August 29, 2019

International Trade

Over 4000 tons of food and general cargo have arrived at Guanta port

The local port authority reports that 4303 tons of food and general cargo have arrived at Guanta in 249 containers aboard the CFS PALAMEDES. Cargo includes wheat flour, spaghetti, packaged beans, tuna, along with oil industry equipment and tires. More in Spanish; (Bolipuertos, http://www.bolipuertos.gob.ve/noticia.aspx?id=43618)

 

Oil & Energy

China helps Venezuela boost oil production

China has financed the construction of a new oil blending plant in Venezuela that will boost the country’s flagging oil production by 120,000 bpd, IHS Markit reports, citing an investment of US$ 3 billion, provided by China’s CNPC, PDVSA’s partner in the SINOVENSA venture that will operate the new plant.  SINOVENSA is 49% owned by the Chinese state giant and 51% owned by PDVSA. It currently produces 100,000 bpd in the Orinoco belt. The crude is a medium grade of the Orinoco super heavy that’s then mixed with light crude to make the Merey blend, which, along with other medium grades, are in high demand among Asian refiners. The latest news suggests that China has no intention of changing course about Venezuela no matter what the U.S. decides to do in response. And it seems it is not the only one: India, according to IHS Markit shipping data, still buys Venezuelan oil in defiance of U.S. warnings. The average import rate since June has been about 450,000 bpd. That’s a solid part of Venezuela’s total production, as calculated by OPEC secondary sources. For July, the figure stood at 742,000 bpd. (Oil Price: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/China-Helps-Venezuela-Boost-Oil-Production.html)

 

Commodities

Venezuela's trees suffer as firewood replaces scarce cooking gas

Chronic shortages of natural gas in the country with the world’s largest oil reserves now mean that cooking fuel is increasingly coming from trees. The growing use of firewood has triggered alarm among activists who say discussions of environmental problems are often eclipsed by diatribes about runaway inflation, economic collapse and a protracted political stalemate. Fires and home construction in the last 40 years have deforested about 10% of Henri Pittier Park, said Enrique Garcia, director of the ecological group Let’s Plant. In addition, he said, the collection of firewood in urban areas can cause respiratory problems from smoke, rising temperatures in cities and increased risk of landslides in poor communities where houses are often built on unsteady terrain. Wood stoves are now a common sight across Venezuela because of the shortage of gas. Tanks used to store, and transport propane are in disrepair for lack of maintenance. In some cases, people burn trash next to a tree to dry it out so the tree can be cut down and used for cooking fuel. Authorities are broadly ignoring legislation that prohibits cutting down trees without permits. Some cities have so little tree cover that those in search of firewood must walk for miles. (https://www.euronews.com/2019/08/29/venezuelas-trees-suffer-as-firewood-replaces-scarce-cooking-gas)

 

Economy & Finance

Venezuela’s cash reserves shoot up from PDVSA despite sanctions

PDVSA’s sales to China just netted Venezuela a cool US$ 700 million, increasing its reserves to US$ 8.8 billion. Most of the US$ 700 million was in the form of the Chinese yuan and comes from back payments made to PDVSA for its crude oil deliveries to China. The payments had been delayed due to the US sanctions on Venezuela and PDVSA, as both parties struggled to come up with a way to send and receive payments in the face of those sanctions. Venezuela has also sold some crude oil for euros cash via intermediaries. It has also sold gold for euros as well as it tries to make up for lost oil revenue. It took out eight tons of gold in April for sale abroad. Venezuela has seemingly abandoned the dollar trade for its crude oil for fear of running afoul of the US sanctions on the Latin American country. This push away from digital transactions will make it more difficult to track where money is coming from and where it’s going to. (Oil Price: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Venezuelas-Cash-Reserves-Shoot-Up-From-PDVSA-Despite-Sanctions.html)

 

GAZPROMBANK completes transfer of stake in sanctions-hit lender

GAZPROMBANK said on Wednesday it had completed its handover of a stake in Russian-Venezuelan lender EVROFINANCE MOSNARBANK, which was placed under U.S. sanctions, to Russia’s state property management agency. The United States announced sanctions on EVROFINANCE MOSNARBANK in March for its dealings with Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-banks-venezuela-gazprombank/gazprombank-completes-transfer-of-stake-in-sanctions-hit-lender-idUSKCN1VI1ES)

 

Maduro official says remittance platform for Petro is ready to use

National Superintendent of Cryptoactives Joselit Ramírez has announced that crypto remittance platform Patria Remesa is live and functioning. Additionally, Ramírez highlighted his confidence in the platform’s safety, as well as how the Venezuelan cryptocurrency El Petro (PTR) allegedly hedges against economic depreciation. Given the Venezuelan government’s history of not delivering on promises related to the PETRO, COINTELEGRAPH advises readers to approach Ramírez’s announcement with skepticism. (Cointelegraph, https://cointelegraph.com/news/venezuelan-official-says-remittance-platform-for-petro-is-ready-to-use)

 

Politics and International Affairs

U.S. offers amnesty to Maduro, if he leaves power

A top American diplomat said the United States would not prosecute or otherwise seek to punish Nicolás Maduro if he voluntarily left power, despite bringing his country to the verge of economic collapse and humanitarian disaster. Elliott Abrams, the State Department’s special envoy for Venezuela, said he had seen no indication that Maduro was willing to step down. But his offer of amnesty was a message to Maduro after both countries’ leaders described high-level talks that Abrams unequivocally said did not happen. “This is not a persecution,” Abrams said of Mr. Maduro on Tuesday evening in an interview. “We’re not after him. We want him to have a dignified exit and go.” He added: “We don’t want to prosecute you; we don’t want to persecute you. We want you to leave power.” The Treasury Department last year accused Maduro of profiting from illegal drug trafficking in Venezuela but did not recommend charges. The softer, if pragmatic, appeal sharply contrasted with the eight months of sanctions, international isolation and threats by the Trump administration of military intervention against Maduro and his loyalists, who are accused of hoarding power and manipulating elections last year. Opposition leaders in Venezuela have not offered immunity to Maduro, whom they accuse of prospering in a corrupt government that has left many Venezuelans without food, electricity or medical supplies.  “The notion that we are negotiating is just flat-out wrong,” Abrams said. “And the notion that there is a pattern of communication is wrong. There are intermittent messages and I think people would find the very occasional message sent from Washington to be completely predictable: ‘You need to return to democracy. Maduro needs to leave power.’” The comments are likely to soothe Venezuela’s opposition leaders, who have privately said Trump’s statement risked sidelining their own negotiations. A delegation headed by the opposition’s chief political negotiator, Stalin González, traveled to Washington last week to press American officials on the Trump administration’s policy in Venezuela. Abrams said he did not currently see any value in talking directly to the Maduro regime. Abrams maintained on Tuesday that the United States would not lift sanctions against Venezuela unless Maduro steps down. Abrams said the Trump administration would not support new national elections with an incumbent — either Maduro or Mr. Guaidó — on the ballot. If either man wanted to run for the presidency, Abrams said, he should first leave office to prevent concerns about election tampering by the government. And he predicted that Guaidó would formally close the negotiations by Oct. 1 to prevent them from dragging on without resolution. “It’s pretty clear that he has not yet reached the conclusion that it is hopeless,” Abrams said, adding: “He may reach that conclusion tomorrow.” Any offer of amnesty by the United States would have limits. A White House official has previously told The New York Times that the Trump administration would be unable to remove any federal drugs charges that several of Maduro’s top confidants and relatives face. (The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/world/americas/us-amnesty-venezuela-maduro.html)

 

US Department of State announces the opening of the Venezuela Affairs Unit (VAU), under the leadership of Charge d’Affaires James Story. The VAU is the interim diplomatic office of the U.S. Government to Venezuela, located at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota‎, Colombia, and has been established with bipartisan support from the U.S. Congress.  The VAU is continuing the U.S. mission to the legitimate Government of Venezuela and to the Venezuelan people.  The VAU will continue to work for the restoration of democracy and the constitutional order in that country, and the security and well-being of the Venezuelan people. The VAU interacts with the government of interim president Juan Guaidó, the democratically elected National Assembly, Venezuelan civil society, and the people of Venezuela.  The United States welcomes the support of the Government of Colombia, which is a further demonstration of its steadfast commitment to democracy and peace in the region. The United States stands with interim President Juan Guaidó, the National Assembly, and the people of Venezuela as they seek to regain their democracy. (State Department: https://www.state.gov/creation-of-the-venezuela-affairs-unit/; VOA: https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-sets-diplomatic-mission-venezuela-colombia; Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa/u-s-opens-venezuelan-diplomatic-office-in-colombian-capital-idUSKCN1VI1Y9)

 

Venezuela's Guaidó names shadow cabinet to help oust Maduro

Venezuela’s interim president Guaidó named a new shadow cabinet on Wednesday, launching the latest phase of his campaign aimed at forcing Nicolas Maduro from power.  The new team — including heavyweight opposition figures Leopoldo Lopez and Julio Borges — will be dedicated to preparing for a transitional government and new elections, said Guaidó, who claimed presidential powers in late January as head of the National Assembly, saying Maduro's election last year was a fraud. Guaidó's so-called interim government functions more tangibly outside of Venezuela than at home.  Guaidó said he's calling on his political mentor Lopez to serve as general coordinator, though Lopez has lived in the Spanish ambassador's home in Caracas for protection since launching a failed military uprising with Guaidó on April 30.  Opposition lawmaker Borges, who lives in exile in Colombia, will oversee Guaidó's foreign relations, and other members of his team will deal with economic development, asset recovery and human rights. (VOA: https://www.voanews.com/americas/venezuelas-Guaidó-names-shadow-cabinet-help-oust-maduro)

 

Venezuela condemned by OAS for 'systematic' rights abuses

The Organization of American States passed a resolution Wednesday condemning "grave and systematic" human rights abuses in Venezuela and demanded an independent investigation. The regional security body, which comprises every country in the western hemisphere but Cuba, passed the resolution by a 21 to 3 vote. Seven members abstained and three were absent for the vote. The resolution echoed charges of torture, extrajudicial killings and force disappearances made last month against Venezuela's leftist regime by UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet. It condemned "the grave and systematic violations of human rights in Venezuela, including the use of torture, illegal and arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances and the denial of the most basic rights and necessities, especially those related to health, food and education." It also called for "an independent, exhaustive and credible investigation" to bring the perpetrators to justice and demanded that Venezuela grant "immediate and unhindered" access to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The resolution was presented by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the United States, Guatemala, Paraguay and Peru. (France24: https://www.france24.com/en/20190828-venezuela-condemned-by-oas-for-systematic-rights-abuses)

 

Maduro says dialogue only way to overcome political deadlock

Dialogue is the only means to overcome political deadlock in Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. He said he has proposed the idea of a "permanent negotiating table" between the ruling socialist party and the opposition, as dialogue has resumed after the government side briefly walked away from the talks to protest stepped-up U.S. sanctions. "I have proposed creating a permanent mechanism for dialogue, a permanent negotiation table, which is capable of withstanding any storm, any difficulty, any situation -- dialogue, dialogue for peace," he stressed. Maduro said he has also proposed that the two sides discuss the main problems facing Venezuela and "seek agreed-on, shared solutions." "I can report that we have resumed contact with the government of Norway, there have been several meetings, we have resumed contact with the representatives of the Venezuelan opposition," Maduro said. He expressed optimism that "in the next few days, we will announce good news about the dialogue process." "They have done us harm -- and that's how I am denouncing it to the world -- they have done great harm to the quality of life, to the living standards of the Venezuelan people, but we are in a condition to continue moving forward despite these attacks," said Maduro. (XINHUANET: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/29/c_138348004.htm)

 

Venezuela's political crisis talks 'not working,' says Guaidó

Venezuela's interim president Juan Guaidó admitted on Wednesday (Aug 28) that talks with the Maduro regime aimed at resolving the country's political crisis "aren't working." The two sides are deadlocked with Guaidó demanding Maduro's resignation and the government insisting the United States lift sanctions that it blames for the country's crippled economy. "At the moment there's no date to restart the mechanism mediated by the kingdom of Norway until we achieve something concrete to approach a solution," said Guaidó. He said that if the government is using the talks simply to boost its image "that serves no purpose for the Venezuelan people." (Channel News Asia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/venezuela-s-political-crisis-talks--not-working---says-Guaidó-11850808)

 

Cuba asks Canada to help end U.S. sanctions on Venezuela

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez urged Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday to help end U.S. sanctions on Venezuela in their third meeting since May on this country’s political and humanitarian crisis. Canada, a neighbor and NATO ally of the United States, also has long-standing good relations with Cuba, raising hopes it could serve as a mediator in the Venezuelan crisis. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence called on Canada in June to do more to engage directly with Cuba over what he called its “malign influence” on Venezuela. The Canadian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Rodriguez and Freeland agreed that senior officials would stay in contact and continue to exchange views over Venezuela. (Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-cuba-canada/cuba-asks-canada-to-help-end-us-sanctions-on-venezuela-idUSKCN1VJ02G; Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-28/trudeau-envoy-presses-cuba-to-mediate-in-venezuelan-stalemate)

 

Venezuelans Enter Ecuador from Colombia via Secondary Route

About 1,400 Venezuelans crossed over the weekend from Colombia into Ecuador via the San Miguel Bridge, a secondary route linking the two countries, before new visa rules took effect, officials said Monday. The Venezuelans waited under the hot sun to enter Ecuador before the new visa requirements took effect on Monday.
EFE reporters confirmed that hundreds of Venezuelans waited at a CEBAF binational border service processing center in San Miguel, a city in Putumayo province. The Colombian immigration service said more than 11,000 Venezuelans left the country over the weekend, heading into Ecuador via the Rumichaca International Bridge, the main binational border crossing. Colombian immigration service officials told EFE that 103 people arrived after midnight in San Miguel with plans to enter Ecuador, which started accepting applications for humanitarian visas on Monday. Officials from the two countries started talking about allowing the Venezuelans to enter Ecuador and 83 have been admitted so far. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2482567&CategoryId=10717)

 

U.S. to pay for thousands of doses of HIV drugs for Venezuelan migrants

The United States said on Wednesday it will provide thousands of doses of HIV medication to treat Venezuelans in Colombia as part of regional efforts to manage care for millions of migrants fleeing the crisis-hit nation. U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar told Reuters about the decision in a phone interview following a meeting this week of health officials from 10 countries in the Colombian border city of Cucuta. The officials agreed to various measures meant to help the more than 4 million Venezuelans who have left home amid widespread shortages of food and medicine. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/colombia-usa-health/u-s-to-pay-for-thousands-of-doses-of-hiv-drugs-for-venezuelan-migrants-idUSL2N25O1DV)

 

Venezuelan migrant who sings for tips gets shot at stardom after chance meeting

When Mexican singer Mario Domm overheard a Venezuelan migrant crooning Domm’s own song in exchange for coins outside a restaurant in Bogota, Colombia, he was moved to tears by the young man’s powerful voice. Now Domm is helping the singer, 22-year-old Alexander Beja, pursue his dream of musical stardom. Beja is one of 1.4 million Venezuelans now living in Colombia, after fleeing a deep political and economic crisis in their home country that has caused long-running shortages of food and medicine. The young singer arrived in Colombia last year and began to sing regularly on the streets of northern Bogota, in hopes of earning what money he could. On the day last month when he was overheard by Domm, Beja was singing a tune called “Venezuela.” “He had a voice like a bazooka,” said Domm, who founded the pop group Camila in 2005. “He has to use it.” (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-migration-colombia-music/venezuelan-migrant-who-sings-for-tips-gets-shot-at-stardom-after-chance-meeting-idUSKCN1VH1KL)

 

The following brief is a synthesis of the news as reported by a variety of media sources. As such, the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Duarte Vivas & Asociados and The Selinger Group.

May 28, 2019

International Trade

Shippers raise rates for cargo from U.S. to Venezuela: documents, sources

Two major shipping lines this month have raised their rates for transporting goods from the United States to Venezuela, as U.S. sanctions limit transit between the two nations. Washington on May 15 banned direct flights between the United States and Venezuela, citing safety concerns, as part of a broad package of sanctions meant to pressure Nicolas Maduro into resigning as president of the crisis-stricken country. Citizens and social service organizations often depend on air and sea shipments for basic food and medicine in the hyperinflationary nation where a monthly minimum-wage salary barely pays for a single meal. Shipping lines Hamburg Sud and King Ocean Services have added a surcharge of US$ 1,200 per container of cargo that leaves the United States for Venezuela after May 15. That service has in recent months been costing between US$ 3,000 and US$ 5,000, depending on the cargo. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-shipping/shippers-raise-rates-for-cargo-from-u-s-to-venezuela-documents-sources-idUSKCN1SX1TD)

 

Maduro claims sabotage prevents ships with gasoline, food from reaching Venezuela

Vessels carrying gasoline and food to the crisis-stricken Venezuela are being prevented from reaching the country's coast because of sabotage attacks, Nicolas Maduro says, adding that Caracas was trying to find a solution to the issue. "Last week, sabotage was committed against ten tankers [with gasoline] to prevent them from reaching the Venezuelan coast. In any case, this problem is being dealt with and we are stabilizing the situation," he said late on Monday as broadcast on Twitter; and added that ships carrying food for Venezuelan citizens have were facing similar challenges, without specifying where the vessels were coming from, and who could have been responsible for the sabotage. (SPUTNIK: https://sputniknews.com/latam/201905281075400834-maduro-sabotage-gasoline/)

 

Maduro regime receives 4th batch of humanitarian aid from China

The Maduro regime received 68 tons of humanitarian aid offered by China on Monday, the 4th such batch with a shipment of medicine and other medical items. The Maduro regime’s Health Minister Carlos Alvarado and Chinese Ambassador to Venezuela Li Baorong jointly hosted the handover ceremony of the shipment at the international airport in Caracas. "This fourth shipment consists of 68 tons of medicine brought as part of this technical humanitarian aid: antihypertensives, antibiotics and medication for cardiovascular ailments. We are also receiving analgesics," Alvarado said. The medicine "is going to be distributed immediately through the national public health network," he added. For his part, Li said "We are convinced this is going to help the Venezuelan people facing the serious harm caused by the foreign sanctions". (XINHUANET: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/28/c_138096906.htm)

 

Maduro announces investment in HUAWEI

Leftist incumbent Nicolas Maduro announced on Thursday an immediate investment in the Chinese telecommunications firm HUAWEI, which has been accused of espionage by the United States. The investment seeks to help Venezuela in installing a 4G mobile network technology, which currently functions only sporadically and in the major cities here. “I have ordered an immediate investment with our Chinese brothers, Chinese technology, that of HUAWEI, of ZTE, and of all the Chinese and Russian companies, so that we can enhance the capacity of the whole telecommunications system and make 4G a reality,” Maduro said at a military event. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2479016&CategoryId=10717)

 

Oil & Energy

PDVSA tankers to be detained for lack of payment

Three PDVSA tankers that are late with payments to German operator Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) are being detained, as BSM gives up on waiting for payments while conducting business as usual with floundering state-run PDVSA. BSM operates almost half of PDVSA’s fleet of tankers and has made a move to “arrest” three tankers due to the outstanding debt PDVSA has amassed. The three tankers BSM arrested are the ARITA in Singapore, and the PARNASO and the RIO ARAUCA in Portugal. (Oil Price: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/PDVSA-Tankers-To-Be-Detained-For-Lack-Of-Payment.html)

 

Aruba to form committee to decide fate of idled refinery

The government of Aruba said on Monday it will form an advisory committee to decide the future of a 209,000-barrel-per-day refinery that remains idled amid sanctions on operator CITGO Petroleum’s parent company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes said there are three possible scenarios for the Aruba refinery: to continue working with CITGO on an overhaul, to negotiate a CITGO contract termination and continue with the plant, or to use the facility for a different activity. The committee should issue recommendations within two months of its formation, Wever-Croes said in a publicly broadcast message. Its members have yet to be announced. “Very possibly, we will not continue (working) with CITGO, but that is being evaluated, how to leave the contract without problems,” she said. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-refinery-aruba/aruba-to-form-committee-to-decide-fate-of-idled-refinery-prime-minister-idUSKCN1SX1NA)

 

Northern Brazil power line to avoid impact on tribe

The builders of a new power transmission line to the northern Brazilian state of Roraima have pledged to deploy 200 inspectors to reduce the environmental impact on an indigenous reservation where they will erect 250 pylons. It said they also had committed to keeping secret any geological information on the discovery of mineral resources to avoid drawing illegal mining interests that have long set their sights on the land of the Waimiri Atroari tribe. State-run utility Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras SA and private energy sector holding company Alupar Investimentos SA will build the 720-km (450-mile) line from Manaus to Roraima’s capital Boa Vista, connecting the state to the national grid. The companies won the contract in 2011 but the project, which became a priority after Venezuela suspended electricity supplies to Roraima last year, was delayed by environmental licensing and concerns over laying the line over 122 km (76 miles) of tribal lands. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-energy-roraima/northern-brazil-power-line-to-avoid-impact-on-tribe-document-idUSKCN1SX1X8)

 

Economy & Finance

Venezuela's economic crisis is now so bad that criminals can't afford to buy bullets

Venezuela's crippling economic spiral is having a negative impact on an unlikely group in society: criminals, who are struggling to afford bullets, and unable to find things to steal as the country's wealth declines rapidly. While bullets are widely available on the black market, many muggers cannot afford the US $1 price tag anymore, a criminal known as "Dog" told the news organization. The average Venezuelan only earns US$ 6.50 a month, and skyrocketing hyperinflation renders cash more worthless every day. Violent deaths have decreased since the Venezuelan economy started spiraling. In 2015, the South American country had a homicide rate of 90 people per 100,000 thousand inhabitants, according to the Venezuelan Observatory for Violence. That rate went down by nearly 10% last year— though Venezuela remains one of the most violent countries in the world. The non-profit, which aggregates the data from morgues and media reports, partly attributes this decrease to the reduction in muggings — because there is nothing to steal. As many Venezuelans struggle to pay for basics like food, medicine, or clothes, there are fewer cars or luxury items that criminals can take from them. And most people barely use cash anymore because of soaring inflation. Bank vaults are also mostly empty, the observatory's report said. Even if criminals were to steal cash from there, they would not be able to transport the mounds of bills it would take to get a substantial amount of money. Another reason violence is decreasing, according to the non-profit, is that many Venezuelans are leaving the crisis-stricken country. More than three million people have emigrated. Most of these migrants and refugees are young men — gangs' key recruitment demographic. Robert Briceño, the observatory's director, said the economic crisis is affecting every part of society. "These days, nobody is doing well — not honest citizens who produce wealth or the criminals who prey on them". But as a result of the chaos, crime has not so much disappeared as simply morphed in form. While assaults are down, reports of theft and pilfering of everything from copper telephone wires to livestock are surging. Meanwhile, drug trafficking and illegal gold mining have become default activities for organized crime. (NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/venezuela-criminals-feel-pinch-economic-crisis-n1010696; INSIDER: https://www.insider.com/venezuela-crisis-so-bad-criminals-cannot-afford-bullets-2019-5)

 

Politics and International Affairs

Guaidó plays down prospects for Oslo mediation

Venezuelan interim president Juan Guaidó on Sunday played down the prospects for success at a new round of mediation with the government to be hosted by Norway next week, saying protests would continue until Nicolas Maduro resigned. Norway said on Saturday that representatives of Venezuela’s government and opposition will return to Oslo next week following an initial round of preliminary talks about how to address a long-running political crisis. “This is not negotiation. This is not dialogue,” Guaidó told reporters after a rally in the western Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto, adding that his team was simply responding to an offer from the Norwegian government to mediate. Guaidó reiterated that any solution to Venezuela’s crisis required Maduro to stand down, allowing a transitional government to steer the nation to fresh presidential elections. Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday his delegation was preparing to travel to Norway for a fresh round of negotiations with the opposition. The delegation which will represent the regime in the meetings in Norway is headed by Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza and Hector Rodriguez, the governor of Miranda state, Maduro said. Norway said on Saturday that representatives of Venezuela’s government and opposition will return to Oslo next week following an initial round of preliminary talks about how to address the country’s political crisis.

“We announce that the representatives of the main political actors in Venezuela have decided to return to Oslo next week to continue a process facilitated by Norway,” the Scandinavian country’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting the search for an agreed-upon solution between the parties in Venezuela,” it said.  (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/venezuelas-opposition-leader-Guaidó-plays-down-prospects-for-oslo-mediation-idUSKCN1SW0ZH; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/norway-says-venezuela-government-opposition-to-hold-new-round-of-talks-idUSKCN1SV0OT; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-norway/venezuela-government-opposition-will-return-to-norway-for-talks-oslo-says-idUSKCN1SV0P7Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2479087&CategoryId=10717)

 

Russia says it is ready to play role in Venezuela crisis talks in Oslo

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that Moscow was ready to play a role in talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition in Oslo if the participants felt it was useful. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement it welcomed the fact that the talks were continuing but warned against any external powers trying to foist ultimatums on the Venezuelan leadership. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-russia/russia-says-it-is-ready-to-play-role-in-venezuela-crisis-talks-in-oslo-idUSKCN1SX0RB)

 

Federica Mogherini appoints Enrique Iglesias as Special Adviser for Venezuela

In line with the European Union's firm commitment to contribute to a peaceful and democratic solution to the Venezuelan crisis and as a follow-up to discussions held in the context of the International Contact Group, High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini decided today to appoint Enrique Iglesias as her Special Adviser for Venezuela. The appointment of Mr. Iglesias - a Spanish-Uruguayan economist who is a former secretary-general of the Ibero-American General Secretariat and was also President of the Inter-American Development Bank as well as Foreign Minister of Uruguay - will enable a more sustained and reinforced political and diplomatic engagement on the situation in Venezuela. Mr. Iglesias will support the work of the EU and of the ICG to help promote a peaceful, democratic solution to the crisis in Venezuela, through free and fair elections. (European External Action Service: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-Homepage/63282/federica-mogherini-appoints-enrique-iglesias-special-adviser-venezuela_en)

 

US balks as Maduro representative heads up UN-backed disarmament body

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations' main disarmament body walked out of its session on Tuesday to protest that Venezuela had taken the chair. The move by Robert Wood, who insisted "a rogue state" was taking over, came shortly after the Maduro regime’s Ambassador Jorge Valero began hosting a public plenary session of the Conference on Disarmament. Wood said that nothing that comes out of the current session will be legitimate and said the United States will boycott Venezuela's four-week presidency starting this week. He said a dozen members of the so-called Lima Group of countries from Latin America also decided not to take part. The walkout and boycott appeared mostly to be political theatrics, however. Wood acknowledged that the conference "isn't doing very much right now." Venezuela's turn as the conference's president follows a regular rotation by alphabetical order. (FOX News: https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-balks-as-venezuela-heads-up-un-backed-disarmament-body)

 

Leopoldo López Sr. elected to European Parliament

Leopoldo López Gil, father of Venezuelan leader and political prisoner Leopoldo López, has been elected to the European Parliament elections on May 26th. López Gil, who was nominated by the conservative People’s Party (PP) has said that he hopes “to speak faithfully not only for the Kingdom of Spain, but also for Latin American countries and especially Venezuela before the European Parliament.” López Gil received the Spanish nationality in December 2015, when former PP leader Mariano Rajoy was head of government. More in Spanish: (El Universal; http://www.eluniversal.com/politica/41132/leopoldo-lopez-gil-fue-electo-al-parlamento-europeo-por-el-pp-espanol)

 

Venezuelan Ambassador publishes video of trash left by communists in Washington embassy

Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States Carlos Vecchio published a video Monday showing the extensive state of disrepair in which a small group of communists left the U.S. embassy after illegally occupying it for days. Vecchio, appointed by legitimate Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó, published a video on Twitter that showed the building full of trash, loose cables, unwashed dishes, and in a state of general disrepair. This month, local police evicted a group of communist protesters identified as Code Pink agitators working in tandem with the Maduro regime to occupy the building after Maduro’s representatives returned to Caracas. The protesters attracted dozens of Venezuelans who surrounded the building demanding the return of their embassy to their people. Vecchio, whom Guaidó appointed in January following his presidential inauguration by the National Assembly, said the state of the building reflects what the Maduro regime has done to Venezuela as it experiences the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in the country’s history. Now that the embassy has returned to the hands of the Venezuelan government, Vecchio and his team will have the opportunity to use the building as the diplomatic headquarters for relations between the U.S. and Guaidó’s administration. (Breitbart: https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/05/27/venezuelan-ambassador-publishes-video-piles-trash-communists-left-u-s-embassy/)

 

Venezuela called to appear in Canberra court over missed embassy rent payments

The Maduro regime has been taken to court by a Canberra family who alleges the country owes them thousands in unpaid rent money. The regime sought to have the claim dismissed but failed. The Rosa family claimed the South American nation had missed more than $50,000 in rent payments for two properties in O'Malley it had previously used as an embassy. In documents seeking a hearing in the ACT Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the family claimed that from 2017 the republic began to fall behind in payments, and eventually vacated under contentious circumstances. "I do appreciate that the respondent may be placed in a difficult, and perhaps even diplomatically embarrassing, situation by being required to respond to proceedings in this tribunal," senior tribunal member H Robinson said in his decision. "That alone is not a basis upon which this tribunal can or should dismiss these proceedings." Mr. Robinson conceded that, even if a ruling could be made against the Republic of Venezuela, it was questionable whether that could be enforced.  (ABC: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-28/venezuela-called-to-appear-in-canberra-court-over-missed-rent/11151010)

 

Maduro approves machine gun manufacture plan despite firearm ban

Socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro approved a plan on Thursday to manufacture machine guns across Venezuela despite a nationwide ban on the use of firearms. In a video streamed by Venezuelan state propaganda outlet VTV, Maduro announced the approval of funds for a new line of machine guns to be produced in Venezuela. As Maduro openly admitted, the use of such weapons would only be for the military and state security services, allowing them to step up their repression and control of the country’s population to create a Cuba-style communist dictatorship. (Breitbart: https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2019/05/24/venezuela-maduro-approves-machine-gun-manufacture-plan-despite-firearm-ban/)

 

29 die in disturbance at Venezuelan jail

Twenty-nine prisoners were killed, and 19 police wounded on Friday in a disturbance at a pre-trial detention facility in the central state of Portuguesa, a source in the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office told EFE.
The events unfolded in a police lockup in the town of Acarigua. “There was an attempted escape and a fight broke out among gangs,” the state’s public safety secretary, Oscar Valero, told the media. “With police intervention to prevent the escape, well, there were 29 deaths.” Prisoners detonated three grenades, resulting in injuries to 19 police officers, Valero said. The lockup in Acarigua holds more than 350 people awaiting trial, he said.
The Venezuelan Prisons Observatory (OVP), an independent advocacy group, said blame for the deaths lay with the Ministry of Penitentiary Services, created eight years ago to address chronic overcrowding, corruption and violence in the nation’s 30 prisons. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2479058&CategoryId=10717)

 

The following brief is a synthesis of the news as reported by a variety of media sources. As such, the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Duarte Vivas & Asociados and The Selinger Group.

May 02, 2019

Logistics & Transport

FAA issues Venezuela emergency order

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday evening issued an order prohibiting “all flight operations in the territory and airspace of Venezuela at altitudes below FL260” until further notice. This order came out due to the “increasing political instability and tensions”. This order is applied to all U.S. air carriers, commercial operators, and “all persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA,”. Except for pilots flying foreign-registered aircraft or foreign air carriers operating U.S.-registered aircraft. But pilots can deviate if necessary, in case of an emergency that “requires immediate decision and action for the safety of the flight.”  The FAA also said that any air operators currently in Venezuela, which would include private jets, should depart within 48 hours. Yesterday some airlines like Iberia or DHL cancel their flights to Caracas. The flight of Air France returned to Paris probably because of the political situation. (Sam Chui: https://samchui.com/2019/05/02/faa-issues-venezuela-emergency-order/#.XMrv6Y5KhPY)

 

Politics and International Affairs

US doing everything short of ‘the ultimate’, says Trump as protests continue

The United States is doing everything short of “the ultimate” to resolve Venezuela’s crisis, Donald Trump has vowed, after clashes between protesters and security forces broke out in Caracas following a dramatic but so far fruitless bid to force Nicolás Maduro from power by triggering a massive military rebellion. In an interview with Fox News, the US president, who is Venezuelan interim president Juan Guaidó’s most powerful international backer, vowed to continue supporting him in his battle against Maduro, who Trump called “a tough player”. “We are doing everything we can do, short of, you know, the ultimate,” Trump said, adding: “There are people who would like to have us do the ultimate.” Asked what the options were, Trump said: “Well, some of them I don’t even like to mention to you because they are pretty tough.” “It’s an incredible mess … The place is so bad and so dangerous … so something is going to have to be done,” the US president added in the rambling 10-minute interview. “A lot of things will be going on over the next week and sooner than that. We will see what happens.” David Smilde, a Venezuela expert from the Washington Office on Latin America, said the defection of the head of Venezuela’s intelligence services, SEBIN, showed Maduro’s military support was fragile. Jair Bolsonaro said Brazilian intelligence suggested “there is indeed a fracture which is moving closer and closer to the top of the armed forces. So, it is possible the government will collapse because some of those at the top switch sides,” Bolsonaro added. The US national security adviser, John Bolton, also claimed the Maduro regime was close to falling. “Our judgment is that the overwhelming number of military service members in the country support Juan Guaidó and the opposition,” Bolton said: “It’s just a matter of time before they come over the opposition and some of that could happen today.” (The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/venezuela-protests-latest-Guaidó-calls-peaceful-coup-against-maduro; Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-01/trump-s-bet-on-Guaidó-is-tested-as-maduro-remains-in-caracas)

 

Pompeo says military action in Venezuela 'possible'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated Wednesday that US military action in Venezuela is an option in the wake of this week's violent protests, despite military officials and experts casting doubt on the prudence of such a move. "The President has been crystal clear and incredibly consistent. Military action is possible. If that's what's required, that's what the United States will do," Pompeo said on Fox Business Network. "We're trying to do everything we can to avoid violence. We've asked all the parties involved not to engage in the kind of activity. We'd prefer a peaceful transition of government there, where Maduro leaves and a new election is held. But the President has made clear, if there comes a moment -- and we'll all have to make decisions about when that moment is -- and the President will have to ultimately make that decision. He is prepared to do that if that's what's required." (CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/01/politics/mike-pompeo-venezuela-military-action/index.html)

 

U.S. military acknowledged exhaustive contingency planning for Venezuela

The Pentagon on Wednesday appeared to downplay any active preparations to directly intervene in Venezuela to topple Nicolás Maduro but acknowledged detailed contingency planning as political turmoil here deepens. Hours after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to take military action, if necessary, acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said the United States had carried out "exhaustive planning" on Venezuela. But he and other officials continued to emphasize diplomatic and economic pressure to help oust Maduro, as opposed to a U.S.-military led regime change. Asked at one point whether the U.S. military had been given instructions to prepare for a conflict in Venezuela, perhaps by prepositioning U.S. troops, Kathryn Wheelbarger, the acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, said: "We, of course, always review available options and plan for contingencies. But in this case, we have not been given (the) sort of orders that you're discussing, no," Wheelbarger told the House Armed Services Committee. So far, the U.S. military has been largely a spectator amid the unfolding U.S. foreign policy decisions on Venezuela, although it offered small contributions, like helping shuttle humanitarian aid to Colombia for further transport to Venezuela. It has also ramped up its intelligence collection and intelligence sharing with allies, like Colombia, while planning for a possible non-combatant evacuation of Americans from Venezuela, should the need arise. Such planning is standard in any crisis of Venezuela's magnitude. The top uniformed U.S. military officer, Marine General Joseph Dunford, said he was focused on intelligence gathering and being prepared to respond, if Trump sought greater involvement by the Pentagon. But he stressed that the military should act in a way that deepens its partnerships in Latin America -- where the prospect of U.S. military intervention is deeply unpopular. "I think it really is very, very important that we work with others in the region to solve this problem," Dunford said. U.S. Navy Admiral Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. forces in Latin America, said a big focus for the United States and its partners in the region would be helping to restore vital Venezuelan economic infrastructure after Maduro's exit -- something he called "Day Now" planning. "We call it 'Day Now' because there is going to be a day when the legitimate government takes over, and it's going to come when we least expect it -- and it could be right now," Faller said. When asked if he saw a role for the U.S. military in overthrowing Maduro's government, Faller said: "Our leadership's been clear: It has to be, should be, primarily a democratic transition." Still, he said Southern Command was ready to act if called upon for any scenario. "We're on the balls of our feet," he said. Despite the normally apolitical role of members of the military, Faller voiced a direct -- and political -- message to the Venezuelan armed forces, calling on them "to do the right thing." "A transition to legitimate democracy is underway, and I have a message for the professionals in the Venezuelan military and security forces -- the brutal dictatorship of Maduro has led to this man-made crisis. Cuba and Russia have invaded your country and disgraced your sovereignty. You have a chance to do the right thing and alleviate the suffering of your people and your families -- those you have sworn an oath to protect," he said. In a sign the crisis was grabbing the full attention of Trump's national security leaders, Shanahan canceled a planned trip to Europe on Wednesday, in part to help coordinate with the White House National Security Council and State Department on Venezuela. (The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/05/01/world/americas/01reuters-venezuela-politics-usa-military.html; Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa-military/u-s-military-not-given-orders-to-prepare-for-war-in-venezuela-idUSKCN1S744M; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa-planning/u-s-has-done-exhaustive-planning-on-venezuela-scenarios-shanahan-idUSKCN1S74CP)

 

Russia hits back at U.S. over Venezuela, warns of ‘most serious consequences’

Russia has hit back at repeated warnings from the United States over Moscow's alleged role in Venezuela, where Washington has endorsed an attempt to oust the country's socialist regime. As the three-month standoff between Nicolás Maduro and opposition-controlled National Assembly speaker Juan Guaidó grew violent Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged that the Venezuelan leader "had an airplane on the tarmac, he was ready to leave" to Cuba, but "the Russians indicated he should stay." Russia dismissed this narrative Wednesday, with the two country's top diplomats reportedly having it out during a telephone call. "The focus was on the situation in Venezuela, where yesterday the opposition, with the clear support of the United States, attempted to seize power. It was stressed on the Russian side that Washington’s interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state and the threat against its leadership is a gross violation of international law," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a readout of the talk between Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "It was indicated that the continuation of aggressive steps would be fraught with the most serious consequences," the statement added. The State Department later released its own readout of the call, during which Pompeo "stressed that the intervention by Russia and Cuba is destabilizing for Venezuela and for the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship," according to spokesperson Morgan Ortagus. "The Secretary noted the Russian Foreign Ministry’s April 30 statement calling for the renunciation of violence and support for Venezuela’s return to stability and prosperity," the statement read. "The Secretary urged Russia to cease support for Nicolas Maduro and join other nations, including the overwhelming majority of countries in the Western Hemisphere, who seek a better future for the Venezuelan people." (Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-us-venezuela-conflict-warns-serious-consequences-1411720; Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa/tension-grows-between-u-s-and-russia-over-venezuela-standoff-idUSKCN1S73VN; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-usa-russia/pompeo-urges-end-to-russian-involvement-in-venezuela-state-department-idUSKCN1S74G8; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-russia-usa/russia-warns-u-s-over-aggressive-moves-in-venezuela-idUSKCN1S74BF; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-russia/russia-denies-u-s-claim-it-told-venezuelas-maduro-not-to-flee-idUSKCN1S73K3)

 

Thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in Caracas heeding Juan Guaidó ‘s call

As tens of thousands of Venezuelan returned to the streets on Wednesday, Juan Guaidó, the young opposition leader who led that attempted mutiny on Tuesday morning, told demonstrators in the capital, Caracas, they needed to intensify their “peaceful rebellion” against Maduro. “Every day there will be acts of protest until we achieve our liberty,” Guaidó announced. “They thought they could suffocate our protest yesterday and they failed. We will remain in the streets until Venezuela is free.” The country’s political crisis returned to a protracted standoff punctuated by violence on Wednesday, with the government and protesters seeking to project strength at rival May Day rallies. “There’s no turning back,” Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader, told supporters in Caracas, the capital, where tear gas fired by riot police officers shrouded some protest sites. “Despite the repression, we’re still here.” There were reports late in the day that armed pro-government forces used live fire against some protesters in Altamira, part of a Caracas area where the opposition is strong. A 27-year-old woman died from a gunshot wound to the head while protesting there. Thousands of Mr. Guaidó’s supporters in Caracas and elsewhere heeded his call to demonstrate, although not enough to meet his promise to stage “the biggest march in history.” Still, his ability to remain at large and to rally supporters — after his attempt to recruit the military to his side sputtered on Tuesday — underlined the weaknesses in the regime of his opponent, Nicolás Maduro. Mr. Guaidó called on Venezuelan workers to begin “rolling strikes” starting Thursday, building to a general strike later in the month. It was unclear how much pressure that would apply since most companies already operate at minimum capacity after five years of recession. Momentum on the street has flagged. Protest fatigue and constant power and water outages have sapped morale. Attempts by Mr. Guaidó’s supporters to gather at rallying points in Caracas’s downtown Wednesday were swiftly repressed by police officers and national guard members with tear gas, forcing them to fall back to the middle-class opposition stronghold of Chacao in the east of the capital. But by late afternoon, many of the protesters in the capital Caracas had drifted home. National Guards fired tear gas at a hardcore of demonstrators who remained. Chacao’s health authorities said 39 protesters were injured on Wednesday. The defense minister, General Vladimir Padrino, said on Twitter that eight soldiers had been wounded by firearms while “confronting coup violence.” He added, “How long will the impunity last? Across town in central Caracas, thousands of Maduro’s supporters dressed in red marched along the main highway toward the presidential palace. Most appeared to be retirees or public sector workers. Many were brought in from across the country by public buses that stretched for miles on the side of the highway, underlining the government’s desire to portray strength and tenacity after the failed uprising. (The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/world/americas/venezuela-protests-Guaidó-maduro.html; Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics/venezuelan-protests-peter-out-as-maduro-hangs-on-u-s-and-russia-squabble-idUSKCN1S734M; Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-05-01/venezuela-s-Guaidó-takes-a-big-risk-for-a-small-win; https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-30/Guaidó-s-high-risk-gamble-flops-as-maduro-keeps-grip-on-military; The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/venezuela-protests-latest-Guaidó-calls-peaceful-coup-against-maduro)

 

There weren't enough military defectors for Guaidó to declare a victory yesterday, he admits

Speaking to a crowd in Caracas, Juan Guaidó admitted that he did not have enough military defectors on his side to declare victory during yesterday's unrest. "We have to acknowledge that yesterday there weren't enough [pro-Guaidó military defectors]," the National Assembly President and opposition leader said. He added: "We have to insist that all the armed forces [show up] together. We are not asking for a confrontation. We are not asking for a confrontation among brothers, it’s the opposite. We just want them to be on the side of the people." (CNN: https://www.cnn.com/americas/live-news/venezuela-crisis-live-may-day-protests-intl/index.html)

 

Head of Venezuela's secret police turns his back on Nicolas Maduro

The head of Venezuela's secret police has broken ranks with Nicolas Maduro as the country braces for a second day violence following the turmoil surrounding a military uprising. In a possible sign that Maduro's inner circle could be fracturing, the head of Venezuela's secret police wrote a letter on Tuesday breaking ranks with the embattled leader.  In a letter directed to the Venezuelan people, Manuel Ricardo Cristopher Figuera - the head of Venezuela's feared SEBIN intelligence agency - said he had always been loyal to Maduro but now it is time to 'rebuild the country'. He said corruption has become so rampant that 'many high-ranking public servants practice it like a sport'. 'The hour has arrived for us to look for other ways of doing politics,' Figuera wrote. The authenticity of the letter circulating on social media was confirmed by a senior U.S. official. (The Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6979389/Head-Venezuelas-secret-police-turns-Nicolas-Maduro.html)

 

US: Venezuelan officials who were negotiating Maduro exit have gone dark

US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said on Wednesday that top officials with the Venezuelan government who allegedly were negotiating with the opposition for Nicolas Maduro to step down have “turned off their cellphones.” “I’ve run across the fact that many of them have turned off their cellphones,” Abrams said in an interview with EFE. The US government said on Tuesday that three key officials with the Maduro government – Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, Supreme Court of Justice president Maikel Moreno and Presidential Honor Guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala – were negotiating with the opposition to break with Maduro and back Juan Guaidó, who has been recognized as the country’s interim president by 54 nations.
When asked if Padrino Lopez, Moreno and Hernandez Dala are the ones who have turned off their cellphones, Abrams said only that “I’m referring to many people at top levels of the Venezuelan government.” (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2478022&CategoryId=10717)

 

Maduro vows retaliation for “coup attempt” as he denies attempts to flee to Cuba

Nicolas Maduro declared victory in a defiant televised address late on Tuesday over the attempted uprising, vowing retaliation against those who plotted a "coup" to remove him from office. "This will not go unpunished," Maduro said in his first address, broadcast on television and the radio, since the pre-dawn attempt to remove him by a group of soldiers led by opposition leader and interim president Juan Guaidó. Maduro also used his speech to deny claims by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that he had intended to flee to Cuba amid a military uprising against him. "Mike Pompeo said that... Maduro had a plane ready to take him to Cuba, but the Russians prevented him from leaving the country. Mister Pompeo, please, this really is a joke," Maduro said. Maduro insisted he had seen off Tuesday’s attempt to topple him with the backing of “loyal and obedient” members of Venezuela’s Bolivarian armed forces. Flanked by Venezuela’s military and political elite, Maduro blamed Venezuela’s “coup-mongering far right” and Donald Trump’s deranged imperialist “gang” for what he called Tuesday’s attempted coup. “I truly believe … that the United States of America has never had a government as deranged as this one,” On Tuesday night at least 25 Venezuelan troops sought asylum in Brazil's embassy in Caracas, a senior Brazilian official said. A spokesman for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said soldiers and lieutenants were among the applicants. The petitions for asylum came as Bolsonaro threw his support behind Venezuelans "enslaved by a dictator" "Brazil is on the side of the people of Venezuela, President Juan Guaidó and the freedom of Venezuelans," Bolsonaro said in a series of tweets. (The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/30/venezuela-latestviolent-clashes-opposition-leader-juan-Guaidó/; The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/01/venezuela-protests-latest-Guaidó-calls-peaceful-coup-against-maduro)

 

Opposition leader Lopez and family in Spain’s Venezuela Embassy

Venezuelan opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez, his wife Lilian Tintori and their 15-month-old daughter are currently in the Spanish embassy in Caracas just a day after the activist was released from house arrest in a dramatic operation orchestrated by interim President Juan Guaidó and a group of defecting soldiers, Spain’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Lopez, who had been serving an almost 14-year sentence under house arrest for charges linked to anti-regime protests back in 2014, was released Tuesday morning. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2478002&CategoryId=10717)

 

U.N. rights office concerned by use of force in Venezuela

The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday it was “extremely worried” by reports of excessive use of force against demonstrators across Venezuela. “In light of the mass protests planned for today, we call on all sides to show maximum restraint and for the authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly. We also warn against the use of language inciting people to violence,” it said in a statement. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-un/u-n-rights-office-concerned-by-use-of-force-in-venezuela-idUSKCN1S74DA)

 

Venezuela social media blackout lifted minutes before President Maduro's speech

The Venezuelan regime is clamping down on social media as Nicolas Maduro battles Juan Guaidó's calls for a popular uprising. Network data collected by internet observatory Netblocks shows the country's state-run internet provider restricted access to social media on Tuesday. The restrictions were imposed on Twitter, Periscope, YouTube, Facebook and several other services shortly after Guaidó announced what he called the final phase of Operation Freedom. Unrestricted internet access was finally restored just 20 minutes before a live-streamed speech by Maduro in which he accused the US and Colombia of backing opponents of his regime. According to Netblocks, the network data is consistent with state censorship events during other public appearances by Mr. Guaidó, as well as during "a politically significant session of the Venezuelan National Assembly" which was live-streamed. Access to each of the targeted services was intermittently available, as it was in previous filtering events, but Netblocks stated the extent of Tuesday's blocks was unprecedented in Venezuela. The online crackdown has been accompanied by a physical response to demonstrations in the streets. (SKY News: https://news.sky.com/story/venezuela-social-media-blackout-lifted-minutes-before-president-maduros-speech-11708427)

 

Brazil backs Venezuela uprising, but says it won't intervene militarily

Brazil’s government threw its support behind Venezuelan interim president Juan Guaidó’s push to oust Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday and called on other nations to do the same. Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, a former army officer, wrote on his official Twitter account that the people of Venezuela are “enslaved by a dictator” and that he supports “freedom for our sister nation to finally become a true democracy.” His security adviser, retired general Augusto Heleno, said he was shocked by an image of an armored car of Venezuela’s National Guard apparently running over protesters. But he said the situation was not clear, Guaidó’s support among the military appeared to be “weak” and it was uncertain whether military officers were abandoning Maduro. Presidential spokesman General Otavio Rego Barros told reporters Brazil had completely ruled out intervening militarily in Venezuela and was not planning to allow any other country to use its territory for any potential intervention in its neighbor. Earlier, Brazil’s foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said it was “positive” to see movement of some Venezuelan military toward recognizing Guaidó as the legitimate president of their country. “Brazil supports the democratic transition process and hopes the Venezuelan military will be part of that,” Araujo said. (Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-brazil/brazil-backs-venezuela-uprising-but-says-it-wont-intervene-militarily-idUSKCN1S61MK)

 

Number of Venezuelans fleeing to Brazil surges during attempt to oust Maduro

Close to triple the usual number of Venezuelans fled to Brazil on Tuesday, when Venezuelan interim president¿ Juan Guaidó led an attempt to oust socialist leader Nicolas Maduro from power, according to Brazilian government data released on Wednesday. Some 850 Venezuelans came to Brazil on Tuesday by foot, the government said, compared with the usual range of between 250 and 300. The migrants arrived in Brazil’s Roraima state, one of the country’s most isolated and poor, which borders Venezuela and has seen thousands of migrants arrive in recent months. A wider exodus has pushed millions of Venezuelans largely to Colombia and Peru. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-brazil/number-of-venezuelans-fleeing-to-brazil-surges-during-attempt-to-oust-maduro-idUSKCN1S740W)

 

“We must protect our citizens first”: Peru expels 40 Venezuelans

Peru has deported more than 40 Venezuelan migrants for concealing they had criminal records or for residing illegally in the country, Interior Minister Carlos Moran said in the wake of first large expulsion since hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans fled to Peru to escape their country's economic crisis. The migrants were arrested in different districts of the capital, Lima, in a police operation early on Monday, and were put on a military plane headed to Venezuela hours later. Moran said most of the Venezuelans expelled had provided false sworn declarations in their residency applications that they had no criminal record, a violation of Peru's migration law punishable with deportation. Others were deported for residing illegally in the Andean country, Moran added, without providing details. Peru, which has a population of 32 million, has the second-largest population of Venezuelan migrants after Colombia. Most of the 700,000 Venezuelans in Peru arrived in the past year. "As a country, we have fraternally welcomed thousands of Venezuelans who have come to seek a better future," Moran told reporters. "But as a government, we must protect our citizens first, and these people who have entered lying, falsifying information, had criminal records, and that's a threat." Peru created temporary residency permits for Venezuelans in early 2017, allowing them to work and receive health and education services. But last year, the government of President Martin Vizcarra stopped allowing new applicants into the program, which has granted permits to more than 330,000 Venezuelans and is processing requests for 160,000 others. 67% of Peruvians now view Venezuelan immigration as negative, compared with 43% in February 2018, according to an Ipsos poll published in daily El Comercio on Monday. Crime was listed as the top concern, followed by fears about jobs. (Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/protect-citizens-peru-expels-venezuelans-190430052927726.html)

 

Cubans protest U.S. sanctions as Trump raises pressure on Venezuela

Millions of Cubans took to the streets on Wednesday in protest over new sanctions imposed on the Caribbean island by the Trump administration and U.S. efforts to topple the government of socialist ally Venezuela. “We will give a strong, firm and revolutionary response to the statements loaded with threats, provocations, lies and slander of the Yankee empire,” tweeted Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel as dawn broke over Havana. The annual marches across the Communist-run country, marking International Workers Day, provided the first opportunity to publicly protest a U.S. offensive against socialism in the region declared by U.S. national security advisor John Bolton late last year. That was followed by a series of new sanctions against Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua and the appearance of shortages of basic goods on the island. (Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-protests-usa/cubans-protest-u-s-sanctions-as-trump-raises-pressure-on-venezuela-idUSKCN1S742Q)

 

OP-ED: How an elaborate plan to topple Venezuela’s President went wrong, by Uri Friedman

In the effort to topple Nicolás Maduro, Colombia’s ambassador to the United States once told me, the military men propping up Venezuela’s authoritarian president are like chess pieces. If they defect from the regime, “you lose that chess piece,” Francisco Santos explained. “They work better from the inside.” As Tuesday, April 30, began, the United States and its allies thought they finally had checkmate, after months of building up the opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president and recruiting more than 50 nations to their cause. By the end of the day, the board had been flipped upside down, pieces were scattered everywhere, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on CNN blaming the kingmakers, Russia and Cuba, for sabotaging the game. Donald Trump’s administration has at the same time continued issuing warnings to Maduro and his associates, though it’s unclear what effect they will have or whether they will save Guaidó. (In the latest sign that major U.S. actions could still be in the offing, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has canceled a trip to Europe in order to coordinate with the National Security Council and State Department on Venezuela.) Maduro’s airplane was on the tarmac and he was prepared to depart for Cuba on Tuesday morning, but “the Russians indicated he should stay,” the U.S. secretary of state revealed. (The Russians have disputed this account.) The Cubans, he added, are “protecting this thug” and are “at the center of this malfeasance.” Donald Trump, who earlier in the day had cheered on the pro-democracy demonstrators on Twitter, returned to the site to threaten a “complete embargo” and “highest-level sanctions” on Cuba if “Cuban Troops and Militia do not immediately CEASE military and other operations” in Venezuela. As Operation Freedom went sideways, U.S. officials began divulging details of an effort that had gone spectacularly wrong. Bolton named three top Venezuelan officials—Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino; Supreme Court Chief Justice Maikel Moreno; and the commander of the presidential guard, Iván Rafael Hernández Dala—who he claimed had been engaged in lengthy talks with the Venezuelan opposition and had “all agreed that Maduro had to go,” only to renege this week (at least so far) on their commitments to facilitate a democratic political transition. In a tweet addressed to the three men, Bolton suggested that the terms of the deal had been to help remove Maduro from power in exchange for amnesty from Guaidó and the lifting of U.S. sanctions against them. Wednesday, Bolton outlined how the plan was supposed to work. The senior officials and Guaidó would sign documents memorializing their agreement. The Venezuelan Supreme Court would declare Maduro’s Constituent Assembly illegitimate and thereby legitimize the Guaidó-led National Assembly. Military leaders like Padrino would then have the political and legal cover to act against Maduro. Yet “for reasons that are still not clear, that didn’t go forward yesterday,” Bolton admitted. Another senior official, the head of Venezuela’s intelligence service, did in fact split with Maduro, according to U.S. officials. Bolton offered one theory for why the plan never came to fruition: The Cuban government had prevailed on the three officials to stick with their boss. Fear of the tens of thousands of Cuban security forces in the country, he argued, is keeping military officials in check. On television and Twitter on Tuesday, the defense minister repeatedly backed Maduro. But by ratting out Padrino and the other officials, and thus exposing them to Maduro’s retribution, U.S. officials seemed to be deliberately sowing dissension and mistrust in the upper echelons of the Maduro government—as a means of deepening its dysfunction and pressuring top officials to move against Maduro before he moved against them.  Ahead of more anti-Maduro demonstrations on Wednesday, Bolton tried to put a rosy spin on Tuesday’s tumultuous events. Maduro’s support within the military has cratered and his support among the Venezuelan public is nonexistent, he argued, forcing the Venezuelan dictator to desperately cling to Cuba, a cadre of corrupt officials, and paramilitary groups known as colectivos. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that if the campaign to dethrone Maduro fails, Venezuela could “sink into a dictatorship from which there are very few possible alternatives.” The results of that campaign now—something utterly unsettled, halfway between kleptocracy and democracy—were on display in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday at the Venezuelan embassy. Pro-Maduro activists affiliated with Code Pink and other groups, who had occupied the abandoned building and plastered it with messages denouncing American imperialism and regime change, confronted pro-Guaidó protesters across steel barricades and expressionless Secret Service agents. The dueling chants and posters punctuated the confusion of the present moment. (The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/05/white-house-venezuela-maduro-failed/588454/)

 

The following brief is a synthesis of the news as reported by a variety of media sources. As such, the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Duarte Vivas & Asociados and The Selinger Group.