Maduro re-condemns imperialist plan to destabilize Venezuela

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Mar 2024 19:10

The Venezuelan President urges citizens and the National Bolivian Armed Forces to remain vigilant amid plans intended to "destabilize" the country and "fill it with violence."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip Joseph Pierre at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro emphasized on Tuesday that aristocracy and imperialism are conspiring to destabilize his nation.

He elaborated that such plans are intended to "destabilize" the country and "fill it with violence."

"They are preparing violent urban actions ('Guarimbas'). We must consolidate peace and life at the homeland before, during, and after the July elections. We must always defeat the far right, its puppets, and the oligarchy,"

He previously condemned plots to invade Venezuela spearheaded by a fugitive from justice Leopoldo Lopez and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

He explained that "Leopoldo Lopez met with other terrorists such as Alvaro Uribe" who plan to "attack public services in the neighboring states of Zulia with terrorists and paramilitaries."

"We have to defend peace, stability, and security in Venezuela. These terrorists cannot try to disrupt our economic recovery or the democratic celebration we will have with the presidential elections on July 28."

He urged the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB), intelligence agencies, and citizens to remain vigilant against potential conspiracies and terrorist schemes orchestrated by certain factions within the country.

In a post on X, he emphasized the importance of safeguarding Venezuela's economic recovery efforts and ensuring the smooth conduct of the upcoming electoral event scheduled for July 28.

Llamo a la FANB, a los organismos de inteligencia y al pueblo a estar en máxima alerta ante las conspiraciones y los planes terroristas que los apellidos y la oligarquía planifican en contra del pueblo. Qué nadie venga a perturbar la recuperación económica y la fiesta electoral… pic.twitter.com/i7dgFvGqKK
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) March 19, 2024

Maduro reported feeling "very motivated" and having seen firsthand the Venezuelans' "desire to fight" during his travels throughout the country.

On Tuesday, Maduro attended the swearing-in ceremony of the "Volunteerism for the Transformation of the Future," an organization founded by more than 2 million individuals.

The leader urged citizens to dedicate their lives to ensure the country prospered.

Venezuela rejects accusation of links with Tren de Aragua

In a related context, Tarek William Saab, the Attorney General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, has denounced US legislators Marco Rubio and María Elvira Salazar's attempt to label the "Tren de Aragua" a global criminal organization tied to the Venezuelan state.

At a news conference, Saab expressed it was not surprising the US was using the war against crime as a guise to further sanction the country.

The Prosecutor warned that as part of the battle against state crime, the US might tighten sanctions and use new coercive measures against the Latin American country.

Investigations into the "Tren de Aragua" began in 2019, and the band was disbanded in Venezuela following an effort to identify and apprehend its top leaders.

Fiscal General rechazó campaña mediática que pretende vincular al Tren de Aragua con el Estado venezolano https://t.co/8eEXDCywsU #19Mar pic.twitter.com/0g7yWabG3q
— Ministerio Público venezolano (@MinpublicoVEN) March 19, 2024

The Prosecutor noted that "67 arrest warrants were requested and 28 of them materialized." In addition, there are 21 notifications to the International Criminal Police Group (Interpol) against the group.

However, Saab added that the US did not help with police and criminal concerns and that many people engaged in the Aragua Train are fleeing to the US because they enjoy immunity there, as a result of Washington's failure to work with the Caracas administration.

Further condemning the members of Congress, he said, "The key in the transnational struggle is criminal and police cooperation; not persecution against the states (...). That is the way, not this one they are inventing to damage Venezuelan democracy to take advantage or political advantage."