Briefing

“May 1st Began Today”

Guaidó announced "the beginning of the end of usurpation" accompanied by Leopoldo López from La Carlota airbase, after National Guard officers rose against the regime. Protests erupt in several cities. Earlier, regime spokespeople attempted to minimize the incident but are now silent. The international community congratulates soldiers for supporting the Constitution and democracy.

Naky Soto

Those were the words of caretaker President Juan Guaidó from La Carlota airbase at 5:45 a.m. this Tuesday, April 30th. He broadcasted his message through Periscope, with Voluntad Popular leader and political prisoner Leopoldo López by his side. “The end of usurpation began today,” said Guaidó before rallying citizens to join him at La Carlota for the “definitive end of usurpation.” He also rallied the Aid and Freedom committees, public employees and the Armed Forces, saying that they are “essential for the reconstruction and for recovering sovereignty,” asking them to join the cause. “We must remain in the streets. Citizens are the ones who will determine what happens today in this process,” said Guaidó from the freeway near Altamira.

On social networks

Juan Guaidó ratified through his social networks the messages he gave in his video, announcing the beginning of the end of usurpation, explaining that he’s supported by “the main military units of our Armed Forces,” calling citizens to take to the streets to “continue the deployment until we consolidate the end of usurpation which is already irreversible.” Guaidó said to the Armed Forces that they “made the right choice” and that they have the support of the people and the Constitution, calling them to deploy their forces. He rallied Caracas citizens to La Carlota and asked the entire country to go out and support the democratic forces (the main military units) in recovering our freedom.

And the electronic shackle?

Leopoldo López, a political prisoner since 2014, said that he was released by agents of the State Secret Police (SEBIN) who complied with the amnesty decreed by caretaker President Guaidó: “This is the time to take to the streets to support patriotic soldiers. This is the time for all Venezuelans, in uniform or not, everyone to the streets,” he said from the freeway near Altamira.

The Regime

Diosdado Cabello rallied Chavista supporters to gather at the Miraflores Palace to defend it, although, in truth, nobody’s threatening it. According to Cabello, some of the soldiers involved in the operation “were deceived.” Vladimir Padrino López rejected “this coup-mongering movement that seeks to fill the country with violence,” saying that the operation’s being led by “fake political leaders,” criticizing what he takes as an uprising using troops and police officers with firearms in public roads, causing fear and terror.

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton asked Padrino López to “protect the Constitution and the Venezuelan people (…) the United States stands with the people of Venezuela.”

Jorge Arreaza used Bolton’s message to promote his brilliant theory: “The masterminds of the coup d’état brazenly recognize their authorship. In its desperation, the Trump Administration seeks to cause internal conflict in Venezuela.”

But don’t worry, Jorge Rodríguez said earlier: “Right now we’re facing and neutralizing a small group of traitor military officers posted in Altamira to promote a coup against the Constitution and the Republic’s peace.” By the way, other than Arreaza, Chavistas have been silent on social media for hours.

Citizen reactions

In several cities, people have taken to the streets to protest. Communications have been terrible for days, and now the internet service was blocked once again, it works intermittently with some providers. There have been tear gas attacks near La Carlota airbase, while CNN reported gunfire in Altamira. At 8:42 a.m. A video appeared on social media showing National Guard officers pressuring other soldiers to climb off an armored vehicle at the Francisco Fajardo freeway near El Recreo. The Caracas Metro shut down operations for “security reasons,” according to the official Twitter account.

Movements on the board

  • OAS chief Luis Almagro celebrated that soldiers adhered to the Constitution and now support caretaker President Juan Guaidó: “It’s necessary to support the democratic transition process fully and peacefully.”

  • U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo said: “The U.S. Government fully supports the Venezuelan people in their quest for freedom and democracy. Democracy cannot be defeated.”

  • For European Parliament Speaker Antonio Tajani, this day “marks a historic moment for the recovery of democracy and freedom in Venezuela, which the European Parliament has always supported. The release of Sajarov Award recipient Leopoldo López by soldiers loyal to the Constitution is great news.”

https://twitter.com/EP_President/status/1123176091416518657

  • Colombian President Iván Duque called Venezuelan soldiers and citizens “to stand on the right side of history, rejecting Maduro’s dictatorship and usurpation; joining the quest for freedom, democracy, and institutional reconstruction.”

  • His Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo convened all Lima Group member countries to an emergency meeting “in order to continue supporting the return of democracy and freedom to Venezuela.”

  • Panamanian Vice-president and Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo said: “Panama is ready, immediately. It’s time to redouble efforts in support of the Venezuelan people for the return of democracy.”

  • Chile’s Foreign Ministry said that they’re closely monitoring events and that their diplomatic mission in Caracas activated a contingency plan: “We’re coordinating the strategy with the Lima Group.”

  • Peru’s Foreign Ministry restated full support for Juan Guaidó “in his fight to recover democracy in Venezuela. The dictatorial regime of usurper Maduro must come to an end,” adding that they’re closely following events along with the Lima Group.

…

I wrote this report at 9:15 a.m. I’ll probably send more updates throughout the day. We go on.

Opposition Politics

Naky Soto

Naky gets called Naibet at home and at the bank. She coordinates training programs for an NGO. She collects moments and turns them into words. She has more stories than freckles.

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