On a mandatory broadcast, Maduro blamed an electric coup. Motta Domínguez was finally fired. Venezuelans have kept protesting. Guaidó was cool about Maikel Moreno’s threats and about the colectivos that tried to scare him and protesters away in San Bernardino yesterday.
Losing power doesn’t mean Venezuelans lose the will to protest, even if colectivos and not security forces show up to open fire against protesters. Classes will remain suspended and shorter working days were decreed by chavista authorities. The Russians that arrived last week are mechanics, they said.
The Red Cross will distribute humanitarian aid to Venezuelans in need. Chavismo will bring medical supplies from China and called it “an exercise of sovereignty and independence”. Diosdado confused everyone when he called military training and exercises a “battle for peace”. On Friday night, the third nationwide blackout in a month left 21 states in the dark.
The ongoing national blackout has forced people to collect water from Guaire river and the city's sewers. AN declared a State of National Alarm and orders end of oil shipments to Cuba. Michelle Bachelet's commission is already here and met with Jorge Arreaza. They plan to meet with the AN's board, civil society organizations and victims of human rights abuses.
Most of the country is still in the dark amidst reports of looting and repression by security forces and colectivos, although service has been restored in some areas for now. Caretaker President Juan Guaidó offered a balance of the problem and said he's talked with other nations to ask for help. Parliament is set declare a State of National Alarm this Monday.
Some parts of Caracas have had electricity for a couple of hours, power hasn’t been restored in the rest of the country. It’s been 43 hours already. Chavismo blames the usual suspects: the U.S. and Guaidó, who reiterated his call to march this Saturday. In Caracas, the final rallying point will be the Victoria avenue.
Guaidó spoke in the AN about the outcome of his Latin American visit. Nicolás expelled the German ambassador and gave him 48 hours to leave the country. More censorship online, please think about a Plan B. Since the border with Colombia remains closed, children protest for their right to go to school.
Guaidó said he’d come through Maiquetia and he did. He went through immigration without problem; diplomats were waiting right outside, just in case. He made a few quick stops in La Guaira and went to the Alfredo Sadel square, where thousands of Venezuelans were waiting. Chavismo blocked websites but was even forced to talk about what happened in State outlets, which is new.
Guaidó announced after his LatAm tour that he’d come back to Venezuela and called for nationwide rallies this Monday at 11:00 a.m. Several countries, warned Maduro not to take any actions against him. Pressure builds for Michelle Bachelet to visit Venezuela. Regime members keep pushing for dialogue with no talk of elections.
Guaidó is received with honors in Paraguay and Argentina. Colombia and the Lima Group pledge to support him in his return to Venezuela. State censorship and journalist detentions continue. OAS holds forum about corruption in Venezuela. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned six security officers involved in obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid on February 23rd.
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