International

Maduro calls on military to be alert to alleged plan by “fascist groups”

Photo: EFE

July 5 |

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called on Tuesday on the military to be alert and respond with “union” in the face of an alleged plan of “fascist groups” that intend to create violence in the country, although he did not offer details on this denunciation.

“What those fascist groups did recently shows that they have a plan to take us back to the violence of the guarimbas (protests), to the time of intolerance, confrontation, useless conflict and division among Venezuelans, and we will not allow it,” said the president in Caracas.

The call was made during a ceremony for the promotion of 251 members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), in which he asked the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, to respond to those who “are once again launching messages to divide” the military institution.

“I authorize the FANB to respond to fascism, coups and imperialism. I authorize the FANB to respond with unity, with morale, in the streets, with strength and to tell them clearly that the Armed Forces are not to be messed with”, insisted the head of state without explaining what the messages in question are or who has delivered them.

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“Coup plotters and fascists who denigrate our military (…) whoever messes with the peace of the republic must have the answer in the clear word, in the order, in the clear command of all the military leadership”, he added.

During the decade that Maduro has been in power, Venezuela has experienced several waves of anti-government protests, branded as “guarimbas” by the Executive, some of which left dozens of people dead, especially in 2014, 2017 and 2019, when the political tension was higher.

Related Topics:Maduro Militares Venezuela

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ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

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“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

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