Sunday 19 / May / 2024
Bogota: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has urged his troops to be 'ready' for potential military action, as a limited number of opposition supporters marched on military barracks in a bid to win the armed forces’ support.
The small turnout of the marches, with participants in the hundreds, not the thousands, is another setback for opposition leader Juan Guaido, following a failed uprising earlier in the week.
Underscoring the continued military support for his socialist regime, Maduro delivered his televised address from a base in northwestern Cojedes state, where he appeared alongside his defence minister, Vladimir Padrino, and in the presence of more than 5,000 troops.
The US has refused to take the threat of military action off the table in its push to oust Maduro, although it so far has limited its campaign to ramping up sanctions. Guaido’s cause gained renewed support on Saturday from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who issued a video address to the Venezuelan people, telling them, “The time for transition is now.”
“You can hold your institutions, your military and their leaders to the highest standards and demand a return to democracy,” Pompeo said in the message. “The United States stands firmly with you in your quest.”
National Assembly head Guaido, 35, has branded Maduro a usurper over his controversial re-election last year, and in January declared himself acting President.
But Maduro has held firm, bolstered by the continued support of the powerful armed forces.
“I told the generals and admirals yesterday: loyalty, I want an active loyalty... I trust you, but keep your eyes open, a handful of traitors cannot tarnish the honour, the unity, the cohesion and the image of the armed forces,” the President said in his speech from the military base.
On Twitter, Guaido, recognised by more than 50 countries as Venezuela’s interim president, urged his supporters to 'mobilise in a civil and peaceful way' to their nearest military base, to persuade the armed forces to abandon Maduro and back a transitional government.
In Barquisimeto in the northeast, the National Guard pushed back marchers with tear gas.
“The goal is to carry our message without falling into confrontation or provocation,” added Guaido.
This protest came days after Guaido tried to incite an uprising that fizzled out, with a group of 25 rebel soldiers seeking refuge in the Brazilian embassy in Caracas.
The effort triggered two days of clashes between opposition supporters and government forces that left four people dead and hundreds injured.
Small groups of protesters marched on four military bases in Caracas.
In Barquisimeto, a group of women unsuccessfully attempted to pass on to National Guard troops a document containing Guaido’s proclamation to the military to abandon Maduro.
As major world powers have been drawn in, the US has thrown its support behind Guaido and Russia and China have backed Maduro.
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel, a regional ally of Venezuela’s, said on Twitter he had spoken to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and “stressed the need for dialogue with President Maduro and respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and international rights without threats or outside intervention.”
