While the push for getting the aid into the country faced military and paramilitary violence in three of our borders, at former chavista strongholds people demand a change, now. This is the second entry of Camille’s motorcycle diaries, a series of dispatches on mototaxi from Caracas.
The battle for humanitarian aid at the Venezuela-Colombia border affected people on both sides, physically and spiritually. Anger, frustration, chaos and a glimmer of hope, this is what we saw from the field.
We Venezuelans need to have the right expectations about what will happen in the following weeks. One particular issue, amnesty, is a whole source of dissent, disappointment and conflict.
Nicolás Maduro tried to stop Venezuelans from watching and hearing the Venezuela Aid Live concert by taking down two cable channels and launching several Internet blockings.
As someone born and raised close to Colombia in many senses, the Venezuela Live Aid was the quintessential gathering of that nation of superposed identities and affections that lives around this border. The symbolism goes way beyond what Branson said.
Venezuela Aid Live brought up the best of people, regardless of which side of the border they come from, while it helped to make our problems visible to the world. But the event, from that marginalized, strange place, also showed the strength we Venezuelans have built, even under the threat of war.
Music, hope, possible mistakes… The Colombian epicentre of Venezuela Aid Live is a mix of emotions and premonitions a day before the concert and the security-sensitive visit of three presidents. Here are some voices of the city.
In the first Cucuta Chronicles dispatch, our intrepid reporters pretend to be married and face the bleak possibilities of separation and abduction, until they solve the situation and cross the border by the power of a couple of Andean pastries.
A huge benefit concert in Cucuta will serve as a prelude to push forward the humanitarian aid and to create more global awareness on the Venezuelan crisis. But can it bring more public attention to our crisis or simply attract those convinced?
We're all waiting to see how the current stalemate in Venezuela will be resolved, but free and democratic elections should be the outcome of the crisis, and that means including around 3 million Venezuelans of the diaspora, even if they have no regular status.
We’ve been able to hang on for 22 years in one of the craziest media landscapes in the world. We’ve seen different media outlets in Venezuela (and abroad) closing shop, something we’re looking to avoid at all costs. Your collaboration goes a long way in helping us weather the storm.
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