Unconvinced by election, Venezuela emigrees stream across border

[rooster59]

Unconvinced by election, Venezuela emigrees stream across border

By Brian Ellsworth and Anggy Polanco

 

People cross the Colombian-Venezuelan border over the Simon Bolivar international bridge in San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela May 16, 2018. Picture taken May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez

 

SAN ANTONIO, Venezuela (Reuters) - Crouched on a sidewalk near Venezuela's border with Colombia, construction worker Deiver Guarate said Sunday's presidential election has already been decided in favour of President Nicolas Maduro, and he did not plan to stay around to hear the results.

 

Unable to cover even the most basic of expenses amid hyperinflation, Guarate was emigrating to Colombia and had to spend the night on the street as he waited for overwhelmed Venezuelan migration authorities to stamp his passport.

 

"People aren't voting anymore because they know that it's rigged. If we had any hope that this would change, we wouldn't be migrating," said Guarate, 35, huddled beside suitcases on a street were several hundred people have been sleeping this week.

 

"The situation in Venezuela is critical," said Guarate, whose grandmother died last year of kidney problems because the family was unable to obtain medicine due to drug shortages.

 

Venezuela's opposition has called on supporters to sit out Sunday's vote due to concerns of fraud but tens of thousand of migrants are so sceptical of the election that they prefer to leave.

 

They are flocking to border towns like San Antonio, where they anxiously push through streets crowded with informal vendors under sweltering sun to escape a country where a monthly minimum wage can at best buy a few pounds of rice.

 

Maduro challenger Henri Falcon, who is breaking the boycott to face his rival, insists that a massive turnout by discontented Venezuelans would bring about change.

 

Many among the opposition, however, believe Falcon is legitimising a rigged process, which governments around the world including the United States and Latin American neighbours have condemned.

 

Maduro, who insists the election is free and fair, has warned migrants they would face difficult circumstances abroad and recently said some are now "cleaning toilets."

 

He has said that Venezuela's situation has been caused by an "economic war" led by U.S.-backed adversaries.

 

The Information Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

 

'WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING'

 

In April, Maduro launched a programme called "Return to the Fatherland" meant to raise money for Venezuelans who sold their possessions to emigrate, then wanted to return.

 

In San Antonio, migrants carrying tatty bags with their belongings did not believe the government would help them or that the vote represented an opportunity for change.

 

"The situation is just too difficult. Money doesn't buy anything," said Alejandro Lugo, 25, a bodyguard who planned to settle in Colombian capital Bogota.

 

"On Sunday there are elections. We all know what's coming. They know the results already," Lugo said.

 

The border is closed over the weekend as a security measure during the election, so migrants would have to wait until Monday to cross or cut through dozens of illegal paths.

 

The United Nations has estimated that 1 million Venezuelans left the country between 2015 and 2017.

 

Some 13,000 per day leave in search of a new life from the Venezuelan state of Tachira, the most heavily trafficked border crossing state, according to Venezuelan military sources working in the area who asked not to be identified.

 

Another 50,000 leave and return the same day or shortly after, the sources said.

 

Emigrees who carry on get their passports stamped, then walk across the Simon Bolivar bridge with suitcases and backpacks to reach Colombia or continue on by bus toward Ecuador or Peru.

 

The exodus of the last year has put a strain on neighbouring Latin American countries, where Venezuelans are routinely seen sleeping on the streets.

 

Maduro halted vehicle traffic over the bridge three years ago. Sweaty pedestrians now line up in the heat to get through Colombia's border check point.

 

Some cross to buy goods that have run short in Venezuela such as diapers or flour, while others smuggle goods to the Colombian border city of Cucuta, one of the few remaining ways to consistently make a living.

 

"Here your money won't buy anything, no matter how much you make," said Wilma Morales, 50, a lawyer, waiting to cross the border on her way to Peru. "For me there are no elections. I'm not going to be legitimizing a dictatorship."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-20

[CharlesSwann]

How they've managed to screw up this beautiful country rich in resources is beyond all understanding.

It's an eternal pity that the Spanish got hold of South America. What a fantastic continent it would be now if it had been British.

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, CharlesSwann said:

How they've managed to screw up this beautiful country rich in resources is beyond all understanding.

It's an eternal pity that the Spanish got hold of South America. What a fantastic continent it would be now if it had been British.

 

Just like Zimabwe and RSA benefited you mean?

[CharlesSwann]

33 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Just like Zimabwe and RSA benefited you mean?

Well, Africa is and always was a basket case. Dutch, French, Belgian, Portuguese, German, Italian, German custodians could do little to instil the necessary sense of social organisation. I credit the British with making the best effort though.

 

South America always had much greater potential. The natives were far more productive, compliant and socially responsible. I was just reading Schomburgk's "Travels in British Guiana" (he is scathing about the imported blacks - lazy, sullen and recalcitrant).

 

A better comparison than Africa is probably Australia. I'm thinking that a South American version of Australia would be a fabulous place, and that if the Spanish had got hold of Australia, it would be like Venezuela is now. Makes you think.

 

Edited May 20, 2018 by CharlesSwann

[Aspaltso]

If the U. S slaps direct sanctions on what is remaining of Venezualas oil sector, then you will see an even further deceleration. I am not sire if Trump will be that cold-hearted but i would't bet against it.

 

[sukhumvitneon]

3 hours ago, CharlesSwann said:

How they've managed to screw up this beautiful country rich in resources is beyond all understanding.

Venezuela was always a one trick pony with its oil resources. Remember 2007, with its sky-high oil prices and in the US, close to $5/gallon gas at one point?  And how Hugo Chavez acted smug and called America the "The Devil"? Seems like the tables have turned.  No sympathies to the Venezuelans.  Suffer more, you a**holes.

 

Venezuela deserves the one finger salute from the US if anything.

Edited May 20, 2018 by sukhumvitneon

[JAG]

5 minutes ago, sukhumvitneon said:

Not really.

 

Venezuela was always a one trick pony with its oil resources. Remember 2007, with its sky-high oil prices and in the US, close to $5/gallon gas at one point?  And how Hugo Chavez acted smug and called America the "The Devil"? Seems like the tables have turned.  No sympathies to the Venezuelans.  Suffer more, you a**holes.

It's not Chavez or rather his successors who are suffering. Rather it is the ordinary people, who had no part in or desire to demonize the USA.

[roobaa01]

socialism is for losers as portrayed by the venuzeala example....a rich country run down socialist idiots.

 

wbr

roobaa01

[Rigby40]

4 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

socialism is for losers as portrayed by the venuzeala example....a rich country run down socialist idiots.

 

wbr

roobaa01

Ah but this wasn't real socialism. I have a good feeling that in about a few more million dead bodies and starving people we'll get there. Let's not give up now, we're nearly there.

Edited May 20, 2018 by Rigby40

[sukhumvitneon]

3 minutes ago, Rigby40 said:

Ah but this wasn't real socialism. I have a good feeling that in about a few more million dead bodies and starving people we'll get there. Let's not give up now, we're nearly there.

Venezuelans ran out of other peoples' money, so now they're begging for yours.

[Rigby40]

5 minutes ago, sukhumvitneon said:

Venezuelans ran out of other peoples' money, so now they're begging for yours.

And like everyone who begs for our money and resources they're ungrateful and only continue to take advantage of us.

I have a friend from Venezuela. He's not a socialist leech. He went through a lot to get to where he is now by putting in a lot of hard work. Maybe they should try that too.

Edited May 20, 2018 by Rigby40

[realenglish1]

"  Maduro, who insists the election is free and fair, has warned migrants they would face difficult circumstances abroad and recently said some are now "cleaning toilets."

That may be but its honest work They get paid a working wage and can buy food. So what is your excuse Maduro

 

You have driven your economy into the ground in spite of the fact that you have massive reserves of oil. Total mismanagement Total socialist corruption

BTY Socialism does not work

[Leung Falang]

We lived there as expats in 1997 -1998, and I commuted in 1999 after an auto highjack in our parking garage and attempted kidnapping.  At the time Hugo Chavez was elected in early 1999,  about  70% were in poverty-they elected him but received little and now the baby is born and is named Ruin.  Sad, love  the people.

[Guest]

9 hours ago, CharlesSwann said:

How they've managed to screw up this beautiful country rich in resources is beyond all understanding.

It's an eternal pity that the Spanish got hold of South America. What a fantastic continent it would be now if it had been British.

Brits are utterly boring and lack of any living culture, when compared to Spanish. 

 

They might have become more productive units, but that's not exactly good for the people. 

[helpisgood]

16 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Just like Zimabwe and RSA benefited you mean?

 

Totally agree, Baerboxer (cool avatar, by the way)!

 

And, let's not forget how well things worked out in the Middle East with Palestine, the Balfour Dec,., and Sykes-Picot.  Oh yeah, how did the India/Pakistan partition go as well?  Yeah, just draw that line somewhere by someone unfamiliar with the local cultures there and then bail out ASAP.  

 

I'll admit one thing, however.  There's something to be said about the heritage of English common law and rights.  Well, not that it translated well into more different cultures.   

 

[helpisgood]

16 hours ago, CharlesSwann said:

Well, Africa is and always was a basket case. Dutch, French, Belgian, Portuguese, German, Italian, German custodians could do little to instil the necessary sense of social organisation. I credit the British with making the best effort though.

 

South America always had much greater potential. The natives were far more productive, compliant and socially responsible. I was just reading Schomburgk's "Travels in British Guiana" (he is scathing about the imported blacks - lazy, sullen and recalcitrant).

 

A better comparison than Africa is probably Australia. I'm thinking that a South American version of Australia would be a fabulous place, and that if the Spanish had got hold of Australia, it would be like Venezuela is now. Makes you think.

 

Sorry, but the "natives" and being "compliant" parts and the "imported blacks" part surely suggests an insensitive understanding of other peoples.