Venezuela se respeta RESPECT Venezuela
Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Comunicación y la Información
Venezuela se respeta RESPECT Venezuela
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Respect Venezuela
Nicolás Maduro Moros President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez Minister of People’s Power for Communication and Information
Rolando Corao Vice-Minister for Communication and Information Javier Mendoza Vice-Minister for Television Francisco Pérez Santana Vice-Minister for Radio Felipe Saldivia Vice-Minister for Printed Media José Miguel España Vice-Minister for Social Networking
Printed in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela August, 2014 4 Respect Venezuela
Democracy is threatened
The passing away of Venezuelan President During the second half of 2013, unscrupu- Commander Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías - the lous businessmen, traders, and shopkeep- top leader of the Bolivarian Revolution- on ers lead by the trade-oriented Fedecámaras March 5, 2013 was perceived by Venezuelan (Federation of Chambers and Trade and Pro- people as an irreparable loss, one of historical duction Associations of Venezuela), counting dimensions. During 14 years, President on the active participation of Consecomercio Chávez led Venezuela along a victorious (National Council of Commerce), and Venam- political process that pursued the recovery cham (The Venezuelan-American Chamber of of the nation’s dignity and the construction industry and Commerce), carried out a series of social justice. The affectionate warrior who of indiscriminate price increases in all seg- led Venezuelans with his accurate words ments of the economy, reaching in some cases through the transition between two millennia, up to 2,000 percent of increase; they also pro- despite all the difficulties, was able to improve ceeded to stock up essential goods. Besides, the society’s living standards by meeting the a brutal attack to the national currency took needs of the people. But suddenly, he was not place by means of Internet sites located in there anymore to lead the path of the nation. Miami, where an assumed exchange rate was In the middle of the grief caused by such a calculated parallel to the prices increase, set- loss, Venezuelan people decided to keep on ting the stage for traders and shopkeepers walking the revolutionary way and elected Nico- to calculate their prices based on the above lás Maduro as their president on April 14, 2013. mentioned rate. But one day after the presidential elections, Those measures were aimed at increas- opposition supporters of the candidate Hen- ing a dissatisfaction feeling among the rique Capriles took to the streets complying people towards the government and hatred with his call to drain their repressed anger, against the president. Nicolás Maduro was and spread death and destruction in opposi- systematically blamed by the media for all the tion bastions governed by right wing’s mayors. violent consequences of the conspiracy plot. A new stage of the conspirational plan be- President Nicolás Maduro’s administra- gan then: the economic war that, according tion answered back to the economic war by to the coup script, would act as a pressure implementing an inspection plan nation- cooker by accumulating frustrations in wide wide in thousands of factories and stores sectors of the society, which with the passage in order to make them to lower the prices of time would lead to a sudden counter-revo- and sell their products accordingly to Venezue- lutionary explosion. lan laws, which forbids usury and speculation. 5 Respect Venezuela
Municipal elections on December 8, 2013, tuted power. The wide victory of the revolutionary were supposed to be the ultimate trigger of this forces in the municipal elections, with a difference continuous coup. They were considered a pleb- in votes of more than 11 points compared to the op- iscite by the opposition. Along the campaign, the position, cooled the coup’s wick and allowed Ven- right-wing leaders repeatedly stated that a defeat ezuelans to have a quiet Christmas time. President for the chavistas’ forces by means of popular elec- Nicolás Maduro comfortably won the December’s tions on 8D would lead to a sudden end of the gov- “plesbicite” and the country finished the year with a ernment of President Nicolás Maduro, setting this political pause that wouldn’t last long. way a stage for an emergence against the consti-
The government implemented an inspection plan nationwide in thousands of factories and stores in order to make them to lower the prices. Therefore, people went out for shopping in crowds in the regulated stores, as Ms. Cleotilde Palomino did. She was accused of “plundering” by the Spanish newspaper ABC through its smear international campaign. 6 Respect Venezuela
The Bolivarian Government keeps on carrying out special operatives for the distribution of basic goods at affordable prices.
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Attacks to the Headquarters of the Public Ministry in Caracas on February 12, 2014.
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Session of the Government’s Federal Council in Miraflores on December 18, 2014, called by President Nicolás Maduro; Governors and mayors of both revolutionary and right-wing parties attended.
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Terrorism franchise: The Gene Sharp method
Gene Sharp is a former American military 2. DELEGITIMIsing: manipulation on anti- who nowadays teaches political sciences communist or antipopulist prejudices; propel at the University of Massachusetts. He of advertising campaigns to defend free- founded the Albert Einstein Institute and dom of press, human rights, and public is the author of an essay entitled From freedom; accusations of totalitarianism and dictatorship to democracy, which is the single systems of values; ethical-politic frac- result of a pragmatic and political analysis ture. of supposedly non-violent actions as a means to undermine the stability of the 3. STREETS WARMUPS: promotion of street constituted power. The work, translated into mobilization; creation of a fighting platform more than 30 languages, describes methods that globalizes political and social de- to overthrow governments; these methods mands; generalization of all kind of protests, are divided into three big stages: the protest, propel of government failures and mistakes; the non-cooperation, and the intervention, coordination of protests, blockage, and take of which are always carried out after electoral public institutions (disrespect towards institu- processes. These three stages are subdivided tions) that turn the confrontation into radical. into five stages that, as it will be seen, have been rigorously applied in Venezuela after the 4. COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT WAYS OF lack of acknowledgment from the opposition FIGHTING: organization of loutishes and of the results obtained during the presidential take of emblematic institutions, with the elections on April 14, 2013. aim to turn them into advertising platforms; development of operations of psychologi- 1. SOFTENING (by means of 4th Generation cal war and armed actions in order to jus- War): development of smear campaign fo- tify repressive measures and create an atmo- cused on real or potential deficit; promotion sphere of ungovernability; propel of rumors of conflicts and dissatisfaction; promotion of campaigns among military forces and try to uneasiness factors, mainly: shortage, crimi- demoralize the security bodies; promotion of nality, citizens’ safety, dollar manipulation, international isolation and economic siege. lockout strikes, corruption complaints; promotion of sectarian intrigues, and unity 5. institutional fracture: based on fracture. street actions, take of institutions, and mili- 11 Respect Venezuela
They destroyed and burned a service hut of superficial transportation – Metrobús – in the municipality of Chacao, Miranda.
12 Respect Venezuela tary uprising, the President is forced to quit. older than 40 years) who have made student In the case of failure, the pressure on the representation in the universities their way of streets is maintained and armed resistance living and have studied endlessly in their in- is assumed, preparing the stage for a mili- stitutions, as are the cases of Gaby Arellano tary intervention or a prolonged civil war. and Vilcar Fernández; these two are experts in This coup protocol has been applied several destabilization thanks to the advices received times around the world against governments in training sessions on the soft coup designed that oppose Washington’s rulings with different by Gene Sharp. levels of success. It is clear that in Venezuela Those are the “students” that, by late Janu- this plan is currently in its fourth stage, the ary 2014, began a series of so called aggres- most powerful of all since it includes violence sive actions simultaneously in different regions by means of armed actions and permanent of the country, which lead to violent actions provocation towards the police forces in order near the universities chosen to activate the to promote repression. street warm-ups stage of the coup plot. The The main protagonists of this subversive white hands had received the express or- script in Venezuela are the members of a var- der of mobilize from the right-wing leaders ied group of students referred to as manitas Leopoldo López and María Corina Macha- blancas (white hands), made up of youth of do in a bizarre press conference that took the extreme right wing, mainly of private uni- place on January 23, and that, at that mo- versities. The students of public universities in ment, was seen by distracted analysts as Venezuela, which surpass the private universi- an untimely, politically incompressible act. ties in enrolments, have had little or none par- “The streets must be set on fire”, Machado said ticipation in the violent actions, despite their to her supporters, while López urged them to traditions of fight and historical sense of their keep the protest actions until Nicolás Maduro communities. would leave the Presidency; it happened in a The visible heads of the movement known moment of quietness after the widely positive as manitas blancas (their hands are painted results for the Government during the “plebi- white according to the soft coup handbook) scite” that had taken place on December 8. are supposedly young people (some of them
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Attacks to the Headquarters of the Public Ministry in Caracas on February 12, 2014.
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The President’s forced exit: The López case
The non-declared timeout in the Venezuelan and his team discussed with López the pos- political scenario that took place after the sible media strategies and methods to trans- municipal elections in December set the late his message efficiently to the audience in conditions for President Maduro to call for a the US.” national dialogue. Leopoldo López’ records include his ac- Nevertheless, within the frame of this politi- tive participation in the actions that led to cal distension in Venezuela, a new adventure the coup against President Hugo Chávez of the Venezuelan right wing showed up: the on April 2002. López, who was back then the call made by Leopoldo López and María Cori- mayor of the opulent municipality of Chacao, na Machado to warm up the streets until presi- in the Eastern part of the city, took advantage dent Maduro leaves the post. of his authority to begin the haunting of chavis- This was the first event of a series of actions tas leaders, among them Chávez’s Ministry of that make up the soft coup. Interior, Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, and the It is a violation against the principles estab- revolutionary deputy Tarek William Saab, who lished in the Caracas Declaration of the Celac were arrested the day after the coup by officers Principles, the Unasur Constituent Treaty, the of the Chacao Police lead by Leopoldo López Democratic Letter of the Organization of Amer- himself. ican States, the Mercosur Ushuaia Protocol, in During a TV interview broadcast on April 12, which the duty of the states to defend and pre- López publically confessed that he had lead serve the democratic institutions is stated. an action by means of which officers of the The call made by López is the expression Chacao Police Department were authorized of a criminal plan against Venezuela: docu- by him to take the car keys of civil drivers and ments filtered by the web site Wikileaks re- use those vehicles to prevent the arrival at Ca- vealed that Leopoldo López, related to the racas of troops and tanks loyal to President extreme right wing in Latin America and Chávez. sponsored by Álvaro Uribe Vélez, is men- Leopoldo López conspirative history in- tioned at least 77 times in the diplomatic cludes his active participation in the vio- cables of the United States on Venezuela. lent protests of the so called Plan Guarim- A cable dated March 28, 2008 informs ba, in 2004. Besides, he didn’t acknowledge about a meeting between US senator Ron the result of the recall referendum that favored Wyden and López, pointing that “the senator President Chávez in 2004. 15 Respect Venezuela
The loutish actions spread all over the country after the call to go on the streets made by Leopoldo López and María Corina.
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This was the person who set the begin- The day before the opposition loutish, a re- ning of the insurrectional plan against the corded telephone conversation between the democratic government of Venezuela that former Venezuelan ambassador in Colombia, takes place nowadays and began with his Fernando Gerbasi, and the vice-admiral Iván call to remain on the streets until President Carratú Molina, chief officer of Carlos Andrés Nicolás Maduro is overthrown. “Venezue- Pérez Military House, both known opposition lans are forced to demand the exit of a corrupt members, revealed the warning made by Ger- government.” basi to Carratú regarding a plan similar to that Then, on February 6, it began the actions of April 12 that would take place the following aimed at “heating up the streets” with vandal- day, and how careful they should be. ism carried out by small groups in both states As predicted by Fernando Gerbasi, the op- Mérida and Táchira. In San Cristóbal, the capi- position demostration on February 12 was tal city of Táchira state, the protesters besieged shot after having finished in a peaceful way in for hours the house of the city governor, en- front of the headquarters of the General Dis- dangering the lives of dozens of children that trict Attorney of the Republic. Two people died receive social aid in those facilities. Several of as a result of the violence produced by the those protesters were arrested, which served gun shots. The participation of Sebin (Sebin) as an excuse for the white hands to keep on officers who arrived armed despite the order protesting. given to them by their director to remain in The loutish actions spread all over the coun- quarters is still being investigated. try and set the stage for the opposition to call The violent end of the loutish actions re- for a loutish that was to take place in Caracas, sulted in the “necessary dead” to warm up the on February 12, the date of the Venezuelan mood of opposition groups and spread a de- festivity called “Youth Day”. sire of revenge all over the country.
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The guarimbero follows the pattern of a terrorist: They use force or violence, menace or terror to carry out a criminal project,whether individually or collectively.
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The terrorist guarimba
Since the tragic events of the Youth Day It is about a terrorist action used by upper (February 12) the conspiration against the layers of the society as a way of violent street legitimate Venezuelan Government passed to protests, block of streets and avenues, trees the fourth stage of the soft coup outlined by demolitions, forests fires, murder of people Gene Sharp strategy’s team. The street actions and animals, damages to the public patrimony, that began in isolated focal points of the country banging on post and pans, menaces, and ag- are carried out following the terrorist agitation gressions against the population in general, pattern known as guarimba (a riot that blocks particularly the chavista people. the streets and avenues with anything at hand) Its ultimate aim is to overthrow the Govern- used by the same opposition actors in 2004, ment by generating a feeling of ungovernabil- during the previous months to the presidential ity and collective terror. referendum that confirmed Hugo Chávez in his The guarimbero follows the pattern of a post. “Block your street until Maduro leaves”, terrorist: they use force or violence, men- it is the only slogan used by guarimberos, ace or terror to carry out a criminal project, which aims at creating a unsustainable situation whether individually or collectively, with for the Government by multiplying the focal the aim to alter public order or to expose points of terrorist violence that would saturate society’s safety to danger. Everything that the ability to control public order. damages people or fills them with terror; The rights to life, education and health have who causes serious damages or losses to been infringed by the guarimbas and the vio- the environment, communications, trans- lence they produce, so much that the right to free portation, goods, private property; blocks transit, as established in article 13 of the Univer- public authorities, cult places, schools, or sal Declaration of Human Rights, in the article 12 prevents them to carry out their work; or of the International Pact of the Civic and Political prevents the laws and rules to be imple- Rights, and in the article 50 of the National Con- mented. stitution, all of them have been limited. Several international treaties and agree- The guarimbas are ilegal criminal focal ments have been created in order to pro- points. They are traps to hunt human beings tect the people from terrorism, including the by using barbed wire, glasses, steel wires Geneve Convention against Terrorism of 1937, between two lamps posts, oil spread on the which defines terrorism as “criminal actions roads, obstacles set at few meters from curves carried out against a State, with the aim to ex- on highways, which has resulted in injured and pose specific personalities, specific groups murdered people. of people, or a specific public to terror.” 19 Respect Venezuela
The Organic Law against Organized De- the setting of fires or explosions that endanger linquency and Funding of Terrorism of 2012 human lives; perturbation of water or electric describes the following as terrorist actions: supplies, or of any other essential resource. attempts against people’s lives, attempts Guarimbas use young people as a key tool against physical integrity; massive destruc- of terrorist violence by manipulating their emo- tion of public facilities, transportation sys- tions, due to the characteristic features of this tems, infrastructures including information age group: less patience, greatest openness systems, public places, or private proper- to take lead and less self-control boldness. ties that endanger human lives; economic The head behind the guarimbas is the extreme damages; take of public or merchandise trans- right-wing Robert Alonso, a Cuban-Venezuelan portation means; the use of fire guns or ex- businessman who lives in Miami, and took part plosives; liberation of dangerous substances; of the “Plan Guarimba” and of the right-wing co-
Second meeting held by President Maduro with the mayors and states’ governors both of opposition and revolutionary parties on January 8, 2014 in Miraflores, Caracas. 20 Respect Venezuela
Telephone network interface boxes, as well as transportation vehicles, have been burnt, putting at risk the life of workers and interrupting the service alition Democratic Coordination, predecessor Back then, and according to Rafael García, of the MUD (Democratic Unit Table). former Director of Informatics at the Colom- Alonso explained that this terrorist practice’s bian DAS, Alonso was the contact in Venezu- “only aim is – besides completely paralyzing ela so that paramilitary members related to the the country – to create an anarchic chaos na- government of Álvaro Uribe would enter the tionwide… with the purpose of forcing the cas- country with the support of the DAS Director at tro-communist regime in Venezuela to order the moment, Jorge Noguera. the ‘Plan Ávila’… [and provoque] a constitu- Robert Alonso, who created the Movement tional insubordination by creating the need for of National Resistance of Venezuela in the a civic-military action.” Alonso considers ‘the United States, declares: “Behind me, let’s say guarimba is absolutely anarchic and everyone in my group, there are people specialized in does whatever they want depending on their this matter. Even more, we get assessment frustration degree and guts.” from international personalities who have Robert Alonso was a key character of the as- dedicated years to study the behavior of sasination plan against President Chávez re- peoples, such politologists and sociologists. vealed on May 9, 2004. That day in Daktari, I can mention one of them: Dr. Gene Sharp.” 153 Colombian paramilitars, who had been The actions of these guarimberos have hired and transferred to Venezuela to partici- reached such a terrorist level to attack firemen, pate in a murder plan against the Venezuelan paramedics, policemen, and national guards president, where captured in his farm in Mi- with the sole purpose to give their mentors the randa state. necessary graphic tools that would serve to 21 Respect Venezuela accuse the government of violating the human have arrived in the Miraflores Palace of Gov- rights. This action has graded to the point that ernment in order to show their firm support to they would shut security staff members. President Maduro and to the Bolivarian Rev- olution; nevertheless, these demonstrations EcocidE AND CRUELTY AGAINST ANI- have been ignored by the national and inter- MALS national press that have decided to play along The ecocide and the cruelty against animals with the conspiration, and become permanent also indicates the terrorist and destructive na- agitators of the conflict. ture of the guarimbas. It happened in 2004, The communicational siege imposed by after the public dissemination on the Inter- the biggest media corporations have suc- net of a script that pointed “the use of barri- ceded in positioning Venezuela as a nation cades made up of cars, trash, furniture, trees’ with governability issues at international trunks… whatever is available,” also in 2007, level, when in fact more than 90 percent of with the burning of trees at the Bolívar avenue the national territory remains in peace. in Caracas, and in 2009, with the fire in the Na- tional Park Warairarepano (Caracas) carried VioleNCE AGAINST PUBLIC SERVICES out by members of the opposition, devastating The aggressions of the guarimberos have a surface of 3.5 hectares of green areas at the been especially addressed to the public ser- main vegetal lung of the capital city. vices provided by the national Government. Between February and March 2014, more Electricity, telephone services, and transpor- than 5,000 trees were indiscriminately cut tation, among other services, have been target down and mutilated to be used in guarim- of attacks by the loutish groups that try to de- bas and prevent the transit of vehicles on stabilize the country. streets and avenues. This is seen by the In- ternational Penal Court as a crime against Metro de Caracas humanity. (CARACAS SUBWAY SYSTEM) In February this year, the Nevado Collective pointed out that different crimes of animal vio- • More than 200 passengers have received lence have been registered in the states of Zu- medical care as victims of violent ac- lia, Aragua, and Capital District, i.e. the burn- tions.16 people were injured by the impact ing of street dogs. of stones. Althoug the guarimbas have taken place in • More than 40 workers have been injured. the very few high-class municipalities domi- • Theft of uniforms to four workers. nated by the opposition, their consequences • 95 buses have been damayed. have been tragic. Most of the victims of the • Metrobus service has been suspended in 12 vandalism as a result of this wage of riots routes due to guarimbas and violent attacks. have been innocent people; they have not • 10 subway stations have been destroyed affected the popular areas where the revolu- or closed by attacks: Bellas Artes, Parque tionary Government is firmly supported. Only Central, Sabana Grande, Chacaíto, Cha- 18 out of the 335 Venezuelan municipalities cao, Altamira, Los Cortijos y La California. have been affected by an arrogant opposi- Chacao, Altamira and Los Cortijos stations tion that pursues to become government af- are attacked almost every day. ter having lost four elections in one year. • 6 trains have been destroyed (3 of Line 2 Multitudinary popular rallies organized by and 3 of Line 3) workers, women, elder people, landworkers 22 Respect Venezuela
• Escalators, security cameras, gates, fire Telephone System systems, glasses and furniture have been • CANTV central station in Morán (Lara destroyed. state) was destroyed. • The Metrobus control station in Altamira • Seven CANTV vehicles were set on fire af- Square has been destroyed and set on fire. ter the attacked to the Morán central sta- tion. National Electrical System • The headquarters of the CANTV in Barqui- simeto was attacked. Computers and other • Two CORPOELEC regional headquarters equipment were stolen. in Carabobo state (Prebo and El • Violent groups set on fire two Movilnet • Viñedo) were attacked by violent groups. trucks carrying cell phones to be distrib- • Sabotage attempt in the electrical sub-sta- uted in Maracaibo, Zulia state. tions Los Olivos (Bolívar state) and • CANTV customer service in Santa Elena • San Cristóbal (Táchira state) (Lara state) was attacked. • 23 cars were damaged in many regions of • A CANTV radio-base station located in Al- the country. tamira subway station was attacked.
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Oil industry • The headquarters of the Ministry of • Two articulated PDVSA fuel tankers were Housing and Habitat, in Chacao, was at- kidnapped by a group of hooded men in tacked. Losses amount to more than USD Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar state. 954,244. • At the PDVSA headquarters in Valencia, • The Torre Británica, located in Chacao, was Carabobo state, a group of hooded men attacked. Offices of the National Institute of destroyed the façade of offices and set Civil Aviation was looted and destroyed. on fire a convoy of the Bolivarian National The headquarters of Seguros Ávila, the Guard that was protecting the facilities. maintenance office, and the parking lot box • The future headquarters of PDVSA Ma- office were attacked. turín was attacked. The security booth, • They set fire to the Botanic Garden of the fences, glasses and other structures were Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. destroyed. • A fire affected 80% of the infrastructure of • The headquarters of Petro Regional del the Bolivarian University of Venezuela in Lago in Maracaibo, Zulia state, was also Táchira. attacked. • A bus of the Corporación Tachirense de • The Regional Office of the Ministry of Peo- Turismo (Táchira’s Corporation of Tourism) ple’s Power for Oil and Mining in Maracaibo was destroyed. was attacked. • The headquarters of enviromental health in • The regional headquarters in Lecherías, Táchira was attacked. Anzoátegui state, was attacked. • A truck carrying liquid asphalt in Carabobo • PDVSA Barinas was sabotaged and at- state was set on fire. tacked. • They tried to set on fire the Governor’s Of- fice of Aragua state. Other state-owned facilities • The Museum of Science and Technology in • The headquarters of the Public Ministry in Mérida was attacked and looted. La Candelaria, Caracas, was destroyed. • Two regional offices of the Ministry of Sci- • The Parque Carabobo Square in La Can- ence and Technology were attacked in delaria, Caracas, was destroyed. Táchira and Carabobo. • Six vehicles of the Scientific, Penal and • Mercal grocery stores in Táriba, Táchira, Criminal Investigations (CICPC) were set were attacked. on fire in La Candelaria, Caracas. • The PDVAL fleet of vehicles in Naguana- • The athletics track of the Villa Olímpica Ri- gua (Carabobo state) was destroyed. Five cardo Tulio Maya was set on fire. Losses vehicles were set on fire. caused by the fire amount to USD 3.2 million. • A truck carrying 10 tons of food to be dis- • A statue of President Hugo Chávez in San tributed to Abasto Bicentenario in Maturín Pablo, Yaracuy state, was burned. (Monagas state) was set on fire. • The Labor Inspectorate and the office of the • An articulated truck carrying 26 tons of Public Ministry in Táchira state were attacked. meat to be distributed to the Gran Abasto • A truck that was going to distribute 8 tons Bicentenario in Maracaibo was attacked, of food to Abastos Bicentenario in Carabo- looted and burned. bo state was burned. • An articulated truck carrying corn and The • Radio station 106.5 ULA FM, property of Abasto Bicentenario of Altavista in Puerto the University of Los Andes in San Cris- Ordaz (Bolívar state) were set on fire. tóbal, Táchira state, was set on fire. • The office of the Ministry of the Environ- 24 Respect Venezuela
ment was attacked and looted. Three ve- headquarters of the Ministry of Hous- hicles and two trucks were set on fire. ing, in Chacao, a municipality in Caracas’ • Slaughterhouse Sabana de Carabobo was East. The hooded offenders threw Molotov attacked and looted. bombs and set the building’s façade on fire. • Company Carnes Venezuela, in Carabobo They affected a nursery school with 89 chil- state, was looted. dren between the ages of 6 months and 3 • A PDVAL articulated truck was burned in years. Carabobo state. • Traffic lights and road signs on Bello Monte Ecocides main avenue were destroyed. • In the states of Zulia, Aragua and Capital • Mission Barrio Adentro clinic in Barquisi- District, actions of cruelty against animals meto, Lara state, was set on fire. have been registered. Street dogs have • The Hotel Management School of Los An- been set on fire. des in Mérida was attacked. • More than 5,000 trees have been cut down • The headquarters of the Experimental Uni- nationwide, more than 500 only in Mara- versity of the Armed Forces (UNEFA) in caibo. Los Teques was burned. • More than 74 acres of the Waraira Repano • The office of the Ministry of the Environment National Park, Caracas, were charred by a in San Cristóbal, Táchira, was attacked with fire caused by offenders who tried to affect Molotov bombs and other objects. the electricity transmission lines along the • Six official vehicles, which were parked in park. the education zone of Zulia state, located in Maracaibo, were set on fire by unknown people who threw Molotov bombs. • Extreme right-wing groups attacked the
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The cover of El Clarín, from Buenos Aires, of date February 12 mentions “armed chavistas” during the wave of riots, even if the image service of the international news agency EFE, which provided them with the image, pointed next to the image: “Members of the scientific police (CICPC) walk in front of a vehicle on fire”. Even more, the reality was that the scientific policemen were running away from the flames since their vehicles were set on fire by the violent protesters.
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Media plot
The tasks regarding rumors dissemination and to denigrate the Government. and psychological war operations included Photos of magnified concentrations that did in the soft coup the handbook have been not take place in Caracas, abuse of protesters, carried out in detail by the Venezuelan images of injured and murdered people that do private media, which have distorted the not correspond to any fact known in the coun- reality without scrupulous by means of try, tortures and humiliation to people who have rough manipulation mechanisms, using been arrested: all fake images that circulate on methods for misinformation as is the case the Internet as a result of plot against the so- of inventions, misrepresentation, and cial and emotional stability of Venezuelans. omission. In this sense, the main distorted information A sample of such a behavior has been the spread by the enemies of Venezuela from the use of dozens of photos and videos of violent private media and social networks are: events that took place in other countries of the world, as if they would have happened in 1. The National Government violates the hu- Venezuela. Images from Syria, Egypt, Brazil, man rights of pacific protesters. Innumer- Spain, Chile, Colombia, among others, have able murders and tortures are being carried been used by digital media and newspapers to out by the Government. illustrate the situation in Venezuela. International media have agreed to de- FALSE: Only one out of the 36 deceased peo- scribe Venezuela as a country on the edge ple so far is under investigation for suppos- of a civil war, demanding an international edly excessive use of public force. The other intervention that might protect Venezuelan deceases, both citizens and security officers, citizens from the fierce dictatorship that vio- occurred as a direct result of actions connect- lates the most essential human rights. ed to the violent protests. There has not been Laboratories of dirty war also include the use a single denunciation of supposed torture to of social networks to spread misinformation arrested citizens in any instance or tribunal of and create instability among the population. the Republic. All the “tortures” have been cre- There has been a psychological war in Twitter ated and disseminated by the media. to draw a fake country. Messages with photos of violent actions and human rights violations 2. Massive protests are taking place all over corresponding to other countries or circum- the country. stances have been used to try to portray the actions taking place in Venezuela with the sole FALSE: In the times of greater boom there purpose to provoke indignation among people have been violent protests in 18 of the 335
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The social networks have dedicated to systematically collect images of violent events in countries and make them look as if they were taking place in Venezuela. It is a characteristic method of misinformation during a soft coup.
28 Respect Venezuela municipalities of the country, and within those, officers that have participated in the control of only in reduced areas o middle and upper the public order country are being investigated class, besides Táchira state, at the border with by the prosecutor’s office, which represents a Colombia. No more than 50 people participate very little percentage compared to the general in the more relevant focal points of violence. behavior of the law enforcement agencies, al- ways respectful of the human rights. 3. Protests are led by students. 6. The media have been censured or are FALSE: According to data provided by the strongly limited by the Government. Public Ministry, only 39 percent of the 1,084 people arrested during the first days of vio- FALSE: No media has been censured in Ven- lence were students. ezuela. Only a Colombian channel that shame- lessly violated the Venezuelan laws by means 4. Protests are pacific. Violence is generat- of editorial aggression and the dissemination ed by the repression of the security forces. of war propaganda, was taken out of the list of the TV cable programming. An internation- FALSE: Protests are violent and include the al reporter representing CNN en Español got use of fire guns. They block streets, attack pub- her license briefly suspended since she was lic transportation, buildings, and services; and constantly accompanying and replicating the set a chaos environment that serve perfectly violence events, amplifying the real dimension. to create spectacular images for the press. The protests intensify at night, which makes 7. Internet is being censured by the Venezu- it harder for the public order and adds more elan Government. drama to videos and images. At least, three motorcyclists have died in FALSE: Venezuela is being target of a cyber- these protests; their throats were slit by wires. war, a series of cybernetic attacks that try to Some people have crushed against barri- enter and destroy the country’s information cades. People who needed urgent medical as- platform. Since February 12, more than 160 sistance have also died. They could not get on important public websites (PDVSA, Ministry time to hospital or another healthcare center. of Defense; Ministry of Finances, and CANTV, among others) have been attacked. These at- 5. The Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) is tacks have endangered more than 266,000 in responsible for repression and violation sites registered with the domain Venezuela of human rights. (.ve). On the other hand, transnational software FALSE: The security bodies, led by the GNB, companies have released apps that are being have been in charge of controlling and avoid used to commit crimes and organize violent pro- the spread of violent focal points. More than test and attacks; therefore the access to some 40 officers have been injured and at least three of those sites has been temporarily limited. have died due to attacks from buildings or by The State telecommunications company snipers during the demostrations. In the cases and its workers have been attacked. Transport of excessive use of force by security agents, units, radio bases, wiring, and telephone cen- they have been arrested and taken to curt. trals were attacked with bombs and gunshots to Only 17 out of the 12,000 military and police damage the Internet service, blaming this way
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It is pursued to make believe that a protest takes place in Táchira state, when it actually takes place in Spain.
A religious procession in the city of Barquisimeto is falsely presented as a demonstration against the government.
30 Respect Venezuela the Government of a supposed “censorship”. anticipated violent events and recorded state- 8. The Government gives weapons to vio- ments about deceased people before anyone lent groups of motorcyclits (collectives) had died. that attack students and pacific protesters. The National Council of Telecommunications decided to eliminate the signal of NTN24 since FALSE: The media have criminalized the it violated the article 57 of the Constitution, ac- chavistas collectives without having present- cording to which war propaganda is prohibited, ed any proofs. The citizens that support the as well as the article 58, which establishes the government have joined up the peace call ulterior responsibility in communications. Like- made by President Maduro. In those cases wise, the article 27 of the Law of Responsibil- where there have been irregular actions, the ity in Radio and TV, which forbids messages authorities have conducted investigation pro- of hate and those that might cause fear or the cesses. On the contrary, it is motorcyclits who disobedience of the authorities. have been victims of agressions, 4 deceased NTN24 coverage could actually be consid- people so far as a result of the violence used ered as war propaganda or justification con- by the armed groups of the extreme right- trary to the interests of the Venezuelan people, wing. due to the sensationalist and alarmist treat- The North American TV station CNN en ment of the events, the bias against the na- Español and the Colombian NTN24 have tional authorities, the blame-game of the Gov- participated in the creation of those smear ernment for what had happened, and the lan- campaigns. They have widely broadcast the guage and time devoted to this coverage. facts aiming at increasing an unrest feeling Among the considerations made to take it among the people and showing a commo- out of the air, it was also taken into account tion state, or a non-existent civil war. that NTN24 is a foreign channel, and with re- In the case of the coverage made by NTN24 spect to the national souveranity the informa- of the facts that took place on February 12, it tive treatment can be categorized as a viola- is interesting to highlight that, despite being tion towards the peace of the Republic and the an international channel, that day, it dedicated safety of the nation. six continuous hours to broadcast news about CNN en Español portrayed an image of Venezuela. The coverage was absolutely bi- Venezuela as a country on fire, dominated by ased: the time dedicated to the opposition was a violent conflict, with no governability, where 4 hours, 24 minutes, 40 seconds, while the human rights are violated, and the Govern- time dedicated to representatives of the Gov- ment reacts aggressively against pacific pro- ernment was 23 minutes, 24 seconds. testers. Chaos and violence were promoted, while The Venezuelan opposition is presented as a loutish actions of the extreme right-wing groups victim of the Government, and as a civil sector all over the country were not made public. that fights for democracy. During that coverage, the presence of the The recent protests are shown as a NTN24 reporter was remarkable since he con- peaceful exercise of a group of apolitical stantly highlighted the alleged censorship of students that are being attacked by armed the media in Venezuela in order to state that, collectives supported by the Government, facing that “censorship”, NTN24 was the only while the loutish actions and the terrorist channel transmitting the events. guarimbas are shown in a confusing way It can be said that NTN24 played a role sim- as a part of the chaos reigning in a country ilar to that of CNN in April 2002, when they that is out of control. 31 Respect Venezuela
In the TV broadcast as well as in the social networks, the Colombian NTN24 has become a tool for the enemies of Venezuela.
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The declarations of President Nicolás Madu- Besides, it is said that the Government con- ro are minimized and reduced in time and hier- trols the media sector and uses censorship as archy. Generally, his declarations are carefully apolitical method of the Bolivarian Revolution, edited and commented; they also minimize presenting Venezuela as a blocked country, and do not make public the critics made to the dangerous for journalism, and with very few opposition and the statements made by the access to information. spokespersons of the Government in general, This deepens the information unbalance: or by those who defend the Bolivarian Revo- From February 12 to March 6, 83% of the lution, while the opposition leaders, especially time dedicated to Venezuela in CNN en Es- Leopoldo López, are shown as “civic heroes” pañol was focused on the opposition. that lead a protest against a despotic regime. Despite this media campaign overstepping Some people insist on the existence of that goes beyond the national borders, dozens “armed collectives”, violent groups that act as of Governments, 232 social movements, and para-policial forces following the orders of the 52 political parties have expressed their solidar- Government, or of its political allies. ity to Venezuela and the national Government.
This is how CCN en Español presents its information on Venezuela. 33 Respect Venezuela
An event that took place in Argentina in 2001 was published in the social networks as if it recently took place in Venezuela.
A torture complaint in Spain is turned into a Venezuelan case by the psychological war laboratories.
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Part of the psychological war took some people to express hate messages in social networking.
Death menaces were seen in some of the municipalities controlled by the right wing.
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A journalist is injured by a violent group in a municipality whose mayor is oppositor.
The Miami Nuevo Herald makes up news and portrays an old tank, nowadays ornamental, as weapons that would have been used against protesters
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Perhaps many citizens of the world have as- the fake informations after 15 years of experi- similated this uninformative campaign against ence dealing with the perverse mechanisms Venezuela and truly believe that the country of information manipulation developed by in- needs external help to overcome the current ternational communications corporations. crisis. But Venezuelans are used to dismantle
Between February 12 and March 6 the time in minutes dedicated by CNN en Español to the opposition (blue) was daily a lot greater than the information of the supporters of the Bolivarian Revolution (red).
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Cybernetic attack
As a part of the soft coup, and accompa- tacked on a daily base, with the aim to gain nying the terrorist violence, Venezuela is a control on the database. This situation endan- victim of a strategy of cyber war; a series of gered some 266 thousand public and private cybernetic and informatics attacks try to pene- domains (web sites). trate and destroy the communication and infor- Some public websites have received up mation platform of the Government and of the to 10 million attacks within a few hours. country as a whole. Not only anti-Venezuela Facilities, systems, and workers of the tele- activist groups in the social networks are tak- phone company CANTV have been damaged ing part of this strategy, but also companies and injured, attacking buses, radio-bases, tel- and media corporations. ephonic offices, and service networks, mak- According to international laws, the cyber- ing difficult the provision of Internet services in attack is considered as informatics terrorism. some places of the country. In Venezuela there is a Special Law against A false news of a supposed statement by Informatics Crimes that states in articles 6, 7, Twitter Inc. denounced the block of its images and 9 that actions criminal against the comput- systems from Venezuela. The company never ers systems of the State as indictable. confirmed the false statement, but the news Criminal actions of this kind have taken place spread around the world. since 12 February. According to the numbers Opposition activist groups have denounced provided by the Ministry of the People’s Pow- Venezuela for the alleged censorship on the er for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Internet before international organizations, more than 160 important public Internet hiding all those criminal events that go beyond sites Pdvsa, the ministries of Defense and the neutral use of the web. Finances, CANTV, and the National Council Revolutionary software activist groups have of Telecommunications have been attacked dismantled such lies and have responded tell- to dissable them and penetrate their infor- ing how Venezuela is suffering from those at- mation systems. tacks and manipulations. The databases of the Venezuela domains registries on the Internet (.nic, .ve) are at-
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Imperial interference
The participation of the United States in country to visit high education centers with the the coup attempt was exposed by means excuse of offering US visas to students. Curi- of a telephone call made to the Venezuelan ously, it was in the universities visited by ambassador to the OEA, Roy Chaderton, the US diplomatic officers where the wage by Alex Lee, sub-secretary attached to the of riots began. Department of State. In this communication, The foreign interference has counted this Lee read to Chaderton a document with a time with the precious help of artists from all series of demands from the government over the world who, without knowing the reality of Barack Obama to Venezuela that would of the country, have expressed their solidarity be considered as unacceptable by any towards the guarimberos. Singers, Hollywood sovereign country. actors and actresses, and other personalities The US goverment demands to Venezuela, of the show business have taken part of the include: the call to the Venezuelan Govern- misinformation campaign against Venezuela ment to begin a dialogue process with the thanks to the massive diffusion of their opin- Venezuelan opposition; the freedom of those ions by international media corporations. arrested due to the violent events on February The coordination of the international cam- 12, 2014 and the days after; and avoiding the paign against Venezuela was evidenced at arrest of Mr. Leopoldo López, “since it could the Oscars Academy Awards, which was the cause many problems and international con- stage for more attacks against the country. sequences.” The words pronounced by Jared Leto, who As a response, the Venezuelan foreign af- compared Venezuela with Ucraine during the fairs minister Elías Jaua declared that such ceremony, were part of the script prepared by demands are a threat to the sovereignty of events transnational companies to vilify the Venezuela sougneranity, as well as to the Revolutionary Government in front of millions independence of the Juiciary of the country, of people across the world. which is in charge of determining the respon- Previously, show business stars like Madon- sibilities of the case. na and Cher had pronounced strong epithets Afterwards, President Nicolás Maduro or- against President Nicolás Maduro via Twitter. dered the expulsion of the three second US Singer Rihanna also expressed unfavorably secretaries, Breeann Marie Mccusker, Jeffrey against the country; then, dozens of Latin Gordon Elsen, and Kristofer Lee Clark, for American singers and actors summed up. conspirational activities in Venezuelan uni- All the campaign against the country pre- versities. These officers travelled around the sented a new chapter with a demand of the 39 Respect Venezuela government of Panamá – US ally - before the and the organization prepared a group decla- OAS, summoning the foreign affairs ministers ration expressing its solidarity with Venezuela, of its member countries to analyze the situa- asking to continue with the dialogue and re- tion in Venezuela, meaning a clear interven- gretting the deceases in the country. tionist attitude. With this declaration, the OEA condemn the Nevertheless, in an event classified as his- violence and dismisses the possibility to inter- torical, the demand was rejected by 29 votes vene in Venezuela inner businesses. against the three of Panamá, US, and Canadá,
President Nicolás Maduro held a Peace Conference with all the Venezuelan sectors.
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Coup d’état and Assassination Plan Unveiled in Venezuela
The conspiracy plot in Venezuela against the licly this attempt and therefore prevent these constitutional government of Nicolás Maduro criminal acts,” said Mayor Rodriguez. has been underway since February 12th de- According to the information of security spite the obvious failure of the street violence agencies, the plan includes fundraising by the actions in the form of guarimbas used to en- extreme right-wing to try to assassinate the courage a popular uprising against the legiti- president. mate government. The participation of Maria Corina Machado The high political command of the Bolivarian in this conspiracy against Venezuela was evi- Revolution presented evidence showing that denced by an email sent to Mr. Diego Arria on the Venezuelan and international right wing May 23rd in which the former representative to is perpetrating a continuous coup d’etat that the National Assembly shows her despair be- would lead to the assassination of President cause of Nicolás Maduro permanence in power. Maduro which would unleash a bloodbath in “I’m fed up with waiting. We have to take out the country and create the conditions for a for- this trash, starting with the one heading it and eign intervention in Venezuelan according to by taking advantage of the world situation with the script prepared by the national and inter- Ukraine and Thailand as soon as possible,” national extreme right wing to finish the Ven- wrote the extreme right-wing representative in ezuelan revolutionary process. the email she sent to Diego Arria, former Ven- Mayor of Libertador municipality Jorge Ro- ezuelan diplomat who worked for the Fourth dríguez presented the data collected by Ven- Republic governments. ezuelan security agencies, which point Maria It is important to remember that, as a repre- Corina Machado as the main leader of this plot sentative to the National Assembly, Maria Co- involving the “annihilation” of President Nicolas rina Machado was one of the organizers of the Maduro. violent street actions that began on February “We received some evidence collected by the 12th and whose aim was to overthrow Presi- Venezuela’s administration of justice, through dent Maduro. Machado has a long history of the Venezuelan Public Ministry, about the on- joint work with U.S. officials to destabilize Ven- going continuous coup and the assassination ezuela, and she is remembered for her visit in attempt against President Nicolas Maduro. We, 2005 to the White House, where she was re- the high political command, are here address- ceived by George W Bush. ing this complaint to Venezuela and the world In her effort to put an end to the Bolivarian in order to stop this madness, and show pub- Revolution, she accepted being appointed as 41 Respect Venezuela
The participation of Maria Corina Machado in the plot against Venezuela was proven. ambassador to Panama, whose government The assassination plan presented by Maria openly conspired against Venezuela. This is Corina Machado was supported by Pedro Bu- the reason why she lost her parliamentary relli, an everlasting conspirator against Ven- seat. ezuela who lives in the United States and an- In the email she sent to Diego Arria, Mach- swered a question in this regard sent by Diego ado complained that the plan is quite delayed Arria via e-mail on May 25th. and warns that it is necessary to accelerate “You asked my opinion about the determi- the ending. “ I think it is time to gather efforts; nation of MCM and I think that’s the attitude, make the necessary calls, and obtain financ- we’ll go all out for everything and with every- ing to annihilate Maduro and the rest will fall thing, and against everything. We count on the apart,” says the leader of the Venezuelan op- support of the Department, the Embassy and position. the upcoming Senate’s sanctions,” said Pedro Burelli. “Whitaker reconfirmed his support” The sources of funds for this criminal op- In another email sent by Maria Corina Macha- eration against Venezuela include the fugitive do to former deputy of COPEI, Gustavo Tarre, businessman Eligio Cedeño, who fled to the she stated that the U.S. Ambassador to Co- United States after being accused of fraudu- lombia, Kevin Whitaker, confirmed his support lent banking operations. Cedeño was arrested to the conspiracy and he determined the path in 2007 on charges of evading currency con- to continue the plan. “I have already made up trols to obtain dollars illegally. This fugitive was my mind and this fight will continue until this released by a decision made by Judge Maria regime is overthrown and we deliver to our Afiuni, who is being prosecuted for this action friends in the world. If I went to San Cristobal and is accused of crimes of corruption, abuse and exposed myself before the OAS, I fear of authority, favoring evasion and criminal as- nothing. Kevin Whitaker has already recon- sociation. firmed his support and he pointed out the new “Eligio knows exactly what he has to do and steps. We have a check book stronger than he asked me to give you a message of abso- the regime’s to break the international secu- lute confidence in our organizational capacity rity ring,” Machado wrote through his account for other phases of the struggle for our beloved [email protected]. Venezuela. Being so, we are going for more 42 Respect Venezuela and we are going to keep encouraging with aging the political agitation in Venezuela and these efforts the agitation of young people, es- suggesting the use of children by the oppo- pecially students,” wrote María Corina Macha- sition as human shields in street demonstra- do in an email sent on May 12th to Henrique tions. He is also the author of a manual to be- Salas Römer. head motorcyclists at the barricades. Eligio Cedeno, Pedro Burelli and Gustavo In the email written by Koesling, there is a Tovar Arroyo were the organizers of a meeting video in which you can see a silhouette of in 2010, known as the “Fiesta Mexicana” (The President Nicolas Maduro riddled with bullets Mexican Party), where Serb facilitators trained by him (Koesling). This looks like training for extreme right-wing young Venezuelans to ex- the assassination. ecute subversive activities in Venezuela by fol- “Your courage inspired me because nobody lowing the soft coup plan designed by the U.S. has more guts than you in this shit. Watch it Gene Sharp. and give me your opinion. I hope you enjoy it Another evidence presented by the high po- and upload that shit so everybody can see it. litical command of the Revolution is an email I’m all worn out, but I’m sure others will find in- sent on March 25th by the extreme right-wing spiration in it and be filled with courage to end activist Ricardo Koesling to the fugitive of the this once and for all,” said Koesling to Alonso Venezuelan justice Robert Alonso, who in in the email. 2004 organized a raid of Colombian paramili- All this evidence proves that the street ac- taries in Venezuela who came to assassinate tions that began on February 12th, presented President Hugo Chávez. as student protests, were not spontaneous. Alonso is the creator and promoter of the The content of emails sent by Maria Corina “guarimbas”, a criminal street agitation meth- Machado and other opposition leaders con- odology that was implemented in Venezuela, firms the existence of a plan designed by the resulting in deaths and injured people after national and international extreme right wing calling for the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro on to destabilize and overthrow the legitimate February 12th. Robert Alonso has been very government of Venezuela. active through the social networks by encour-
High Political Command of the Revolution. 43 Respect Venezuela
U.S. diplomat meets with leader of guarimbas
On June 12th, 2014, four months after the that it is time to clean the scum of Chavism” start of the guarimbas, new evidence of a plot says Burelli in the voice notes presented by that seeks the overthrow of President Nicolas Mayor Rodriguez. Maduro was revealed. On February 20th, when the terrorists at- Pedro Mario Burelli, former PDVSA director tacked with unusual violence several cities of in the United States and linked to the State De- Venezuela, Burelli warned his military con- partment of the United States is involved again tact that the country was moving towards a in the conspiracy. Burelli is the son of former political shock. “I think that when the people Christian Democratic Foreign Minister Miguel see what happened on this night of violence, Angel Burelli Rivas and he linked to the most there will be a total shock like in Ukraine.” That recalcitrant Venezuelan right-wing that works day, Burelli recorded another voice note ad- from the U.S. to destabilize the revolutionary dressed to the unidentified official, in which he government. states that it is the right time to act. “It is worth Mayor of Caracas Jorge Rodriguez, rep- to loose one’s career if we do it this way. It is resenting the High Political Command of the time, there is no risk if we do it right, okay? Go Bolivarian Revolution, unveiled a series of re- find the worthwhile, those who trust. What is cordings of telephone voice notes that Pedro the good of ending with blood in your hands Burelli sent to an unidentified military conspir- during your career find anyone; just imagine ator, in which he encourages him to organize if some fucking coup leaders are incorporated the coup groups in the Army to clean the coun- again. Whoever excels now will be filled with try of “the scum of Chavism.” glory. You know that, you what I mean. I know In the voice notes that date back to February you’ve thought a lot. Find anyone, identify the 20, 21, 27 and March 4th, 2014, Burelli reiter- right people and send them messages and do ates the call to this officer so he can convince it. This would change the fate of Venezuela.” his comrades and make them join the coup The tone of the consecutive messages sent plans, while the guarimba violence that start- by Pedro Burelli to the unidentified official ed on February 12th intensified. Burelli argues goes from euphoria on the first days when the that these acts of vandalism would produce terrorist siege was more intense, to decep- an insurrection within the Bolivarian National tion for the unaccomplished plans: What has Armed Forces. happened?, you have forgotten me, how is ev- “We only need that this part of the Army erything going? I’m still seeing many demon- makes the necessary decisions. If not, I guess strations, many people in the streets…what’s there will be some others like Leopoldo López going on within your group?” wondered on within the Armed Forces. They will understand March 4 the man who is the link between the 44 Respect Venezuela
U.S government and the Venezuelan right- ElAissami and Jorge Rodrìguez, revealed wing conspirators. some pictures in which Gaby Arellano is seen Jorge Rodríguez pointed out that the denun- entering into a building close to the U.S. em- ciation carried out on May 28 by the represen- bassy, a moment before than the U.S. political tatives of the high political command, involving counselor had entered on April 2, 2014. Both Gustavo Tarre, María Machado, Pedro Burelli, of them were seen later in a video as they get Henrique Salas Romer, Diego Arria and the out together of the Miravalle building, located U.S. ambassador to Colombia, Kevin Whita- in the Street C of Valle Arriba residential area. ker, it is the result of the evidences about the The meeting was held in the 32nd apartment coup d’Etat plan deployed by the anti-Chavez on the 2nd floor, where Ana Karina García re- Venezuelan right-wing conspirators. He also sides. She is another leader of the so-called explained the consequences that these con- student’s movement. spiring actions would imply for the country. In the meeting, the official who works as the He added that these voice notes, as well as third secretary of the embassy supposedly of- the evidences previously presented, are cur- fered to Arellano an assessment aimed at the rently being investigated by the Public Ministry overthrowing of President Maduro by giving and they are part of the judicial file against the her some money for funding subversive ac- leaders of the conspiring actions financed by tivities. Arellano, on her side, would have ex- the United States Government. pressed her concerns for the response from Other evidence presented by the Govern- the government in the control of the violent ac- ment of Venezuela that supports the denun- tions supported by the far right wing since last ciation of the continued coup is a video show- February 12. ing the participation of the right wing student The video shows when the U.S. official got leader Gaby Arellano in a meeting with the po- out of the residence together with Arellano. litical counselor of the US Embassy toVenezu- Then, they took a diplomatic car that arrived ela. Arellano is one of the well-known visible in the U.S. Embassy two hours later approxi- leaders of the “white hands” movement, so- mately. called students integrating the vanguard of the El Aissami pointed out that this meeting, Guarimberos that have filled with violence and held in April is not the first one of Arellano with death the streets of Venezuela. Gaby Arellano U.S. officials in order to receive guidelines and is a representative of the far right wing party funding. Voluntad Popular, headed by Leopoldo López. “We show how all this groups of the far right She is an evident organizer of subversives and wing are related. They are obsessed with the terrorist activities in several universities. violent destitution of President Maduro. There In the TV program, Con El Mazo Dando, are groups like the economic funding network hosted by President of the National Assembly and the non-denied pleasure of the U.S Gov- Diosdado Cabello, the spokesmen of the high ernment until now that this is the ideal scenar- political command of the revolution, Tareck io for coup actions” he stated.
45 WILLIAM Assassination plan and coup d’état BROWNFIELD Links found and denounced by the High Political Command of the Revolution FORMER U.S Respect Venezuela AMBASSADOR May 28, 2014 TO VENEZUELA
KEVIN WHITAKER HENRIQUE U.S AMBASSADOR SALAS RÖMER IN COLOMBIA
GUSTAVO TARRE BRICEÑO
MARÍA CORINA MACHADO
ROBERT ALONSO GUSTAVO TOVAR ARROYO PEDRO MARIO BURELLI FORMER DIRECTOR OF PDVSA
THE FIESTA MEXICANA ORGANIZERS DIEGO ARRIA RICARDO KOESLING ELIGIO CEDEÑO
MARIA CORINA MACHADO passed in the 90’s. He lives in Washington. He is a currently boosting alliances with some far right wing Member of a wealthy family which owns the main iron link between the traditional Venezuelan political young groups that operate in the university centers of and steel company of Venezuela. Such company was parties and the U.S government high representati- the state. purchased by the State in 2010. Since the beginning ves. He was a link to organize the Fiesta Mexicana of the Bolivarian Government, she started an intense (Mexican Party) ROBERT ALONSO political activity to overthrow it. Machado was elected Son of a Cuban family with radical anticommunist as representative of the National Assembly in 2010, ELIGIO CEDEÑO ideas. In 2004 his name became popular because but she lost her seat in March 2014, when she Banker and founder of Bolívar Banco, a financial more than 60 Colombian paramilitaries were found in accepted to represent Panama before the OAS. institution for VIPs and middle class profiles. He his ranch Daktari (in the outskirts of Caracas) where participated in a foreign currency exchange fraud, they planned an attack on the presidential palace. He GUSTAVO TARRE BRICEÑO so he was sentenced guilty and imprisoned in 2007. fled to Miami from where he has promoted a large A former leader of the Social Christian Party of He escaped in December 2009, having a judge as number of violent street demonstrations that he Venezuela (Copei, founded by former President an accomplice. Since then, he lives in Florida where labels as “guarimbas”. Rafael Caldera), Briceño was a Congress representa- he carries out his business activities and supports tive since 1979 for at least 20 years. He took part in with a lot of money the conspiracy actions against KEVIN WHITAKER the energy and financing commissions. He is Venezuela. He financed the Fiesta Mexicana. An experienced American diplomat who was just currently an attorney and a business adviser for appointed ambassador to Colombia. Whitaker worked private companies. DIEGO ARRIA as Assistant Secretary of State for South America. In An economist who held the posts of minister of 2005, he was appointed deputy Chief of the U.S. GUSTAVO TOVAR ARROYO Information and Tourism and mayor of Caracas Embassy Mission in Venezuela together with An attorney and a propagandist of the right wing, he during the first term of the social democrat Carlos Ambassador William Brownfield. holds both Mexican and Venezuelan nationalities. In Andrés Pérez (1974-1978). 2010, Briceño organized the Fiesta Mexicana (Mexican After leaving those posts, where he was accused of RICARDO KOESLING Party), a meeting of young Venezuelans aiming at irregular purchases, Arria started to show a wealthy An attorney linked to the traditionally anticommunist articulating a movement to overthrow President lifestyle. He claims anticommunist ideas and is a sectors of the counter-insurgency polices of Venezuela Chávez. Tovar is head and founder of several non radical activist of the right wing opposition. before the triumph of the revolution. Koesling took partisan political organizations that promote the part in the siege against the embassy of Cuba in April values of capital. HENRIQUE SALAS ROMER 2002, during the failed coup d’état. An attorney close to the importing families established PEDRO MARIO BURELLI BRICEÑO in Puerto Cabello and to the industrial activity in the WILLIAM BROWNFIELD Son of Miguel Angel Burelli Rivas, a former foreign capital city of the state of Carabobo. Salas was mayor An American diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to minister and intellectual. Burelli Briceño was an of Carabobo, elected by direct vote, representing his Chile, Venezuela and Colombia. He worked in external director46 at the State owned company own right wing political movement Proyecto Venezuela from 2004 until 2007. PDVSA and supporter of the private capital opening Venezuela and supported by entrepreneurs. He is Respect Venezuela
From: Maria Corina Machado struggle for our beloved Venezuela. To: [email protected] Being so, we are going for more and we are going to Friend keep encouraging with these efforts the May 12, 2014 16:49 agitation of young people, especially students. Setting resolution 058 as the The welcome in Canada was wonderful, and focus of attention worked, but not 100% so was the deputies’ support. as it is required by what we have lost and At least there is not a Brazilian Chavista what we want to recover. We’re going for Senator. more.
With the support of the European Parlia- I have given one or two steps that other ment, that of the State and the U.S. Senate, cowards don’t dare to give. And I will give which are doing what they promised, the three, four and five if necessary. If I have international lobby is at its best moment to block a street myself, I’m going to do it since this fight started. to set an example.
Eligio knows exactly what he has to do Sent from my Blackberry Movistar and he asked me to give you a message of absolute confidence in our organizatio- nal capacity for other phases of the 47 Respect Venezuela
From: Maria Corina Machado steps. We have a check book stronger To: Gustavo Tarre 2 than the regime’s to break the internatio- nal security ring they have created News thanks to the Venezuelan people’s mo- March 23, 2014 / 18:19 ney they have been giving away as a present. While Leopoldo López is isolated and humiliated in that prison of the Praetorian Streets, more ungovernability, action of Guard of the regime, and I’m exposing activists in the subway, Metrobus, Boliva- myself so that the thug Diosdado and his rian high schools, public universities, and allies attack me in the National Assembly, everything… We will invade everything some people just send formal statements with women expressing despair for living and tweets. No, I have already made up in a country without freedom. No more my mind and this fight will continue until indifference. We will struggle to the end. this regime is overthrown and we deliver to our friends in the world. A big hug, MCM
If I went to San Cristobal and exposed Sent from my Blackberry Movistar myself before the OAS, I fear nothing. Kevin Whitaker has already reconfirmed his support and he pointed out the new
48 Respect Venezuela
Maria Corina Machado heading it and by taking advantage of the To: [email protected] more… world situation with Ukraine and Thailand as soon as possible. We can not allow No subject that while the initial momentum of the May 23rd, 2014 10:05 boys faded, we have been traveling and giving speeches in the international Diego, arena. No. I’m sorry I did not support you from the beginning but now it’s time for It is truth that the arrangement of the me to convince you. I think it is time to international strategy has been suc- gather efforts; make the necessary calls, cessful. This is pretty good but it is not and obtain financing to annihilate Maduro enough because everything is taking too and the rest will fall apart. long, and it is not enough for us that these boys are holding assemblies while Sent from my smartphone Blackberry 10. we are in talks with our friends abroad. This is a path that’s become way too long since this government came to power by fraud.
I’m fed up with waiting. We have to take out this trash, starting with the one
49 Respect Venezuela
From: Burelli Pedro Mario The people want us to achieve in the To: [email protected] country what we achieved in San Diego and San Cristobal and they are willing to No subject endure whatever just to get rid of these May 25, 2014 / 18:45 criminal usurpers. This is the message and we must do whatever it takes. Diego, I’m so excited about this crushing victory in San Diego and San Cristóbal. Let’s take the streets of the country as it We are stronger than ever and this has to be, including the streets nearby the includes the results of my friend Zuloaga Palace and eventually surround that son in the neighbouring country. What lies of a bitch. We have some people in Mira- ahead is to harness the renewed energy flores thanks to our friend Bocaranda. and recover our right and what people Every step will be useful when the time want the most, the power the regime comes. Let’s follow the example San illegally holds. You asked my opinion Cristobal and San Diego gave! That’s the about the determination of MCM and I sign! think that’s the attitude, we’ll go all out for everything and with everything, and I’m happy against everything. We count on the support of the Department, the Embassy and the upcoming Senate’s sanctions.
50 Respect Venezuela
Pedro M Burelli
Hi, Henrique. Otto, or any other one who Regards, PM is not from the extreme right-wing becau- se they are on a path I do not understand Subject: Missing call and it can end up helping the regime. Unfortunately, Brownfield is not there. Pedro M Burelli
Talking to Kevin is almost the same as talking to Brownfield.
51 Respect Venezuela
María Corina called me scared this platform to catch votes similar to the morning (her father told her about ones we obtain in the 14A election and Maduro’s statements on how well infor- assess the initiative I’ve been talking med he is by intelligence services). She about, which is based on the argument asked for my opinion. So I relaxed and that we need more political leadership told her what I think. There are three than electoral candidates in a highly possible scenarios: uncertain scenario. I feel she became interested since she did not rule it out, 1) We keep on fighting as we have done nor she refused. She clung to these and bet on a tie between Capriles and ideas. By the way, she said nice things Maduro in the 8D elections, and wait for about you and Henrique Fernando. the eventual cost: Maduro will end up wearing out. Regards, PM
2) We change the strategy when the 8D Sent from my iPad 3G strong campaign starts in order to gain the strong vote of the opposition and the Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile disappointed chavistas, study what Chávez offered, what Maduro offers and ------Forwarded Message----- attack his faults, compare the live one From: <[email protected]> with the dead one, the development Date: Wed, Sep 25, 2013 at 12:01 PM model offered by Chávez and Maduro’s Subject: Missing call… disaster. To: [email protected]
3) We take advantage of this campaign’s Did you call me?
52 Respect Venezuela
To: Roberto Alonso I’m all worn out, but I’m sure others will From: [email protected] find inspiration in it and be filled with courage to end this once and for all. No subject March 25, 2014 18:01 A strong hug
Your courage inspired me because Sent from my Ipad nobody has more guts than you in this shit. Watch it and give me your opinion. I hope you enjoy it and upload that shit so everybody can see it.
53 Respect Venezuela
Peace for Venezuela
On February 23, President Nicolás Maduro the most reactionary sector of the opposition, announced the call to a National Conference among them its most outstanding leaders, like for the Peace, with the aim to reestablish the the Miranda governor, Henrique Capriles, who tranquility atmosphere in the country, altered rejected the invitation made by the President. by the guarimbas. The mandatary explained So far, the new conspiracy against the Ven- that he would ask the making-up of a Com- ezuelan Government seems disassembled mission of the Truth before the National As- since it has not managed to sum up the popu- sembly, which should investigate the violence lar sectors to the violent actions; without them, promoted by opposition groups that so far has there is no possible insurrection in any place of caused the death of 18 people and injuries in the world. The guarimbas have practically dis- hundreds of people. appeared and they only appear sporadically in “I am convening the whole country to the some localities where middle and upper class Conference, to see each other in the eyes, to people reject these actions that put them and acknowledge each other as Venezuelan, to their families at risk, and leave them isolated say: we want peace, let’s build the peace,” said from the rest of the country. President Maduro. Undoubtedly, Venezuela will overcome this So far, two meetings of the Conference test, as it has done in the past, when it has for the Peace have taken place, which have defeated conspiracy set with resources and been attended by high representatives of the strategies from Washington. Venezuelan peo- church, by businessmen, and by sectors of ple will move on; the work and the studies will the opposition who do not support violence prevail sooner than later, and the wild vandal- as a means of public protest. The absence of ism of the irrational opposition will be a bad representatives of the Democratic Unit Table memory in the history of the Venezuela of the (MUD) has been notorious; this group gathers 21st century.
54 Respect Venezuela
Chronology of a coup attemp
April 10, 2013 of Venezuelan workers to defend the revolu- A conversation between a scort and the driver tion.” On the note it is also affirmed that the of Capriles Radonsky goes public revealing Venezuelan President has decided to make the destabilization plan of the right wing not to up an armed body of “working militias”. acknowledge the results of the elections to be carried out on 14 Abril 2013. July 17, 2013 The US ambassador in the United Nations, April 14, 2013 Samantha Power, declares that Venezuela is The presidential elections take place, and a repressive nation and that her management the Revolution candidate, Nicolás Maduro, is as ambassador would “respond the repression elected with a 50.61percent of the votes. The to the civil society that is taking place in coun- Venezuelan right wing does not acknowledge tries like Cuba, Irán, Russia, and Venezuela.” the results and makes a call to violence on the streets. Eleven people died as a result of the Since the presidential elections, President fascist actions. The National Electoral Council Maduro has been attacked in different ways by recounted the votes and ratified the results fa- the national and international right wing. One voring the candidate Nicolás Maduro. of the strategies has been the economic war, with the drift of divisas provided by CADIVI, April 18, 2013 and an overwhelming speculation with the The United States joins the attempt to destabi- consumption goods, especially food. The Ven- lize the country, and the US Secretary of State, ezuelan Government responds with force, ob- John Kerry, announced that his Government taining the popular support. would not acknowledge Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, as long as a recount of the September 26, 2013 votes isn’t made. President Nicolás Maduro announced the ex- pulsion of three officers of the US Embassy May 4, 2013 due to constant meetings with the Venezuelan Barack Obama attacks Venezuela and impos- extreme right wing “to finance their sabotage es matrixes that are stronger nowadays: “the actions against the electric system and the entire region has seen the violence in Venezu- Venezuelan economy.” ela, the manifestations, the repression towards the opposition.” Likewise, Obama does not ac- November 20, 2013 knowledge the legitimacy of the presidential The Venezuelan right wing threatens the sta- elections that took place on 14 April 2013. bility of the democratically elected Govern- ment taking advantage of the stage provided May 24, 2013 by new municipality elections that would take The Spanish newspaper ABC publishes a place in the country. Among the destabilizing strange press note undermined what Presi- was the former presidential candidate Hen- dent Nicolás Maduro had expressed; the rique Capriles, who addressed to the Venezu- note was entitled “Maduro will arm millions elan President, Nicolás Maduro, threatening 55 Respect Venezuela him this way: “I’m telling you clearly, Nicolás, February 2, 2014 for you to record it in your mind, after the 8 From the Brión square in Chacaíto, Caracas, December we are going after you and your ter- Leopoldo López, María Corina Machado, and rible Government.” Antonio Ledezma ratified the call for 12 Febru- ary, to a march departing from Plaza Venezu- By the end of that year, the municipalities’ elec- ela. López, main propeller of the mobilization tions took place, which the right wing pretend- pointed that “We need to go on the streets to- ed to turn into a plebiscite against the Presi- gether. The fight of all is the fight of one, and dent, despite there not being such a statute in the fight of one is the fight of all.” the Constitution. In the elections, the forces of the Bolivarian Revolution obtained a wide vic- February 6, 2014 tory with the 58.5 percent, gaining the 76 per- Supposed students of Catholic University of cent of the municipalities, losing the right sec- Táchira state, besiege and attack the resi- tors this way the last electoral action to achieve dence of Governor Vielma Mora, with the first their goal. lady of the state and their children inside. After these events, four people are arrested; such December 18, 2013 detentions are taken as an excuse for the right The Government of Nicolás Maduro has a sectors to include a new slogan for the march meeting with the mayors and governors of the on 12 February, and the final destination of the opposition, aiming at finding formulas to de- march that day would be the surroundings of velop different projects. The entirety of the op- the Public Ministry. position mayors attends the meeting. February 10, 2014 January 1, 2014 During visits made by Leopoldo López, the call The Nuevo Herald newspaper of the United to the “great march” was ratified in Caracas States publishes another strange note with- to be held on 12 February, against President out referring to any particular event, entitled: Maduro and authorities of other powers of the “The collectives, chavista order and terror in State. In that occasion, López pointed: “Let Venezuela,” without bases nor background, them all go, a total and deep change of those the newspaper imposes the matrix of armed who conduct the National Power. It is clear groups at the outside the law, affirming: “they now that the problem is no longer Maduro by are the violent face of the Bolivarian Revolu- himself; it is all the heads of the Public Powers tion, gangers sustained by the regime to intimi- that have kidnapped the State,” this way, the date the civil society and, occasionally, do its representative of the Voluntad Popular party dirty job.” makes an open call to the rupture of the con- stitutional thread. January 23, 2014 The political party Voluntad Popular calls to ac- February 11, 2014 tions on the streets aiming at the “exit” of the Pres- From the State cannel, Venezolana de Tele- ident. The call was made for the actions to be held visión, the recording of a telephonic conversa- on 12 F ebruary 2014. The summoner, Leopoldo tion between the opposition leaders Iván Car- López, pointed that: “We don’t know when the ratú Molina and Fernando Gerbasi is spread, change is going to happen, but if we don’t begin in which they reveal that during the march on right now, it will never happen.” He made also a 12 February violent events similar to those of call to “set the streets on the fire of fight.” 11 April 2002 would begin with the aim to over- 56 Respect Venezuela throw the legitimate Government of Nicolás themselves pacific protesters, moved to other Maduro. In the recording, it is made public that areas of the city to assault and destroy pub- the summoner groups had put together more lic and private properties; during these events than 120 thousand million bolivars to finance dies Roberto Redman, a student attacked in the distabilization actions and the overthrown Chacao. of the National Government. That same night, a station of radio base of the Leopoldo López declares to the CNN chan- country’s telephone company is attacked, and nel that “the manifestation tomorrow pursues a technician of the company is also attacked. us to get on the streets and say here we are Likewise, violent groups attack the Parque (…) they will not defeat us, tomorrow we will Carabobo, Bellas Artes, Parque Central, and take a firm step that will allow us to keep on Chacao subway stations. Armed people cap- moving forward, we will loutish irreverently. The tured and threatened two subway operators Government wants to set a violent agenda and and a patrimonial guard, and hurt a security hide it, as it manages the monopoly of commu- chief with a white weapon. nications in Venezuela (…) The call that has been made is to be on the streets.” February 13, 2014 A detenction order against Leopoldo López is 12 February 2014 dictated, who is accused by the following crime: A march called by the Venezuelan right sec- public instigation, damages to properties, de- tors is carried out. At the end of the march terminer in the felony of intentional fire (intelec- organized by Leopoldo López party, Volun- tual autor), and association to commit crime. tad Popular, a group of hooded assaulted the headquarters of the General Prosecution of In Zulia state, violent groups tried to set on fire the Republic. Two people were murdered and two truck carrying cellphones of the State’s 23 resulted injured. company, Movilnet.
President Nicolás Maduro addressed the February 14, 2014 country informing that the material authors of Already a fugitive of justice, the responsible the deaths and injuries had been identified. for violent actions, Leopoldo López, incomp- Among the damages produced by the violent rensively – since he was already hidden from actions of the right sectors, five patrols of the justice – challenges President Nicolás Maduro CICPC were destroyed and set on fire. Among telling him he was afraid of him and had no the deceased persons was Juan Montoya, guts to put him in jail. On his side, the Presi- chavista leader who was in the surroundings, dent expressed that the justice system sooner and Bassil Dacosta, a young worker who ac- or later would catch and judge the intellectual companied his cousin to the students’ march. author of the violent events that had taken place last 12 February. After the event, Leopoldo López sets again the thesis of armed groups outside the law, and Aggressions to buses of Metrobus transporta- with no proof in hand, he declares: “There are tion service keep on happening; objects to set the images of the armed collectives; there are them on fire with the drivers inside are thrown the videos of those who starred as spectators against them. Also the aggressions against the while the Prosecution was being destroyed.” subway stations Chacao, Altamira, and Los During nighttime, the violent bands that called Cortijos continued. 57 Respect Venezuela
February 15, 2014 In Caracas, violent groups attacked a CANTV The US Secretary of State send his first mes- worker, Carlos Luis Mayora. sage regarding the situation in Venezuela, as- suming that the violence was being carried out Public transport units Unidades of los Teques, by the Government, alarmed by the detention Miranda state, were attacked with hard objects of the opposition leader Leopoldo López, pre- while carrying passengers. Likewise, a trans- venting people from protesting pacifically. port unit was kidnapped in El Marqués, and other unit was attacked at the subway station February 16, 2014 Los Cortijos. Violent groups attack the Chacao and Altamira stations again. Damages on the facade, the Barack Obama manifested regarding Venezu- fire systems, structures, ventilation systems, ela, saying he condemned the violence arris- air conditioning ducts, and turnstile are part of ing from the protests against the Government, the results. and exhorted the liberation of those who had been arrested. A worker was brutally beaten by those who pre- vented the Altamira station from being closed. February 22, 2014 The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, at- Febrero 17, 2014 tacked Venezuela one more time and asked President Maduro shows evidence of activities for repressions against the dissidents to stop. carried out by three officers of the US Embassy who had had meetings with students of the right February 23, 2014 wings, financing the violent actions in the country. Leopoldo López, leader of the violence, hands himself to the Venezuelan authorities after the Units of the Charallave-Ocumare and Santa detention order dictated by the Public Ministry, Mónica routes were beaten by hard objects after having confirmed that he was a mortal At the Altamira station, violent protesters at- target of the extreme right wing. The Govern- tacked again. ment warranted all his rights, acknowledged by his family. February 18, 2014 In Mérida, several units of public transporta- February 26, 2014 tion were attacked. President Nicolás Maduro opens the Peace Conference, attended by different members of Leopoldo López addressed the crowd from a the political, cultural, social, sports, and eco- square in the capital city where he invited his nomic sectors. The Peace Conference baceme followers to take take the streets, since “there permanent from 28 February, and has agreed are no free media to express ourselves in to deal the subjects on work tables, as well as to Venezuela... This way out needs to be pacific, carry out Regional Peace Conferences. Among within the frame of the Constitution, but has the proposals, a Commission for the Truth is ap- also to be on the streets.” proved to investigate who are the responsables for the murders since 12 February 2014. February 19, 2014 In Lara seven vehicles were set on fire by vi- February 27, 2014 olent groups of the state. A truck of the tele- A national march commemorates the 25 years phone company CANTV was also attacked. of the popular rebellion, during February 1989. 58 Respect Venezuela
During the previous days, huge marches of imbas have also caused millionaire losses in women, students, land workers, and workers properties of public and private use: squares, in general from all over the country expressed buildings, trees, streets, facades, and walls, their support to the Bolivarian Revolution and among others. their repulsion to the violence that began on 12 February in several focal points of the country. Two gas trucks of the State company Petróleos In the international area, the Bolivarian Revolu- de Venezuela (PDVSA) were kidnapped by a tion receives the support of social movements group of 70 hooded in Ciudad Bolívar. from America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, from the UNASUR, The CELAC, and the ALBA. In March 9, 2014 contrast, the government of the United States A Violent group set on fire the statue of Presi- reveals its interventionist strategy against Ven- dent Hugo Chávez in San Pablo, Yaracuy state. ezuela; to do so, it looks for support in his in- ternational allied in America and Europe. March 10, 2014 The office of the Work Inspectorship in Táchira February 28, 2014 was set on fire. The entire ground floor was The Public Ministry had counted 18 victims of completely calcinated. the guarimbas, not including the direct death of people who suffered from asphyxia or heart Violent groups set on fire a truck that was to attacks when not being able to reach hospitals distribute 8 tons of food to the Abastos Bicen- or health centers. tenario in Carabobo state.
President Nicolás Maduro orders the expul- Violent protesters violently acceced and set sion of three US diplomatic officers who were on fire the university facilities where radio sta- proved to act with interference and in alliance tion 106.5 ULA FM broadcasts, property of the with right wings groups. A few days after, the University of Los Andes in San Cristóbal. US would take retaliation measures with Ven- ezuelan diplomatic officers in their country. March 11, 2014 As a part of the imperial attack Venezuela, the March 4, 2014 commission of foreign relations of the Senate The US Chamber of Representatives ap- approved a resolution that exhorts President proved the H.R. 488 resolution, by means of Barack Obama to deny visas and freeze ac- which the violence taking place in Venezuela tives belonging to those responsible for violat- against opposition leaders and protesters, as ing human rights in Venezuela. well as intimidations to the political opposition in the country are deplored. A similar resolu- To date, 95 units of Metrobús public transpor- tion, although with individual sanctions is to be tation have been attacked, provoking injuries approved by the US Chamber of Senators. to 200 passengers and 40 workers. Besides, violence has forced the closure of ten subway March 7, 2014 stations; ten have been damaged and there Since 12 February, extremist groups in munici- have been broken trains as a consequence of palities governed by the opposition have been the attacks. blocking streets and avenues, using fascist and terrorist methods that have provoked the The headquarters of the Ministry for Housing direct and indirect death of citizens. The guar- and Habitat was attacked by violent opposition 59 Respect Venezuela groups, who set the ground floor of the build- bio, attack Venezuela and present a law proj- ing on fire. ect so that the US can set direct sanctions to the Venezuelan Governments. It is directly March 2014 demanded that president Obama “freezes ac- Violent opposition groups destroyed the Brit- tives of those people involved in repressions ish Tower (Torre Británica) of the Chacao mu- during the protests on the streets of Caracas, nicipality, located in Altamira, where public or- as well as to revoke the visas.” ganisms have their offices. The headquarters of the Seguros Ávila insurance company, the March 14, 2014 condominium office, and the parking lot office President Nicolás Maduro accuses the US box were also attacked. Likewise, the office of Government of openly assuming the lead- the National Institute of Aeronautics (Inac), lo- ership of the overthrow. “This is how the US cated in the basement of the building, was also Government is, at this moment, hostage of the attacked, causing terror among the people republican lobbies’ politics, and of the right- who use the building. There is also evidence of wings lobbies of Miami.” theft and damages to equipment on the side of loutish groups. The State Chief, Nicolás Maduro, stated that 1,529 detentions have been carried out, of They also caused damages to the infrastruc- which only 558 are students. One hundred five ture of the University City of Caracas – UNES- derivations of liberty have demonstrated firm CO World Inheritance; the Tamanaco Gate of against violent protesters who were captured the university was also damaged; they opened in possession of fire guns. holes in the fence of the Botanical Garden. A new threath from the US: the State Secre- March 17, 2014 tary, John Kerry, pointed during an audience Military and police officers took control of the at the US Congress that Washington is prepar- Altamira square of Caracas, located in Cha- ing to impose sanctions to Caracas if there are cao municipality, in order to give back tranquil- no advances in the efforts for mediation in the ity to inhabitants of the area after one month region. “If necessary, we are ready to invoke of continuous incendiary violence perpetrated an InterAmerican Democratic Letter before the by guarimberos. After taking control of Altamira OAE, and to seriously get involved by means Square and pacifying it, many peaceful anti- of sanctions.” government demonstrations have been orga- nized and concluded without any incident. The mail and citizen attention offices of the Ministry of Housing were ruined; three com- The Supreme Court of Justice ordered the puters were stolen, a fridge and a microwave Mayors of Chacao, Ramón Muchacho, San got broken, and, more importantly, they en- Diego, Vicencio Scarano, San Cristobal, Dan- dangered the workers lives. iel Ceballos, El Hatillo, David Smolanski; Ba- ruta, Gerardo Blyde and Lecherías, Gustavo March 13, 2014 Marcano to act to ensure the right to free tran- In Caracas, some guarimberos ecocides of the sit in their municipalities, established in the Montalban I community cut five trees. The in- Constitution. In these areas, there have been tention was to use the trees for the guarimbas. recurrent events, as part of the opposition The democrat Senators, Robert Menéndez campaign of violence, that have kept people and Bill Nelson, and the republican Marco Ru- trapped in their homes and caused permanent 60 Respect Venezuela anxiety due to the blockage of main roads and March 23, 2014 barricades. The Supreme Court of Justice or- President Nicolás Maduro gave instructions to dered the Mayors to use all resources at their Foreign Affairs Minister Elías Jaua to prepare disposal to prevent the setting up of obstacles and submit a complaint to international bodies in the streets. against the Venezuelan opposition due to its violent actions. The head of State asked Min- March 18, 2014 ister Jaua to present proof of the burning of A group of hooded men torched the headquar- libraries, squares, cultural centers and other ters of the National Experimental University of institutions to international bodies. the Armed Forces (UNEFA, Spanish acronym) in San Cristobal, Táchira state. The dean of March 24, 2014 the UNEFA, Colonel Vilme Ramirez, said the Unknown people set on fire a bush area in the flames caused a total loss and explained that Waraira Repano National Park in Caracas. they destroyed the library, the Secretariat and This action caused a huge fire in the main nat- Dean’s offices, as well as student files. One ural reserve of the Venezuelan capital city. National Guard officer died during the event while watching over the educational facility. Due to a fire in the Waraira Repano National Park, electric service in different areas of Ca- March 19, 2014 racas was interrupted. Two main transmission Mayor of San Cristobal, Daniel Ceballos, was lines along the Park were affected by the fire. captured by the Bolivarian Intelligence Ser- vice, serving an arrest warrant issued by the March 25, 2014 1st Court of Control. Ceballos was accused Three air force generals were arrested for their of civil rebellion and conspiracy for his partici- participation in a coup attempt, said the Presi- pation in the events occurred in the capital of dent of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro. The Táchira, which has been one of the states with head of State said that the officers have direct more violence generated during the attempted links with opposition groups. coup perpetrated by the Venezuelan right. In Maracaibo, a group of opposition offenders The Supreme Court of Justice sentenced the set on fire the headquarters of the National Mayor of San Diego municipality, in Carabobo Electoral Council of Zulia state. Before setting it state, Vicencio Scarano, to 10 months and 15 on fire, the offenders tore down the door, broke days of jail, for having flouted the sentence of into the place and stole computer equipment. the Constitutional Court, which ordered to take the necessary actions to prevent the setting March 26, 2014 up of guarimbas in his jurisdiction. As a result A commission of foreign affairs ministers from of the decision, Vicencio Scarano ceased his the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) mayoral duties. met in Caracas with different political sectors to favor a dialogue between the government and March 20, 2014 the opposition. The Unasur representatives Vandals set on fire the Hiper Lider Supermar- were received by President Nicolás Maduro ket in San Diego. It is one of the largest retail- and held meetings with MUD representatives ers in Carabobo state. The supermarket was and Bolivarian and opposition students. looted by hooded groups that set on fire its fa- cilities causing a total damage. 61 Respect Venezuela
March 27, 2014 setting fire in a grade of determiner and crimi- The Mayor’s Office of the Girardot municipal- nal association. ity, located in Aragua state, was attacked by a group of 30 hooded people who threw rocks April 5, 2014 and Molotov bombs at the building. Two vehi- The Penitentiary Services headquarters, lo- cles, one public library and an ATM were set cated in El Rosal, Chacao municipality, was on fire. attacked with firearms and incendiary bombs.
March 31, 2014 April 8, 2014 The city of San Cristóbal, capital of Táchira An articulated truck carrying 38,000 liters of state, went back to normal after being be- gasoline blew up in San Diego municipality, sieged for six weeks by guarimberos who set Carabobo, right after a violent group set it on up barricades and encouraged violence on fire in a barricade. main roads and threatened traders and driv- ers to try to shut down the city. The barricades Two stations of the Mérida Trolley Bus went were removed by officers of the National Guard out of service after that some guarimberos at- and the Army. tacked them with fire bombs and blunt weap- ons. April 2, 2014 Thirty people were arrested for perpetrating April 10, 2014 terrorist actions during violent protests that The opposition representatives accepted the took place in the municipalities of Chacao and invitation from President Nicolás Maduro and Baruta, in Caracas’ East. An armored vehicle attended the dialogue table at the Miraflores equipped with anti gas masks, a gun, night Presidential Palace. 11 activists of the Mesa de googles and fuel drums. la Unidad Democrática took part in the debate, broadcast nationwide by radio and television. In San Cristóbal, Gabriel Alejandro Reyes Beltrán was arrested. He was one of the orga- The national police officer José Cirilo Daza nizers of guarimbas in Táchira state and was García died after being shot in the thorax as wanted for drug trafficking by the Interpol. he was in the middle of a shoot-out against armed groups in Lara.` April 3, 2014 President Nicolás Maduro decreed the cre- April 13, 2014 ation of the Human Rights Council, a body 30 different ranks army officials were detained. created by the Government to strengthen the They are under investigation for their alleged respect for human rights established by the participation in the coup d’état plot against Constitution. President Nicolás Maduro.
April 4, 2014 April 14, 2014 Public Ministry requested to Judicial Power to Three Air Forces generals were charged for in- open a trial against the opposition leader Leo- stigating the people to revolt. poldo López as an alleged responsible for the violent events on February 12. The leader of April 21, 2014 the guarimba is charged with the following fel- Two public buses were set on fire by hooded men onies: public instigation, damages to property, in San Cristóbal, the capital city of Táchira state. 62 Respect Venezuela
April 22, 2014 ties of Chacao and Baruta in Caracas. They An American man was arrested in his residen- arrested 243 people. Weapons, drugs and ex- cy in San Cristóbal where it was found a whole plosives were found in the place. arsenal composed by several rifles, guns and military garments. May 20, 2014 Executive secreatry of the Mesa de la Unidad April 28, 2014 Democrática (MUD), Ramón Guillermo Avel- The Venezuelan government and the opposi- edo, said the dialogue was adjourned. tion leaders appointed their representatives to several working sessions within the framework May 22, 2014 of the peace dialogue. Two police officers were wounded by firearms and another one was burnt by a fire bomb, due April 29, 2014 to the aggression of hooded men in a barri- A group of hooded men intercepted and set on cade settled in Mérida city. fire a van of the Bolivarian National Guard in a guarimba in Bello Monte, Baruta municipality. May 23, 2014 The Office of the Attorney General of the Re- May 4, 2014 public stated that there are only 17 students Violent groups set on fire a vehicle of the Bo- among the 213 people detained in the violent livarian National Guard in Altamira, Chacao. events. Three officials were wounded. May 28, 2014 May 7, 2014 A coup d’état and murder plot against the A group of hooded men set on fire a wide green President of the Republic with the participa- zone in the Metropolitan University, Sucre mu- tion of some important opposition leaders was nicipality of Caracas. denounced by the high political command of the Revolution. The implied accomplices said May 8, 2014 that the ambassador of the United States in GNB and National Police officers dismantled Colombia Kevin Whitaker acted as a financial three Guarimberos’ camps in the municipali- backer of the conspiracy plan.
The acts of terrorism that began on February 12 have led to date, July 15, 2014, 43 dead people, including six members of the Boli- varian National Guard. The number of injured exceeds 900 people, of which 145 are police or military officers who have been targets of violence during the course of their duties to prevent guarimbas and protect the people.
63