Fallout

By now the actions of the Maduro regime belie both their denials of a rescue as well as their assertions that the 5 political hostages in the Argentine embassy had been released pursuant to negotiations between Venezuela and the United States. 

By their deeds — which clearly speak louder than words — the regime reflects the actions of an angry, abusive, and rabid suitor whose advances have been rebuffed. They certainly are not congruent with the results of a “negotiated settlement” but rather those of a utterly outwitted, losing party.

Although the rescue was made known to the world on Tuesday, May 6, it appears to have taken place (or become known to the regime) at least a day earlier (or more). On Monday night, May 5, Rafael Antonio Torres, professor and also political secretary of one of the allied opposition parties, was seen being violently removed from his house and beaten before being forced into a government vehicle. His whereabouts are unknown.

Again, this particular arrest took place on Monday night, the 5th of May, before the world knew anything about the rescue; however, the government functionaries and enforcers obviously did.

But Tuesday, the 6th, marked the furious escalation by the Maduro crime syndicate. In Carabobo, his associates detained journalist Mario Chávez Cohen as well as his mother. Although she was released several hours later, he remains as one of the disappeared.

Also on the 6th, Magallí Meda, one of the 5 who was extracted from the embassy, denounced on X the breaking and entering of her mother’s home in Caracas. She wrote, “At this hour, agents of the regime are violating the doors of my mother’s house…. I condemn this new crime and ask for your support for the protection of my family….”

On Saturday, May 10, the home of Humberto Villalobos, one of the five, was also broken into by hooded, masked, booted, and heavily armed officials. 

These actions have been captured by security or other cameras and images and clips have been published throughout the country.

Coincidentally, on May 1, Human Rights Watch published a detailed report on political detentions and disappearances in Venezuela, noting that the majority of the documented abuses occurred after the fraudulent elections last July. The report also excruciatingly details the deaths of 9 young people, a few of whom had nothing to do with protesting the elections.

Truly we are witnessing the actions of a criminal enterprise

In addition to individuals and their families, entire groups or voluntary organizations have been threatened and acted upon. Spokesmen for The Committee For the Liberty of Our Political Prisoners, one of the associations formed to denounce what has befallen family members has denounced threats against them. However, they affirm their determination to continue to bring to light the loss or disappearances of their loved ones.

In sum, diverse areas of the country have been reporting the disappearances or detentions of political leaders or social activists, including family members in some cases. These include journalists, professors, medical doctors, in addition to unremitting pressure on organizations not deemed friendly to Maduro.

So, given all this activity, I now have to believe this indeed did catch the dictatorship off guard. Very off guard. Not only that, they must be thinking that if these well-guarded, high visibility persons were successfully extracted from what was perhaps the most heavily guarded site in Venezuela (apart from Maduro’s residence), then could there be a Noriega moment in someone’s future?

María Machado certainly is rejoicing along with many in the country, despite the increased repression: “The most surprised of all, and I can guarantee this, are [the regime]. This is an enormous victory, and it moves me deeply because I believe that every Venezuelan feels it like a personal victory.” She was visibly moved as she said this.

“[Operation Macaw] was distinguished by its precision and complexity; it was executed to perfection.” She would say no more in order to protect all involved. 

“There is a plan, a very complex and integral operation, to advance the weakening of what is left of support for this regime,” she said, referring to the international cooperation necessary for the success of Operation Macaw.

She went on to express her gratitude: “With a certainty, Venezuela will soon be free, and after hours of tireless effort, we can announce that, in the framework of a rescue operation coordinated with the governments of the United States and other democratic allies, our colleagues … are now safe and sound on United States soil,” she went on to say.

“We extend a special acknowledgement to the administration of President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as well as to the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, for their unbreakable support in these crucial hours. Their leadership has been a beacon of hope for our colleagues and for the entire Venezuelan nation who yearns for justice and dignity.”

Government enforcers entering the property of Magallí Meda’s mother (Tuesday, May 6, the day after the rescue)

Inside the house of Magallí Meda’s mother (Tuesday, May 6; the day after the rescue)

I have pasted only 4 photographs below. I do so to remind us that we are talking about real flesh and blood people like you and me. These are brave individuals who have not been accused of violence à la 2020 riots in the United States or the violent protests in more recent years. 

These folk oppose the dictatorial regime and have sought to do so by constitutional means. But we must always remember: those for whom the state is God, will not tolerate blasphemy against it. Therefore opposition to the state, or to the policies thereof, will pay a heavy price — up to their very lives.

Pray for Venezuela.

Attorney Merlina Carrero, among the many who have “disappeared” since the dramatic rescue.

Physiatrist Angel Lugo, among the disappeared.

Journalist, Mario Chávez Cohen, among the disappeared. His mother was also arrested and released hours later.

Rafael Antonio Torres, professor, was seen to be forcefully extracted from his home and “beaten violently” before being taken away. He is among the disappeared.

Note: For recent events I have found Infobae to be a reliable source and less tendentious than others. I do not vouch for them in general; however, for these recent days, they have been accurate.

About That Rescue

The Argentina embassy saga began months before the July, 2024 Venezuela elections. In a nutshell, the Venezuela state regime, headed by Nicolás Maduro, well aware of its deep unpopularity with the Venezuelan people, began arrests and disappearances, and issued arrest warrants against the key players of the united opposition who in turn sought asylum in the embassy. 

Arrests began with a frenzy, including Dignora Hernández, 56-year-old political secretary of an opposition party, violently taken from her home as she cried for help and roughly pushed by goons into a state vehicle. This was caught on video surreptitiously and went viral. She is still detained, 413 days later.

Six remaining opposition leaders sought asylum from Argentina, which was granted the same day as the aforementioned arrest, in March, 2024. From that embassy, surrounded by Venezuelan military and intelligence forces, which at times would cut off water and power and even food, these six were still able, not only to mobilize millions to vote in July, but also to get election monitors to access official vote tallies which demonstrated a landslide victory for the opposition.

Therefore, when the regime announced its “victory”, the evidence loudly belied it and various countries found themselves obligated to not recognize the regime or to “pretty please” ask them to publish the actual tallies. Such polite requests still await replies.

Massive multitudes protested after the farce of an election, but the state’s response was brutal. And effective. The opposition candidate, Edmundo González, fled to Spain, having been granted safe passage, loudly and with state-approved photos.

Parenthetically, it is important to remember that the opposition candidate was Corina Machado originally. However, the state declared her too popular inelegible and struck her off the ballot; she therefore convinced the 75-year-old González to run instead.

The months slipped by; the Venezuelan state broke diplomatic relations with Argentina whose personnel evacuated; Brazil “took charge” of the embassy, whatever that means; and the asylum seekers remained.

In December (2024), one of the six, Fernando Martínez, agreed to evacuate; eventually leaving the embassy in a Swiss diplomatic automobile. He died two months later.

Yesterday, after 412 days of captivity, the world learned that the remaining 5, along with Ms Machado’s infirm mother, had been “extracted” from Venezuela, ending the ordeal for them, but not for the stricken land.

As usual, the folks on the ground, in this case, local (Venezuela), independent sources, are perhaps more accurate, although we cannot be sure until more details are made available.

With that caveat, what we are hearing is that this was a USA operation, which took place while Maduro was in Moscow where he received a call at 3 AM, Moscow time. The message was, “Estados Unidos liberó a todos los que estaban en la embajada argentina. [The United States has freed all who were in the Argentina embassy].”

If that report is accurate, it certainly was not happy news for the strongman who is now no doubt intent on finding out who betrayed him. There will be scapegoats for sure and it won’t be pretty.

Few details are known, other than what a local said, “Fue de película [It was an action movie — rough translation].”

A word of caution, however. The apparatchiks are insisting that this was a negotiated release long in the works. Although I tend to discount such pronouncements, I am intrigued as to how such an operation could have taken place in the heart of Caracas, next to other embassies, including the Russian, and surrounded by Venezuelan security.

On the other hand, when Mr. González left the country for Spain, the state made it a great propaganda coup. Why not this “negotiated” action? 

Could it have been an “extraction” over time — one per week or day?

I hope I am wrong, but I believe this event caught the state by surprise, during the absence of the “duly elected president”, no less. If I am correct, then we will see retaliations which will make those which followed last July’s elections seem like child play.

So, again, I do hope I am wrong.

Meanwhile, Ms Machado, although very happy for the successful extraction, is still in hiding in Venezuela. 

And inflation is in triple digits.

Pray for Venezuela.

Edmundo González, photo published in local media upon his having been granted safe passage to Spain where he sought asylum in September, 2024. This event was widely published by the state.

The five hostages: Magalli Meda, Claudia Macero, Pedro Urruchurtu, Humberto Villalobos, and Omar González

The original six. Fernando Martínez, bottom row, center, evacuated the embassy in December and died two months later.

A Summary of the Recent Elections in Venezuela and Their Aftermath

Rene J. Abreu wrote a post on his LinkedIn page which you might find of interest. It is brief and compact, yet the full story. The most recent news is that the Venezuela state has suspended X (formerly Twitter) in Venezuela, thereby further hindering the communication and the uncensored news among the Venezuelan people.

I thank Rene for his post and have put his link further below.

By Rene J. Abreu

Venezuela Events After the July 2024 Presidential Elections and the “Venezuelan Mining and Metallurgical Engineers Society (SVIMM)”.

In Spanish SVIMM is “Sociedad Venezolana de Ingenieros de Minas y Metalúrgicos”, an institution created in 1958. As censorship grew up significantly in Venezuela during the last two decades, new directors took the institution lead in 2017. Bravely, this professional institution has been publicly in favor of the truth and the right doing in the natural resources industries in Venezuela.

On Sunday July 28th, 2024, a Presidential Election took place in Venezuela and the opposition won with roughly 70% of the votes. On the same day, the Government announced fraudulently their victory, showing no proof of votes and proceedings.

As it is not easy to understand this situation by my non-Venezuelan friends and readers, following are some facts that may help:

1) For 25 years the same government/political system has been in power.

2) After the first election in 1998, using the democracy tools the government was able to control all the internal institutions and became a “modern dictatorship”.

3) Some opposition parties and leaders were prohibited, controlled, jailed, assassinated, or forced to emigrate. Approximately 8 million people were forced to emigrate and some 4.5 million of them were lawfully registered to vote abroad. Only less than 70,000 emigrants were allowed to vote in this presidential election.

4) Through a Primary Election in 2023, leader Maria Corina Machado unified the opposition, but the regime disqualified both, Mrs Machado and her appointee Mrs Corina Yoris. The lawful opposition party “Plataforma Unitaria Democrática (PUD)” was able to register Mr Edmundo Gonzalez as the unique opposition candidate.

5) While the regime changed rules, jailed politicians, and used traps, the opposition built up a huge social movement of people along the country.

6) Peacefully millions of Venezuelans attended and voted on July 28th.

7) On Monday July 29th the opposition started progressively publishing in internet the actual proceedings (Acts) to prove the wide gap in votes between both candidates. This platform is still open to the world.

8) Venezuelans have been peacefully demonstrating on the streets nationwide against the fraud. The regime is violently acting as a gang of foreign and local criminals combined with some police and military Venezuelans. The repression continues now. It is urgently required the support by the world’s democracies to save the Venezuelan People and for the truth to prevail.

I would like to congratulate SVIMM for publicly demanding on August 1st the Venezuelan Electoral Authorities the publication of all the proceedings supporting their July 28th, 2024, announcement. I think that the future of geology, mining, and metallurgy is bright in Venezuela with the resilience and bravery of institutions like SVIMM.

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