Venezuela’s Diplomat to U.S defects

• Col. José Luis Silva

Venezuela’s top military representative to the United States (US) has defected from Nicolás Maduro’s government.

Col José Luis Silva says he now recognises opposition leader, Juan Guaidó as president instead.

Mr Guaidó declared himself “acting president” on Wednesday, gaining the backing of several countries including the US.

In response, Mr Maduro accused his rival of attempting a coup, and broke off relations with the US.

President Maduro was sworn in for a second term earlier this month after an election marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging, leading to large anti-Maduro protests.

Tens of thousands have protested against Mr Maduro, but, crucially, he has retained the support of the country’s military so far.

The security forces are seen as the key player in this crisis, and Mr Guaidó has asked them to “put themselves on the side of the Venezuelan people”.

 

In a video, filmed at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, Col Silva called for free elections and urged his “brothers in the armed forces of the nation to recognise President Juan Guaidó as the only legitimate president”.

“The armed forces have a fundamental role in the restoration of the democracy in our country. Please, brothers, do not attack our people,” he said.

Later, he told Reuters news agency that two other Venezuelan consular officials in the US also recognised Mr Guaidó as leader.

The security forces are seen as the key player in this crisis, and Mr Guaidó has asked them to “put themselves on the side of the Venezuelan people”.Meanwhile, Mr Maduro backed down over his demand that all US diplomats leave the country.

After cutting ties with the US on Thursday, he had ordered US envoys to depart within 72 hours.

However, Washington said it no longer saw him as president, and so did not recognise his authority to order them out.

On Saturday evening, as the deadline was due to expire, Venezuela’s foreign ministry said it would withdraw the expulsion order, and instead allow 30 days for the two sides to set up “interest offices” in each others’ countries.

Russia, China, Mexico and Turkey have publicly backed Mr Maduro.

At a UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, Russia accused Washington of plotting a coup.

-BBC

 

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