As if it were the last century, the military interventionism of USA in Latin America has shaken the world again this Saturday with the bombings on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolas Maduro. The news, aired with a victorious tone by a Donald Trump who has resurrected Monroe Doctrine in its backyard, is being received as a breath of fresh air by the exiled Venezuelan community, which had been anxiously awaiting the collapse of the regime erected almost three decades ago by the commander for decades. Hugo Chavez.
“This is the canonical event of our lives,” explains Adrián Pastrano, a 25-year-old young man who five months ago managed to escape from the Caribbean country to settle in Madrid. “I’m very excited. Since I was born I haven’t been able to see a democracy real in Venezuela,” he confesses. His hope is shared by the dozen Venezuelans with whom EL PERIÓDICO has contacted, most of them in exile.
“It is a moment of great happiness for a country that has suffered so much,” says María. His name has been changed for fear that the regime may retaliate against his family, who is still in custody. Caracas. “There is so much excitement that my brother told me that he wanted to go out with a glass of whiskey to celebrate,” he adds.
I’m very excited. Since I was born I have not been able to see a real democracy in Venezuela
Followers of Nicolás Maduro hug each other in the streets of Caracas. / Associated Press
“A morning of madness”
Although the rhetorical and military tension already heralded an escalation, the speed of events has surprised many Venezuelans. “It’s been a crazy morning,” Catherine sums up. First, the news that USA had bombed military bases has spread some fear. “I have been very afraid in case my family could be at risk,” María declares. “My parents live in front of the La Carlota air base and they explain to me that the detonation has burst the windows of all the buildings,” adds Adrián.
He shock has arrived with the news that the US army had captured Maduro and his wife and that both will be tried for conspiracy narcoterroristamong other charges. “I have the feeling that it has been done justice“says Danna, 33 years old and a resident of Barcelona for 10 years who also hides his real identity. “We are very happy with his capture (…) the climate of terror that exists in Venezuela has finally been alleviated,” adds Venezuelan journalist Omar Pineda, also exiled to the Catalan capital.
We are very happy with the capture of Maduro (…) the climate of terror that exists in Venezuela has finally been alleviated
That frenzy has been less in certain homes in Venezuela, where the media controlled by the regime “say nothing” about what happened. Faced with the silence of the official radio and television networks, Mrs. Iraida, a retiree who lives alone in Caracas, has learned of the reality “from the noises” in the streets and from WhatsApp message chains that she has not been able to verify. “Everything is fine, thank God, but we still don’t know anything,” he explained to his relatives, who live outside the country.
Law enforcement patrols Caracas after US bombings / Ronald Rock / EFE
“Uncertainty about what will happen”
The illusion is shared. However, the overthrow of Maduro after 13 years in power plunges the country into a scenario of chaos and uncertainty that worries its citizens. And his Government has called the US attack “ruinous and cowardly”, and has called for “armed struggle“before the”imperialist aggression“and has already deployed the army and paramilitary groups in the streets. “Maduro is the main objective of the United States, knowing that some of its leaders such as [el ministro del Interior] Diosdado Hair y [el ministro de Defensa y general jefe del Ejército Bolivariano] Vladimir Padrino are still in Venezuela is what generates uncertainty about what will happen and whether or not there will be a democratic transition“, argues Danna.
The desire is for a free Venezuela, for all of Maduro’s allies to be removed from power, imprisoned or killed.
The scenario desired by all Venezuelans contacted by EL PERIÓDICO is the dissolution of the regime without civilian casualties, the return to the country of the opposition leader Maria Corina Machadonewly elected Nobel Peace Prizeand Edmundo Gonzalezrecognized as winner of the 2024 elections and as elected president of Venezuela by several countries, including Spaincan take power. “The desire is for a free Venezuela, for all of Maduro’s allies to be removed from power, imprisoned or killed,” María emphasizes. Adrián hopes that Maduro “suffers a long sentence” in the US and Danna calls for “democratic and fair” elections.
Thanks to Trump
The witnesses also share their gratitude to Trump, although with nuances. “Maybe we don’t share Trump’s ideals, but he has been the only one who has stood up to the drug trafficking in Venezuela, the only faith we have had in 20 years in which we have tried everything and nothing had worked,” María argues. “I don’t feel that Trump has come to defend the democracybut to combat drug trafficking, but even so I am grateful to him for having captured Maduro,” Danna reasons.
I do not feel that Trump has come to defend democracy, but to combat drug trafficking, but I am still grateful to him for having captured Maduro
Despite his rejection of figures like Trump, Javier Miley o Nayib BukelePineda recognizes the “value” of “they have helped us get rid of a dictatorship” which has caused a “situation of poverty and economic desperation.” The future, they agree, is uncertain. The dreamed destination will take time to arrive. María is clear: “The more than 27 years of dictatorship have degraded the country and have generated a lot of discontent, so it will take more than two decades to repair all that damage.”
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