Venezuelan Armed Forces Won’t Allow Destabilization with Colombian Paramilitaries

They will guarantee peace before, during and after the July presidential elections.

On July 5, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab began an investigation related to revelations made by Colombian paramilitaries who admitted that they were contacted by far-right opponents to destabilize the government of President Nicolas Maduro and generate the impression that Venezuela is experiencing a “civil war” before the presidential elections on July 28.

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Through messages and videos posted on social networks, the Colombian paramilitary group, the Sierra Nevada’s Self-Defense Conquerors, stated that members of the Venezuelan extreme right had made contact with its units operating in the department of La Guajira in Colombia.

On Monday, the Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino issued a statement rejecting the claims of the Venezuelan far-right and ratifying that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) will guarantee peace in his country.

????Presidente @NicolasMaduro denuncia que derecha venezolana contactó a paramilitares colombianos para desestabilizar al país y atentar contra su vida y exige investigación al @MinpublicoVEN

????Con Maduro de Repente pic.twitter.com/WqC6fURtFJ

— Agencia Venezuela News (@VNVenezuelanews) July 6, 2024

The text reads, “President Nicolas Maduro denounces that the Venezuelan right contacted Colombian paramilitaries to destabilize the country and attack his life. He demands an investigation from the Prosecutor’s Office.”

The official statement issued by Minister Padrino in reaction to these events is published in full below:

“The FANB vehemently reject the nefarious intentions of the Venezuelan far-right, made public by a group of paramilitaries known as the Sierra Nevada’s Self-Defense Conquerors, which operates illegally in the neighboring Republic of Colombia.

These intentions include acts of sabotage against our national basic services infrastructure; attacks on the physical integrity of Nicolas Maduro Moros, Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and our Commander in Chief; undermining the stability of the legitimately constituted government system and terrorist actions to be carried out in border states.

All of the above aims to create a sense of civil war in our country, while arguing fraud in the elections to be carried out on July 28.

It is not surprising that this radical opposition sector once again resorts to the script of violence. Just remember the extremist events of recent years, which clearly demonstrated their participation.

Once again, they are showing their anti-democratic side precisely on the eve of an electoral day, which they seek to exploit to hide their true fascist face.

It is worth noting that in pursuing their infamous interests, they have always had the advice and collaboration of U.S. government agencies, which do not rest in their perverse ambitions to end the Bolivarian project through the well-known pattern of “forced regime change.”

However, each of these events has encountered the firm and determined position of the Venezuelan people and their Armed Forces, which in perfect civil-military fusion have known how to respond without hesitation and with patriotism, dignity, and self-determination.

The FANB reiterates its unwavering commitment to remain faithful to its democratic traditions. In this sense, it has already launched Operation Republic “2024 Presidential Elections,” in which, as it has historically done, it will guarantee the free exercise of the vote by all citizens, their safety and the safety of voting centers and electoral material.

We will not tolerate acts of any nature that threaten the normal development of this process, and we will act forcefully within the framework of the Constitution and the laws, as well as with the humanistic nature that characterizes us, to ensure peace and democracy for the Venezuelan people.

We will remain alert to destabilizing plans and will ensure, at all costs, the comprehensive defense of our beloved nation.

Chavez lives! The Homeland continues!

Independence and Socialist Homeland! We’ll live and overcome!

The Sun of Venezuela rises in the Essequibo!

Independence or nothing! Always loyal, never traitors!”

Vladimir Padrino
Chief General

In Colombia, a paramilitary group denounces that it was contacted by sectors of the Venezuelan extreme right to generate violence in the country. Here is the story.#venezuela #colombia #paramilitary #acs #paraco #rightwing pic.twitter.com/Xe9NNi5VAC

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 6, 2024