More than 160 Venezuelans in uniform defected and entered Colombia

More than 160 Venezuelans in uniform have defected and entered Colombia since Saturday, said the authority of migration, in a context of increasing tension as a result of the frustrated entry of aid Venezuela.

"Out of tyranny, long live freedom", shouted a group of Venezuelan soldiers at a meeting with Juan Guaidó in Colombian territory, luegod and desert. "And many others come, "said another in uniform in this meeting.

The army and police, whose rank has not been specified, entered mainly by the border between northern Santander and the Venezuelan state Táchira.

"In the last 48 hours, they fled the dictatorship of Maduro", 150 members of the Venezuelan armed forces of Norte de Santander department and 10 of Arauca, said Migración Colombia in a statement released on Sunday.

The leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, recognized as responsible president of fifty countries, has offered amnesty to members of the armed forces who break with the government of Nicolás Maduro., hanging more and more in the army to stay in power.

The first defections took place on Saturday before Guaidó announced Colombia's release of help in trucks with food and medical supplies donated by the United States and their allies.

The operation, however, had to be interrupted in the late afternoon before the powerful blockade imposed by Maduro that caused riots that left two dead and hundreds wounded on the Venezuelan border with Colombia and Brazil.

Christian Krüger, director of the Colombian Immigration Authority, explained that deserters benefit from a temporary safe conduct while studying case by case "who the person is and what is the argument that is given for granting refuge".

Venezuela has 365,315 soldiers and 1.6 million civilian militiamen. Although Maduro faces a tough attack, he maintains the loyalty of military leadership.