Venezuela's Government Issues Alert on Potential Far-Right Aggression Prior to Elections
Mexico City, Mexico, July 9, 2024 - (our website) Alarm bells are ringing in Venezuela as political figures express concerns about potential political violence ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Colombian paramilitary group, the "Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada," claimed they received approaches from Venezuelan far-right figures seeking to engage in sabotage and assassinations.
In a chilling video released Thursday, masked individuals representing the group's high command said their Colombian counterparts in La Guajira had been contacted by Venezuelan far-right groups to carry out "destabilizing acts" on Venezuelan soil. The unknown spokesperson claimed they were asked to sabotage the electric grid, attack President Nicolás Maduro, and instigate chaos if he was re-elected on July 28. However, the group denied the requests, stating their policy is to refrain from meddling in other countries' affairs. They also vowed to inform Venezuelan authorities.
Venezuelan government officials swiftly denounced the alleged plot, with Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino stating, "It's practically inevitable that this radical opposition sector resorts yet again to violence." Padrino further warned that the Venezuelan Armed Forces, responsible for ensuring election security, would act decisively to maintain peace and democracy.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab launched an investigation into the allegations and extended an invitation to Colombian counterparts to help with the probe. Saab stated, "This is a neo-Nazi tactic to destabilize the nation. These far-right figures have sought support for violent actions within Venezuela prior to the electoral process."
President Maduro and seven other presidential candidates recently signed a pledge to respect the election result and commit to a peaceful democratic process, explicitly rejecting any form of violence or destabilization efforts. Edmundo González, Maduro's main opposition rival, and one other candidate refused to sign the pledge.
Venezuelan electoral processes have a history of post-election turmoil. The 2013 presidential vote, in which Maduro narrowly defeated Henrique Capriles, saw US-backed hardline opposition refusing to recognize the results and igniting violent street protests in an attempt to overturn the outcome.
Recently, ranking Chavista, Diosdado Cabello, warned that US-backed opposition factions were planning on rejecting this election's result if it wasn't favorable. Colombia's paramilitary connection to this election's alleged sabotage has yet to be substantiated.
Historically, the Colombian conflict involved paramilitary groups, some of which had links to political entities, as witnessed during the Uribe administration's parapolitics scandal. However, there's no clear evidence connecting Colombian paramilitaries to Venezuelan elections or political assassinations. Officially, there are no ongoing investigations specifically targeting Colombian paramilitary involvement in Venezuelan elections.
Venezuelan lawmaker and head of Maduro's campaign, Jorge Rodríguez, called for an investigation by the National Assembly into threats allegedly aimed at opposition politicians who are not allied with the US-backed opposition led by María Corina Machado. Rodríguez shared images of inflammatory language directed at two local opposition politicians who are not part of the hardline opposition. He also urged international election observation teams, including the US-based Carter Center, to decry the threats.
- The Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada, a Colombian paramilitary group, has claimed they received approaches from Venezuelan factions, seeking to engage in acts of sabotage and assassinations on Venezuelan soil.
- Venezuelan lawmaker and head of Maduro's campaign, Jorge Rodríguez, has called for an investigation by the National Assembly into threats allegedly aimed at opposition politicians who are not allied with the US-backed opposition led by María Corina Machado.
- Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab has launched an investigation into the allegations of a potential political violence plot involving far-right Venezuelan factions and Colombian paramilitary groups.
- In general news and crime-and-justice sections of newspapers and other media outlets, this alleged plot to destabilize Venezuela ahead of the upcoming presidential election has generated significant discussion, bolstering concerns about war-and-conflicts and further complicating Venezuelan politics.
