On March 27th, a new power cut plunged Venezuela into a blackout, shortly after it was announced that power had...
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On March 27th, a new power cut plunged Venezuela into a blackout, shortly after it was announced that power had been restored. According to reports, 22 out of 23 states were affected.
#VenezuelaLuchaPorLaPaz En este esfuerzo intenso de recuperación del Sist Elec Nacional, que sufrió el más grave ataque terrorista de la historia de Venezuela, el Gob bolivariano ha decidido suspender las actividades laborales y educativas mañana jueves 28. Nosotros Venceremos!
— Jorge Rodríguez (@jorgerpsuv) March 28, 2019
Venezuelan Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez claimed that the National Power Grid had “suffered the most serious terrorist attack in the history of Venezuela.” He also announced that work and school are suspended on March 28th.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called on the Venezuelan Military and the state electric workers to in perfect “civic-military union” and prepared and alert to protect the public services and restore them.
Llamo al pueblo, a la #FANB y a los trabajadores de #CORPOELEC, a estar en perfecta unión Cívico-Militar, preparados y alertas para proteger todos los servicios públicos y garantizar, en los próximos días, buenas noticias al País. pic.twitter.com/RWSdyNoQIW
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) March 28, 2019
He also called on the Venezuelan people to take to the streets on March 29th as part of a National March of Peace. In addition he urged people to mobilize themselves nationwide on March 30th in response to US-Proclaimed President Juan Guaido’s Freedom March, the Maduro government’s march is The great Operation in Defense of Freedom “Winning the Battle for peace.”
Convoco al pueblo venezolano para que este viernes #29Mar nos sumemos al ensayo nacional de las Cuadrillas de Paz y el sábado #30Mar a la movilización en todo el país, en lo que será la gran Operación en Defensa de la Libertad “Ganando la Batalla por la Paz”. pic.twitter.com/Sm00APvRV4
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) March 28, 2019
According to Maduro the March 27th blackout was caused by a long-distance rifle shot.
#LIVE | President @NicolasMaduro: "They shot [at the electrical system] with a long distance rifle, whoever ordered the attack knew what they were doing. This is a total war." pic.twitter.com/KYGWbuF3EQ
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) March 28, 2019
Just before the most recent blackout, Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez tweeted that “United Venezuela will prevail!”
A esta dura batalla por la recuperación del sistema eléctrico ante el criminal ataque imperial, se han sumado trabajadores de #PDVSA #CVG #SIDOR en apoyo a los trabajadores de #CORPOELEC quienes a esta hora siguen en faena! Venezuela unida vencerá!!! pic.twitter.com/GsPecjs1zA
— Delcy Rodríguez (@DrodriguezVen) March 27, 2019
“This tough battle for the recovery of the electrical system before the criminal imperial attack, workers have joined #PDVSA #CVG #SIDOR in support of the workers of #CORPOELEC those who at this time are still in the dirt!”
US-Proclaimed Interim President Juan Guaido, at a rally, called for the people of Venezuela to peacefully protest every time that they lack basic services and show “the dictator that you’ve had enough.”
El punto cero de la #OperaciónLibertad es no acostumbrarnos a este desastre.
Cada vez que a usted le falte la luz, el agua, el gas o el transporte, será el momento de protestar de forma pacífica por sus derechos y decirle al dictador que ya basta. #VamosOperacionLibertad pic.twitter.com/m0lmT99Kjn
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) March 27, 2019
He called for the first phase of the “Operation Freedom” protest to take place on March 30th.
Meanwhile, the US-proclaimed President’s first lady, Fabiana Rosales visited Washington and met with US President Donald Trump.
Hoy nos recibió el Presidente de los EE.UU @realDonaldTrump y el Vicepresidente @mike_pence conversamos junto a nuestro embajador @carlosvecchio sobre la situación en Venezuela.
Gracias al gobierno de los EE.UU por su solidaridad y apoyo al pueblo venezolano. pic.twitter.com/rCucrV2a4p
— Fabiana Rosales (@FabiiRosales) March 27, 2019
“Today we were greeted by the President of the UNITED STATES. The UNITED STATES @realDonaldTrump and The Vice-President @mike_pence talked with our ambassador @carlosvecchio about The situation in Venezuela. Thanks to the US government. AMERICA for its solidarity and support to the Venezuelan people.”
During their meeting, Rosales said that “today, in Venezuela it is freedom or dictatorship, it is life or death. It is the children who are paying the price.”
Trump on his part blasted Maduro, saying “everything is broken” in Venezuela, citing a precipitous fall in oil exports and the chronic power and water shortages.
“They have plenty of pressure right now… Other than military, you cannot get more pressure than they have,” Trump said about the Maduro government.
The US leader also commented on the arrival of a Russian military delegation on March 25th, saying that “Russia has to get out.” Asked how he would make Russian forces leave, Trump said, “We’ll see, all options are open.”
On March 26th, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the accusations against Russian presence in Venezuela.
“The Russian Federation is developing cooperation with Venezuela in strict accordance with the latter’s Constitution and with full respect for its legislative norms. The stay of Russian specialists on Venezuelan territory is regulated by the agreement on military technical cooperation between the governments of Russia and Venezuela that was signed in May 2001 and ratified by both states. There is no need for additional approval of the steps for developing military technical cooperation that are taken under the provisions of the said agreement.”
Thus, she said that Russia is simply there, by invitation from Venezuela to carry out military technical cooperation.
Zakharova also reiterated Russia’s stance towards the US’ “continuing its aggressive rhetoric against Venezuela and openly trying to stage a coup in that country, the United States is simultaneously accusing those who are cooperating with its legal authorities, including Russia. The US Congress is fast-tracking a bill on measures against the participants of Russian-Venezuelan cooperation in the hope of exerting pressure on Moscow with more sanctions. However, Moscow is now used to sanctions and has stopped paying attention to them.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng ShuangFin expressed support of the Venezuela-Russia cooperation, saying that Latin America is filled with sovereign nations and that they’re “not a certain country’s backyard.”
“First of all, countries in the western hemisphere, including Latin American countries, are all independent and sovereign states. They have the right to determine their own foreign policy and their way to engage in mutually beneficial cooperation with countries of their own choosing.
Second, it is China’s consistent position to develop friendly and cooperative ties with all countries, including Venezuela and other Latin American countries, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.”
He also justified China’s decision to not allow the opposition’s representative to be present at the cancelled IDB meeting.
“China’s position on the Venezuelan issue is consistent and clear. We believe that all parties should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, follow international law and the basic norms governing the international relations and refrain from interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs. Although the governor nominated by Guaido has gone through the voting procedure of the IDB, Guaido himself is not a president elected through legal procedures and thus lacks legitimacy. China has difficulties allowing Guaido’s representatives to attend the meeting in China.”
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