The Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, denied that the Government of Nicolás Maduro is promoting the militarization of Venezuelan societyin the midst of training activities organized this weekend with civilians.
“Many people talk about the fact that we are militarizing Venezuelan society. That is an absurd. The intention is Instagram.
Padrino López insisted that Military exercises seek to strengthen popular-military fusion to “prepare national power” and defend the country from what he described as imperial aggression.
The day, on Saturday, included training of citizens in situations of natural disaster or armed conflict. Extended images showed civilians learning to drive and shoot firearms.
Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, participated in the practices and called to be prepared for “any contingency, whether natural or caused.”
The mayor of Caracas, Carmen Meléndez, also defended the training and said: “If we go to the armed struggle, we have to know how the weapon is used.”
NGOs questioning the society
The NGO provided questioned these initiatives and He warned that Maduro’s government responds to the military deployment of the United States in the Caribbean “through authoritarianism and abuses”.
In a statement, the organization said that “the response of the Government of Nicolás Maduro gives a new oxygen to the country’s total militarization, under the justification of the defense of sovereignty, while insisting on ignoring the popular will expressed on 28-J and intensifies abuse against human rights.”
Prova also warned about the closure of civic space, persecution of political dissent and breach of obligations in social rights.
The statement occurs in the midst of an increase in tension between Venezuela and the United States. Since August, the Donald Trump government maintains a military deployment in the Caribbean waters to face drug posters, including the allegedly led by Maduro.
