Nicolás Maduro: "They intend to create a conflict with …

From Caracas

President Nicolás Maduro has completed the speech delivered at the head of the meeting of the National Defense Council, denouncing the existence of a threat and a military escalation against the country. "We have evidence on how to create a false positive to create an armed conflict between Colombia and Venezuela."

The Monday night meeting took place after a day of strong diplomatic tension. First, the Minister of Communication, Jorge Rodríguez, presented evidence of how they had been falsified and disseminated by the Colombian press, in particular the magazine Week, documents to accuse the Venezuelan government of collaborating with the sector of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who have returned to the armed struggle.

Then, in the afternoon, a press conference of Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza, and Rodríguez, where the accredited diplomatic corps was convened in the country, was held to give them "information precise details on the terrorist acts committed by the Republic of Colombia is planned under the protection of the neogranadino government ".

It was during the night that Maduro met with the National Defense Council, which was attended by representatives of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) at all levels, public authorities and national cabinet.

"I entrusted to the National Defense Council the collective responsibility for this situation of real threat, violence, armed conflict and attack of the war and the criminal government of Colombia," said the President. he explained, Article 232 of the Constitution.

In his speech, he denounced the various acts of infiltration – 42 actions in three months, he explained – that were committed by the Colombian government. One of them was and remains the attempt to "capture Venezuelan officers and NCOs in order to attack the Venezuelan air and missile defense system, supported by a group of Venezuelans".

The Venezuelan president also spoke about the orange alert issued a few days ago and the beginning of border operations "Sovereignty and peace in Venezuela" which will take place from Tuesday 10 to Sunday 28 September.

"To adjust the entire national defense system, refine all the deployment mechanisms of the military capacity of our country to adjust the land and air defense, the integral defense of the national territory," said Maduro.

The tension between the two countries has reached its peak since the new escalation began August 29. That day, a FARC sector announced its return to the armed struggle, which was followed by the accusation of President Iván Duque in Venezuela, claiming that the Maduro government was providing support on its territory.

Two days later, on 31 August, Jorge Rodríguez denounced the arrest of those who were going to detonate explosives in the central points of Caracas and the presence of three military training centers in Colombia, near the border with Colombia. Venezuela, where, he explained. He was trained with other people and sent to the country.

This was not the first time that the Venezuelan government denounced the presence of military training centers in Colombia to attack Venezuela: the previous case concerned the badbadination attempt of President Maduro on August 8, 2018.

The current scenario fits into a new offensive aimed at overthrowing President Maduro. Statements have intensified in recent weeks, especially since the decree signed by Donald Trump on August 6 to strengthen the economic and financial blockade, which led Maduro to suspend negotiations in Barbados.

In this context, and with a demobilization of the opposition at the national level, the variable Colombia in the Venezuelan government siege system has taken strength. Iván Duque did not say Monday on the statements of the Miraflores Palace.

Finally, on Monday, three important events also took place. First, the report read by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who reiterated her concern over human rights violations in Venezuela, while acknowledging the fact negative impact of the blockade and the violence of the opposition.

Second, the remarks of Elliot Abrams, the US special envoy in charge of the Venezuelan file, were heard in Brussels, accusing the European Union of not taking harsher penalties against Maduro government and be permissive with its leaders.

Finally, it was learned that the Organization of American States – to which the Venezuelan government has withdrawn – will debate next Wednesday the request made by the self-proclaimed Juan Guaidó to activate the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, a letter in which to present the possibility of forming an international coalition against Venezuela.

The UN General Assembly to be held on the 27th of this month is coming up and will be a new scenario of diplomatic confrontation. Times have accelerated further.