May 22, 2016
Photo: Bill Hackwell
Venezuelan authorities announced that it was consolidating its civilian – military union as a main protective shield against ever increasing threats and plans for a right wing coup that has the support of the United States.
In statements to the accredited press the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino, affirmed that two days of exercises entitled Independence 2016, concluded today. The exercises served to put on notice that any attempts to overthrow the constitutional government of Nicolás Maduro would be opposed.
In the training, Padrino added, more than 520 thousand combatants of the National Armed force Bolivariana (FANB) and members of the Militia participated, as well as military attachés of several countries who observed as guests. The training took place in seven of the country’s 24 states will continue in the second half of the year.
The exercise simulated a supposed landing of hostile troops attempting to attack distribution facilities and components of the electrical grid. The intention was to prepare to defend the territorial integrity of Venezuela. The countries air force also participated by patrolling practices of the border areas and the preparation to the surface to air missile system.
For its part, the militias trained in the handling and firing of anti aircraft defense and rocket launchers.
At the conclusion of the maneuvers, President Maduro – in his capacity as head of state and commander in chief of the FANB- requested an action plan be drawn up to combat the paramilitary bands in Venezuela that are supported by the right wing political parties.
The president, who last week issued a decree of Exception and Economic Emergency, added that he is making available the support of the military to help end violence in the country and to consolidate the peace. He remembered that one of the fatal victims of these attacks was young congressional deputy Robert Serra, murdered in October, 2014 by a band linked to Colombian ex-president Álvaro Uribe who has recently called for the invasion of Venezuela.
Maduro pointed out, that the objective of this preparedness is to establish peace, calmness and sovereignty of the Venezuelan people.
“If we want our sovereignty and our dignity, if we want to be the proprietors of our resources and wealth, if we want to construct our own economic system without interference from any empire, this is the only way.” he said.
In a press conference to the international media last week Maduro revealed that plans were being made in Washington with its European and Latin American allies to intervene in Venezuela to start a social explosion. He also revealed that a US E-3 Sentry spy plane based in Colombia had violated Venezuelan air space to obtain information.
http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4901331&Itemid=1
Source: Prensa Latina