THE South American country Venezuela is passing history’s most critical time following conflict between President Maduro and opposition leader Guaido. Violence has broken out on the streets of Venezuela. It’s really a big question; what has happened to Venezuela, politically and economically, to cause such anger and division? Beyond this personal conflict between the supporters of Maduro and Guaido, there is a population exhausted and angry at a collapsing economy and a lack of basic services.
International media yesterday reported that, a little before 6 am on Tuesday, Juan Guaidó went live via social media from outside La Carlota military base in Caracas to call the country to action. “The moment is now,” said the opposition leader, flanked by members of the security forces. Several times Mr Guaidó has made a direct plea to the Venezuelan military to switch sides. It was a risky move but the people’s uprising didn’t unseat Mr Maduro or necessarily weaken his grip on power – and what Mr Guaidó had hoped for.
After declaring himself President in January, Mr Guaidó instantly got support from the United States and more than 50 other nations. On the other hand, Washington extended its sanctions from the Maduro inner circle to the all-important energy industry. By early March, people in Guaidó’s team spoke confidently of being close to victory, of having passed the halfway point in a popular uprising demand of Maduro’s ouster.
But going against the people’s desire, Maduro still believes that he has the support of the army generals for making them fat and rich. He even gave them most ministerial positions. He organised shamelessly a military procession with him on the front to show his army backing against the public demand for him to go.
Maduro rigged the election to be in power and his government has failed miserably. He is also relying on the support of anti- democracy foreign powers like Russia and China.
The opposition leader Juan Guaidó has the backing of the United States and other Western democracies including neighbouring countries. It’s reasonable to think that Maduro will not last but his hunger for power so insane that there is serious anxiety that he will cause huge bloodshed before fleeing the country. There is also the danger he will leave the country with the army divided and fighting each other. He has no love for the country. It is strange to find the army devoid of patriotism.
It is a big challenge for the US to be openly and directly involved in the people’s struggle to have a government of their own. The USA under the leadership of Trump has become terribly isolated from international power politics.
We are definitely against that; army is being used against its own people. We also do not want to see army is fighting among themselves.
