On February 19th, Venezuela announced that the nearby maritime border with Dutch Caribbean islands before the February 23rd deadline for the entry of US humanitarian aid given by US-proclaimed Interim President Juan Guaido.
The closure blocks movement of boats and aircraft between the western Venezuelan coastal state of Falcon and the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, said Vice Admiral Vladimir Quintero, who heads a military unit in Falcon.
Curacao’s government, which has agreed to receive aid for Venezuela without being involved in its delivery, said in a statement that the closure was meant “to prevent humanitarian aid from getting in.”
“Curacao will not force in the aid, but it will continue to function as a logistical center,” it said.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino in a televised broadcast on February 19th said Venezuelan troops would remain stationed along the country’s borders to prevent territorial violations.
Padrino said officers and soldiers remained “obedient and subordinate” to Maduro.
“They will never accept orders from any foreign government. … They will remain deployed and alert along the borders, as our commander in chief has ordered, to avoid any violations of our territory’s integrity,” Padrino said.
Furthermore, the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB) released a statement on Twitter condemning US President Donald Trump’s calls for the military to support the opposition and follow his orders.
GJ @vladimirpadrino: "Nuestra Constitución señala que para ser CJ de la #FANB primero se tiene que ser venezolano por nacimiento, luego hacer carrera política en Venezuela, seguidamente postularse a elecciones para después ganar por elección popular". #FANBUnidaPorLaDignidad pic.twitter.com/qxxAElX9s9
— Prensa FANB (@PrensaFANB) February 19, 2019
“Our Constitution points out that to be Commander of the #FANB first one has to be Venezuelan by birth, then to make political career in Venezuela, then to run for elections and then win by popular choice.”
GJ @vladimirpadrino: "No existe el debate de ideas, ni la discusión, ni la dialéctica, es el pensamiento único que se quiere imponer al mundo, a través de la fuerza, de la obligación y de la coerción, pero nosotros aquí en Venezuela tenemos una Constitución que respetar". pic.twitter.com/vRBmNg1tBb
— Prensa FANB (@PrensaFANB) February 19, 2019
“There is no debate of ideas, neither discussion, nor dialectic, is the only thought that wants to impose on the world, through force, obligation and coercion, but we here in Venezuela have a constitution to respect.”
GJ @vladimirpadrino:"Es una falta de respeto, exigirle y suplicarle a la #FANB colocarse al margen de la CRBV y de sus instituciones.Nos subestiman.Estamos llamados a cumplir nuestra tarea histórica:Defender la patria.¡Vamos a resistir y vamos a vencer!". #FANBUnidaPorLaDignidad pic.twitter.com/dnVWmrKj72
— Prensa FANB (@PrensaFANB) February 19, 2019
“It is a lack of respect, to demand and for him to plead that the #FANB be placed outside the Constitution and its institutions. They underestimate us. We are called to fulfill our historical task: to defend the fatherland. Let’s resist and we’ll win!”
NOTICIA. “ES UNA FALTA DE RESPETO EXIGIRLE A LA FANB COLOCARSE AL MARGEN DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN Y DE SUS INSTITUCIONES”. https://t.co/Ex6yjsVFSC pic.twitter.com/XExwutEo2g
— Prensa FANB (@PrensaFANB) February 19, 2019
US National Security Adviser John Bolton also continued his usual rhetoric, alleging that the Venezuelan military plans to harm its own people.
The Venezuelan military must uphold its duty to protect civilians at the Colombian and Brazilian borders, and allow them to peacefully bring in humanitarian aid without violence or fear of persecution.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 20, 2019
Any actions by the Venezuelan military to condone or instigate violence against peaceful civilians at the Colombian and Brazilian borders will not be forgotten. Leaders still have time to make the right choice.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 20, 2019
Separately, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Perilla gave a press conference to deny that the country has security forces in Venezuela and charged the statements were part of an orchestrated campaign of lies paving the way for military intervention in the South American country.
#ConferenciaDePrensa ofrecida a medios de comunicación nacionales y extranjeros acreditados en el país, para dialogar sobre temas de importancia para #Cuba en la actual coyuntura. | #Venezuela #EEUU
Véala a través del canal de youtube de @CubaMINREXhttps://t.co/ZS79aUGipF— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) February 20, 2019
#Cuba reaffirms its duty and commitment to continue offering its modest cooperation to #Venezuela, involving more than 20 thousand cooperation workers, all civilian, 94 percent of them in health, others in education, as we do in another 83 countries of the world. (2/2)
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) February 19, 2019
He also said that there is a big political and communications campaign underway, which “are usually the prelude to larger actions by this government.”
“We are all witnesses in the making of humanitarian pretexts. A deadline has been set for forcing the entry of humanitarian aid,” Rodriguez said.
Finally, ahead of the February 23rd deadline for the entry of humanitarian aid, Juan Guaido started a plan aimed at influencing the top brass of the Venezuelan military to aid the opposition.
Vamos a mandarle un mensaje a cada jefe militar responsable de las zonas del país por donde va a entrar la #AyudaHumanitaria
Es un llamado a la reflexión que haremos de manera pacífica, con la convicción de que juntos logremos el cese de la usurpación. #SoldadoEscucha
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) February 19, 2019
“We’re going to send a message to every responsible military chief in the areas of the country where it’s [the aid] is going to #AyudaHumanitaria will be a call to reflection that we will do peacefully, with the conviction that together we will achieve the cessation of usurpation.”
He then went on to publish pictures and contact details of Venezuelan army military chiefs, which his supports may contact and “urge” to assist in the delivery of aid.
Vamos a escribirle al Alm. Eladio José G. Jimenez Rattia, desde el corazón, con argumentos, sin violencia, sin insultos, nuestras razones para que permita el ingreso de la ayuda humanitaria.#SoldadoEscucha pic.twitter.com/dJ5qophB7W
— Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) February 19, 2019
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