The regime of Nicolás Maduro decreed the advancement of the official celebrations for the holiday. In the celebrations, the Helicoid illuminated, prison indicated as a center of torture.
For the second consecutive year, Venezuela celebrates Christmas at the beginning of October. The decision was made in early September and, now, the celebrations arrive in a climate of growing tension between the regime of Nicolás Maduro and the United States government.
Bolivarian officials justified their decision to advance the celebration as it will allow “Maintain the joy of the people and promote local tradeas well as cultural activities such as carol, bagpipes, hawks and festive events in different neighborhoods of the country. “
However, the celebrations collided fully with the international situation facing the Venezuelan government. In recent days, Maduro denounced that there are seven weeks of “psychological and siege war” from Washington, following vessels attacked by US forces in the framework of a fight against a “drug trafficking network“That from American territory link with the president of Venezuela.
Venezuela celebrates Christmas
The beginning of Christmas celebrations in Venezuela was marked by a message from Nicolás Maduro, in a video broadcast in official networks. “In tribute to you, in thanks to you … Christmas starts!” The president exclaimed in the Audiovisual Registry of just over a minute and a half.
In that same message, Maduro sought to convey optimism in the face of the crisis: “They have tried everything to see us sad and crestfallen, and nothing. They have not been able or can ever take away the joy,” he said, while images of cultural traditions and references to an alleged “transparent country” were interspersed.
The staging included the ignition of the emblematic Cruz del Waraira Repano, a Caracas symbol that every December marks the beginning of the season. As announced by the Head of Government, Nahum Fernández, in the next few days A schedule of activities will be disseminated together with the Ministry of Culture.
However, the Christmas postcard was crossed by a strong contradiction: this Wednesday, lights and fireworks were also deployed from the prison of the prison The helical, indicated by the UN as a center for human rights violations. According to the international agency, in that prison they operated “Torture cameras ” and sexual and gender abuses used for “Torture and humiliate detainees.”
The tension with the United States
In the midst of growing tension with the United States, The Venezuela government denounced the destruction of four boats that would have been used by drug traffickers, in operations headed by US forces in recent weeks. From Caracas they argue that it is an “death penalty” applied at the high seas and accuse President Trump to use the drug trafficking flag as an excuse for “Dock Maduro” and keep the largest oil reserves on the planet.
Maduro described as an “excessive threat” and “unjustifiable” the presence of eight American warships in the Caribbean. In parallel, he signed an external shock decree – an exceptional tool designed for war scenarios— which gives it greater powers and that would come into force if a direct attack occurred.
Source: Ambito
