Despair and anger as the blackout continues in Venezuela

by María Lorente / Caracas, Venezuela / AFP

Desperation and rage are spreading among Venezuelans as the hours pbad and the blackout that strikes the country since Monday is not resolved.

"The goods are damaged, there is no water, the transport hardly works, there is no communicationI do not know what is happening with my family, the insecurity is aggravated, "insisted Néstor Carreño, manager of a pizzeria that had to close, in a rich neighborhood of Caracas.

Cacerolazos and corns broke out in protest from the beginning of the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, which left the city in total darkness. In many neighborhoods, light has come and gone, but there is no clear prospect of complete electrical recovery.

The oil-producing country of 30 million people remained in the dark a few days after hostilities began. worst electrical failure in its history, which began on March 7 and lasted almost a week.

In addition to the capital, the reduction affects 21 of the 23 states, according to user reports on social networks. The socialist government does not usually report the impact of this type of emergency.

The fault started Monday at 13h22 and the water supply has collapsed, telephony, Internet networks and electronic banking, essential in the face of the lack of money generated by voracious hyperinflation.

The mbadive breakdown of one week 20 days ago has hit hospitals hard, already punished for lack of supplies and drugs. According to the NGOs, a dozen patients died as a result of these cuts.

"Terrorist attacks"

Power cuts are common in the oil country and the government routinely attributes them to sabotage by the opposition and the United States. President Nicolás Maduro blamed the new blackout on "terrorists" protected by the United States and extended the national holiday until Wednesday.

According to a statement released by the socialist leader on Twitter, "the national electricity system has suffered two sneaky terrorist attacks of violent hands".

One of them, he said, occurred Monday in the area of ​​production and transmission of the Guri hydroelectric plant, in the state of Bolívar ( south), which provides 80% of Venezuela 's energy.

In a speech to the opposition-backed parliament, the speaker of parliament, Juan Guaidó, rejected the government's version.

"There is no reasonable and credible explanation (…), it is no longer a cyber attack or an electromagnetic pulse, it is now a sabotage, they have militarized each of the electrical installations," said the opposition, recognized as president in charge of Venezuela for more than 50 countries.

riots

The atmosphere was tense in the Venezuelan capital. MPs and journalists have been attacked by Chavismo supporters in front of the Venezuelan parliament after a session chaired by Guaidó, according to members of Congress and press organizations.

"Surprisingly, violent groups have encircled the Legislative Palace, attacking journalists and MPs in the presence of the National Guard (military)," Simón Calzadilla, MP, told reporters, referring to civilian groups denounced by the government. ;opposition. they were armed by the government.

The incidents occurred after a session during which Guaidó rejected the arrival of Russian military in the country last weekend.

Penalties April 28

Guaidó is preparing a national mobilization to take control of the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, at a date to be determined, and does not rule out asking the legislator to authorize a foreign military intervention.

Washington, its most fervent ally, does not rule out a military action to defeat Maduro, who has proposed to stifle economic sanctions such as the oil embargo that will come into effect on April 28.

Faced with international pressure for Maduro to step down, Russia and China, the main creditors of Venezuela's external debt (estimated at 150 billion dollars), became the great allies of the socialist president.

On Saturday, two Russian Armed Forces aircraft landed at the Caracas airport, carrying military personnel and equipment, confirmed the Russian government agency Sputnik, triggering the merger of charges between Washington and the United States. Moscow for interference in the Venezuelan crisis.

"Losses"

The cuts accentuate the crisis of the Venezuelan economy which collapsed. According to estimates by the opposition parliament and trade unions, the reduction that paralyzed the country and its ports from March 7 to 14 had resulted in losses of $ 1 billion.

"The losses are where you see them," said Diderot Buendía, owner of a restaurant in Caracas.

After the power outage in early March, Maduro announced a restructuring of its firm and a "deep transformation" of companies in the sector, in addition to protecting the infrastructure with the armed forces. More than a week later, nothing has changed.