Human Rights Watch, with help from Johns Hopkins University researchers, issued a report on the Venezuelan crisis, urging UN to act. The World Bank also issued a report presenting a bleak picture of the economic crisis. Jorge Arreaza praises Al-Assad in Syria and regime officials continue to request financial help from Russia. NATO countries discuss Russian troops in Venezuela and the U.S. requests UN Security Council meeting.
The war against Venezuela is now “electric, electromagnetic, cybernetic and psychic,” according to Maduro. It doesn’t matter how many types of war are fought against us, CORPOELEC will still be “restructured”. It’s highly likely that the Russian missiles were damaged during the blackouts.
The constituent assembly illegally strips Guaidó off his parliamentary immunity by request of the Supreme Tribunal. Guaidó ignores them. Protests for electricity and lack of water continue despite repression. The National Assembly declares chavista armed groups as terrorists and asks the OAS and the UN to do the same. Desperate Venezuelan citizens break through the National Guard's blockade at the border with Colombia.
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.
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