Construction Worker Found Dead with Knife in Head at Ratchaburi Worksite

[webfact]

As nations turn on Maduro, Venezuela leader parades with military

By Vivian Sequera

 

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro takes part in a military exercise in Valencia, Venezuela January 27, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro oversaw a display of the army's Russian hardware on Sunday, with anti-aircraft flak and tank rounds pounding a hillside to show military force and loyalty in the face of an international ultimatum to call fresh elections.

 

Maduro, 56, is confronting an unprecedented challenge to his authority after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president citing a fraudulent election. Guaido has won wide international support and offers amnesty to soldiers who join him. On Sunday, Israel joined the countries backing the 35-year-old leader.

 

Early on Sunday, flanked by Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino, Maduro watched a platoon of soldiers release volleys of rocket-propelled grenades, machine gun anti-aircraft fire and tank rounds at hillside targets, the Russian ordnance kicking up clouds of dust at the Fort of Paramacay, an armoured vehicle base.

 

Maduro said the display showed the world he has the backing of the military, and that Venezuela's armed forces are ready to defend the country. Maduro says Guaido is taking part in a coup directed by U.S. President Donald Trump's hardline policy advisers, who include Cold War veterans John Bolton and Elliott Abrams.

 

"Nobody respects the weak, cowards, traitors. In this world what's respected is the brave, the courageous, power," Maduro said as the dust settled on the base.

 

"Nobody should even think of stepping on this sacred soil. Venezuela wants peace..and to guarantee peace, we have to be prepared," he said. From Feb. 10-15 the military is planning larger military exercises that Maduro described as the "most important in the history of Venezuela."

 

The show of force was accompanied by a government publicity campaign online based on the slogan "Always Loyal, Never a Traitor," and followed a high-profile defection by the country's top military diplomat in the United States on Saturday.

 

The Fort of Paramacay, about two hours west of the Capital Caracas, was itself the site of an uprising in 2017, when a group of about 20 soldiers and armed civilians attacked the base. The leader of the attack, which was quickly subdued, said he was calling for a transition government.

 

Maduro on Sunday denounced an alleged conspiracy aimed at spreading rebellion in the army, saying thousands of messages were being sent to soldiers every day over Whatsapp and other social media platforms from neighbouring Colombia. He later jogged with soldiers and visited a Navy base.

 

Guaido also sent a message to the military on Sunday, asking for their support and ordering them not to repress civilians during an event in which supporters handed out copies of a proposed amnesty for people accused of crimes in the Maduro government.

 

"I order you not to shoot," he said. "I order you not to repress the people."

 

At United Nation's Security Council debate on Saturday, Russia and China strongly backed Maduro and rejected calls by the United States, Canada, Latin American nations and European powers for early elections.

 

Both Russia and China are major creditors to Venezuela. Since the government of Maduro's late mentor Hugo Chavez, the OPEC nation has invested heavily in Russian weaponry, including Sukhoi fighter jets and heavy armoury.

 

The strategic alliance was in evidence last year, when two Russian nuclear-capable bombers landed inVenezuela. Reuters reported on Friday that private military contractors who do secret missions for Russia flew into Venezuela to beef up security for Maduro.

 

NO ELECTIONS

In an interview that aired on Sunday, Maduro rejected a European ultimatum to call elections within eight days and said Guaido violated the constitution by declaring himself interim leader.

 

"Fortunately, we don’t depend on Europe. And those arrogant, overbearing attitudes, looking down on us, because we are ‘sudacas,’ inferior to them. That European elite is finished with, that European elite doesn’t represent the European people," he told CNN Turk.

 

"The leaders of Europe are sycophants, kneeling behind the policies of Donald Trump," he said, adding that he was open to dialog and that meeting Trump was improbable but not impossible.

 

Washington on Saturday urged the world to "pick a side" on Venezuela and financially disconnect from Maduro's government.

 

White House national security adviser John Bolton warned on Sunday against violence or intimidation of American diplomats in Venezuela or Guaido, saying such action would trigger a response from the United States.

 

Venezuela has sunk into turmoil under Maduro with food shortages and protests amid an economic and political crisis that has sparked mass emigration and inflation that is seen rising to 10 million percent this year.

 

Britain, Germany, France and Spain all said they would recognise Guaido if Maduro failed to call fresh elections within eight days, an ultimatum Russia said was "absurd" and the Venezuelan foreign minister called "childlike."

 

Washington, Canada, most Latin American nations and many European states say Maduro stole his second-term election win last May. The former bus driver and union leader cruised to victory after blocking the main opposition candidates from running. Turnout was low.

 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had voiced his support for Maduro in a phone call on Thursday.

 

(Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by John Stonestreet and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-28

[Longcut]

I see another Noriega type operation coming. Just, saying!

[Tug]

Wonder what he is promising his military as far as a us intervention I wouldn’t put it past trump he needs a distraction after the shutdown fiasco 

[kamahele]

Bye Felicia

[RickTik]

It is an organized coup-de-tas ...

The USA and Israel haven't forgotten about Hugo.

Also, Venezuela has the oil, the gold, and more ...

 

[geriatrickid]

Sad to see that the folks who wear tin foil hats are  out in force on this.

 

19 minutes ago, RickTik said:

It is an organized coup-de-tas ...

The USA and Israel haven't forgotten about Hugo.

Also, Venezuela has the oil, the gold, and more ..

 

Duh, it's a "coup d'etat" and such events occur within  the country, not outside. How many times must it be pointed out that the USA is not overly enthusiastic and that the pressure is being brought by the Lima 12 with the countries burdened with the refugees the most vocal. The 4 leading voices in the Lima 12 are Columbia, Canada, Brazil and Panama. Canada and Panama have been  out on front of the human rights issue for years and Columbia and Brazil are shouldering the staggering financial burden of caring for  millions of refugees.  This has nothing to do with Israel. All that Israel did was pay off a political debt it owes to Honduras, Brazil, Columbia and Guatemala for their support. None of the Lima 12, nor  the USA, nor the Eu nor Israel needs  Venezuela's gold or oil.

 

2 hours ago, Longcut said:

I see another Noriega type operation coming. Just, saying!

Maduro has never been implicated in  drug sales or money laundering. Nor does his country  hold an important shipping canal.

 

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Wonder what he is promising his military as far as a us intervention I wouldn’t put it past trump he needs a distraction after the shutdown fiasco 

The US is not the leading voice on the  issue. I doubt that Trump  cares about the country, let alone knows where it is.

 

 

Why is it so difficult for people to  grasp that it is Latin American countries leading the way here? They are the ones  faced with the humanitarian crisis and the millions of refugees, not the USA.

Edited January 28, 2019 by geriatrickid

[Topdoc]

India refuses to join efforts to recognise the self-declared president of Venezuela 

Edited January 28, 2019 by Topdoc

[farcanell]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

followed a high-profile defection by the country's top military diplomat in the United States on Saturday.

Mmm.... send him back to Venezuela while his asylum application is pending.... that’s the new way forward, right?

[geriatrickid]

7 minutes ago, Topdoc said:

India refuses to join efforts to recognise the self-declared president of Venezuela 

Understandable as it has some issues in the Punjab and in Kashmir. It cannot very well support free elections in a foreign country when it  denies them in Kashmir.

 

2 minutes ago, farcanell said:

Mmm.... send him back to Venezuela while his asylum application is pending.... that’s the new way forward, right?

Nope. If he claimed political asylum, it becomes a legitimate refugee claim. He is not an  economic migrant who entered the USA illegally.

 

 

[farcanell]

10 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Sad to see that the folks who wear tin foil hats are  out in force on this.

 

Duh, it's a "coup d'etat" and such events occur within  the country, not outside. How many times must it be pointed out that the USA is not overly enthusiastic and that the pressure is being brought by the Lima 12 with the countries burdened with the refugees the most vocal. The 4 leading voices in the Lima 12 are Columbia, Canada, Brazil and Panama. Canada and Panama have been  out on front of the human rights issue for years and Columbia and Brazil are shouldering the staggering financial burden of caring for  millions of refugees.  This has nothing to do with Israel. All that Israel did was pay off a political debt it owes to Honduras, Brazil, Columbia and Guatemala for their support. None of the Lima 12, nor  the USA, nor the Eu nor Israel needs  Venezuela's gold or oil.

 

Maduro has never been implicated in  drug sales or money laundering. Nor does his country  hold an important shipping canal.

 

The US is not the leading voice on the  issue. I doubt that Trump  cares about the country, let alone knows where it is.

 

 

Why is it so difficult for people to  grasp that it is Latin American countries leading the way here? They are the ones  faced with the humanitarian crisis and the millions of refugees, not the USA.

The US might not have started out as the leading voice.... but now that they have picked a side, and very vocally told all other nations to pick a side, the challenge against Maduro has most definitely been invigorated, and the US is most definitely now leading the movement against maduro.

 

And... whilst the US might not need the oil, which is obviously debatable, interested parties most definitely need to control what happens to the oil... the countries in a sh11 state already, but that doesn’t mean they can’t dump oil at 25 dollars a barrel, which will impact the world economy.... or do a saddam, and set it alight, impacting the world environment.... or worse.

[farcanell]

14 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

 

 

Nope. If he claimed political asylum, it becomes a legitimate refugee claim. He is not an  economic migrant who entered the USA illegally.

 

 

Economic refugees.... and humanitarian refugees, fleeing violence, are still legitimate refugees, aren’t they?

 

this guy would be on a diplomatic visa... if maduro cancels his diplomatic standing, his visa is void, and he will be an illegal overstayer, won’t he?

 

meanwhile, the US is planning on evicting refugees who crossed the southern border.... I didn’t see anything in the news stating that it was only those that had jumped the fence, so assume, perhaps incorrectly, that it might also include those who walked through a checkpoint, and are awaiting their immigration court date (so not illegal)... I did see in writing that Mexico would only accept returnees who had immigration court dates set

[Topdoc]

John Bolton: "It would make a big difference to the US economically if we could have American oil companies invest in and produce the oil in Venezuela. It would be good for Venezuela and the people of the United States."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8av-cPP1uPE&t=6m5s 

[owl sees all]

The US has a long record of interfering in countries other than their own. Venezuela has a lot of oil and it belongs to the people. The US would rather it belonged to private companies, particularly US ones. Venezuela is firmly in the 'them' camp, why the 'us' lot are increasingly vocal.

 

Venezuela is now top of the US list for regime change, so that the IMF and US companies can get their grubby hands on the goodies.

 

Plug in Abby Martin; you tube.

Edited January 28, 2019 by owl sees all

[Henryford]

Whatever the USA's motives are for "regime change" i don't see how anyone can support Maduro and what he has done to Venezuela and it's people. The sooner he is gone the better.

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Whatever the USA's motives are for "regime change" i don't see how anyone can support Maduro and what he has done to Venezuela and it's people. The sooner he is gone the better.

Very naive this post. Why not do a bit of research bro'. Start with Abby Martin* (present day) and work backwards. Soon see the problems for the present state of affairs.

 

* She actually spends time in these countries.

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, Topdoc said:

India refuses to join efforts to recognise the self-declared president of Venezuela 

 

Who give a <deleted> about India?

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Very naive this post. Why not do a bit of research bro'. Start with Abby Martin* (present day) and work backwards. Soon see the problems for the present state of affairs.

 

* She actually spends time in these countries.

"Interesting" source you point us too.

From  former colleague Liz Wahl of hers at, wait for it, surely you saw this coming RUSSIA TODAY.

 

"RT’s Abby Martin says things the Kremlin likes ... A narrative that I find to be propagandous and hostile toward the West"

 

Not to mention her previous advocacy for the sick conspiracy theory movement called 9/11 Truthers.

 

What other Putin lackeys can you suggest that predictably report from the pro Maduro side?

Edited January 28, 2019 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Who give a <deleted> about India?

Well, I wouldn't put it that rudely, but much of the world doesn't really have a sacred cow in this fight. There is the obvious proxy conflict in it … the pro democracy western powers, most of Latin America concerned about the humanitarian crisis and the refugee flooding vs. a few Latin American "socialist" countries and anti-democracy powers such as China and Russia. India doesn't gain anything by not being neutral in this.

[khunken]

I don't particularly like Maduro, but with a neo-Nazi like Bolton very much involved, Maduro is definitely the lesser of two evils.

 

I sincerely hope that Trump sticks to his no-new-wars policy - no one, not even the US, needs an Iraq mk II.

[Jingthing]

People should be supporting what is best for the Venezuelan people and Maduro clearly ain't that.

Many millions of refugees already, many millions more to come, people starving, basic medical out of the reach for most, 10 million percent annual inflation -- that's Maduro's legacy.

Left, right, or Martian he has got to go!

It's almost hard to comprehend how anyone of good will can support the leader of a totally failed state when there is any alternative to begin to turn it around.

I guess loyalty to anti-democratic regimes and knee-jerk anti-Americanism overrides any semblance of rationality or basic human decency.

Edited January 28, 2019 by Jingthing

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Maduro, 56, is confronting an unprecedented challenge to his authority after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president citing a fraudulent election.

According to the Constitution, Gauido declared himself as President of the Parliament as his party gained through a legitimate election a majority of the seats. That position is not the President of Venezuela. Gauido is Head of the unicameral Parliament but he is not Head of State nor Head of Government.

There is no provision in the Constitution by which anyone can simply declare themselves President of Venezuela.

According to the Constitution, the President is directly elected by the Venezuela electorate, not by the Parliament. Maduro was thus elected and Gauido was not. Military recognition and support of Maduro as President of Venezuela is consistent with the Constitution.

If one cites the Constitution as an authority (and I think there's cause to challenge it as legitimate as well as a parallel government set of rules established unilaterally by Maduro that can supersede constitutional articles), Gauido's self-declared position as "interim president" [of State] is illegal.

However, I believe that as President of the Parliament Guaido can call for a new presidential election if there is probable cause, presidential election fraud. Thus, both Gauido and Maduro would again have to face the electorate. The path to election legitimacy is to (by external force if necessary) hold it under international supervision if internal supervision is corrupt.

Otherwise, Gauido's path to the presidency must be through an undemocratic overthrow of Maduro's government. That may divide the military and invite a civil war.

 

 

[Prissana Pescud]

11 hours ago, Henryford said:

Whatever the USA's motives are for "regime change" i don't see how anyone can support Maduro and what he has done to Venezuela and it's people. The sooner he is gone the better.

Maduro is a totalitarian dick. He gets his support from the common people because he says they are under threat from the world.

Trump is a dick working on totalitarianism. He gets his support from the common people because he says ...ad nauseum

Putin is a dick Totalitarian dictator. He gets his support from the common....

Xi is a dick......

India....

Israel...

Pakistan..... Sigh

[Jingthing]

Maduro is a totalitarian dick. He gets his support from the common people because he says they are under threat from the world.
Trump is a dick working on totalitarianism. He gets his support from the common people because he says ...ad nauseum
Putin is a dick Totalitarian dictator. He gets his support from the common....
Xi is a dick......
India....
Israel...
Pakistan..... Sigh

Maduro lacks support from most of the common people. They are starving.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Prissana Pescud]

29 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Maduro lacks support from most of the common people. They are starving.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Ok. Got his support from the common people to start with. Pedantics. I gather you want the marines to invade yet another country and stuff it up for the oil.

Lose a few marine lives, but the end result is cheap oil

[Jingthing]

Ok. Got his support from the common people to start with. Pedantics. I gather you want the marines to invade yet another country and stuff it up for the oil.
Lose a few marine lives, but the end result is cheap oil

No I don't. Desist from putting words in my mouth. That is massively obnoxious.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Prissana Pescud]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

No I don't. Desist from putting words in my mouth. That is massively obnoxious.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I did not put words in your mouth. I raised an issue with many countries that have totalitarian rulers.  It is a common event around the world. Maduro has the support of the military. As do so many totalitarian regimes. Including all the countries I mentioned.

US, France, UK only got their democracy by rising up against oppression. Nowadays, you just lob up in another country and demand a free hand out.

Free education, free schooling, free housing.  Every 3rd world country allows dictators. And then the west is expected to carry the load. 

[Jingthing]

26 minutes ago, Prissana Pescud said:

I did not put words in your mouth. I raised an issue with many countries that have totalitarian rulers.  It is a common event around the world. Maduro has the support of the military. As do so many totalitarian regimes. Including all the countries I mentioned.  US, France, UK only got their democracy by rising up against oppression.

Nowadays, you just lob up in another country and demand a free hand out.

Free education, free schooling, free housing.  Every 3rd world country allows dictators. And then the west is expected to carry the load. 

Dude, stop the lying. You directly accused me of supporting U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. I do not and have not said that I do. Again DESIST from putting words in my mouth. That is not acceptable and won't be ignored. 

[Prissana Pescud]

22 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Dude, stop the lying. You directly accused me of supporting U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. I do not and have not said that I do. Again DESIST from putting words in my mouth. That is not acceptable and won't be ignored. 

I am not your dude. I did not lie. You are trolling now. Go away

[Scott]

Continue with the bickering and face a suspension.  

 

You have been WARNED.

[Benmart]

On 1/28/2019 at 7:32 AM, car720 said:

I can smell oil.

And your form of transportation is by sail?