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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| From Colombia, Venezuelan defectors arm themselves to 'liberate' their homeland |
| 2019-05-29 |
| CUCUTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Wearing camouflage shirts and combat boots, a Venezuelan militia group stands in formation in the Colombian city of Cucuta as their commander, a former Venezuelan army sergeant, outlines plans to seize towns across the border before heading to Caracas to help oust President Nicolas Maduro. Eight men, who said they were defectors from Venezuelan police, army and intelligence services, had gathered near the two nations’ tense frontier, from where they said they will lead an attack aimed at overthrowing Maduro and handing the reins of power to opposition leader Juan Guaido. Dubbing their planned offensive "Operation Venezuela," the ex-army sergeant, Eddier Rodriguez, said there were around 150 men ready to take part with his group. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the status of the eight men or the size of the militia. "Our goal is to liberate the country," said Rodriguez, 37, who said he is currently working as a security guard in Bogota. "We’re troops willing to give our lives if necessary, all 150 of us." The Venezuelan defense ministry and the information ministry - which handles media enquiries for the government - did not respond to a request for comment about the formation of militias in Colombia. Victor Bautista, border director for Colombia’s foreign ministry, said any groups who actually took up arms would be considered a paramilitary organization and would be detained by authorities if they were found. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #2 Sometimes that's what it comes to... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2019-05-29 17:54 |
| #1 Seems fair. Venezuela provided sanctuaries for FARC. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2019-05-29 08:01 |