Venezuela government says eight killed in foiled mercenary 'incursion'
04 May, 2020
Venezuela's government said it foiled a marine incursion on Sunday by "terrorist mercenaries" who attemptedto enter the united states on speedboats from neighboring Colombia, which opposition leaders dismissed as a staged incident.
President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of wanting to overthrow him with the backing of Washington, which includes vowed to force him from office through sanctions which may have crippled the OPEC nation's oil exports.
Critics of the ruling Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the federal government.
The group landed in early stages Sunday on the coast of La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 km) from the administrative centre Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address.
"They tried to handle an invasion by sea, several terrorist mercenaries from Colombia, so that you can commit terrorist acts in the united states, murdering leaders of the revolutionary government," he said.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido said the federal government was seeking to distract from recent violent events including a deadly prison riot on Friday and bloody Caracas gang battle on Saturday night.
"The regime is wanting to divert attention with a supposed incident (in La Guaira) plagued with inconsistencies, doubts and contradictions," the press team for Guaido said in a statement.
Guaido, who is the top of the opposition-run congress, is identified by america and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
The STATE DEPT. on Sunday cast doubt on the state version of events and said it continues to support Guaido.
"The Maduro regime has been regular in its usage of misinformation so as to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela," said a State Department spokesman.
"We fully support Interim President Juan Guaido, the National Assembly, and the persons of Venezuela within their quest for a peaceful democratic transition."
Colombia's foreign ministry said the assertions of Colombian involvement were "unfounded" and were meant to distract from "the true issues that the Venezuelan people are living."
Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight persons were killed and two detained.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said among the speedboats had sunk, and that military vessels were searching the coast for survivors.
Maduro has overseen a six-year economic crisis which has left many citizens unable to obtain basic food and medicine and forced almost five million persons to emigrate.
But he retains the backing of the country's military together with countries including China and Russia, that have harshly criticized the US sanctions.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
TAG(s):