is no doubt that the “Colombian oligarchy” and “North American imperialism” were behind Saturday’s attack.
ColombianPresident Juan Manuel Santos vehemently denied the accusation. The U.S.also denies involvement.
Inhis remarks since the attack, Mr. Maduro vowed to press forward with the socialist revolution begun by the latePresident Hugo Chavez.
Mr. Cabello echoed that messageat Monday’s rally.
“The right will never win here again!” he cried to resoundingapplause.