Venezuela’s government rejects U.S. claims as Caracas shows loyalty to Maduro : NPR

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Okay, now let’s move on to the region, because in the meantime, in Venezuela itself, state television covered pro-Maduro rallies in several cities, and government-sanctioned media condemned the US capture of Maduro and his wife. It should be noted that there are no independent media in Venezuela. Visas for foreign journalists are very restricted. There are also reports today of armed civilian groups patrolling neighborhoods in and around Caracas. So I want to bring in Carrie Kahn, NPR South America correspondent. She follows events in Venezuela from her post in Rio de Janeiro. Hi, Carrie.

CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Hello, Mary Louise.

KELLY: OK, so analyzing what we heard from the president this morning – President Trump, of course – he says the United States will rule Venezuela. He also said at that press conference at Mar-a-Lago that the current vice president of Venezuela had taken office. Is this true? What do we know about her and her role now?

KAHN: Trump said she was sworn in and spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump also said the vice president is basically willing to do whatever we want. And then he added that those in the Venezuelan government who don’t do what the United States wants know what will happen to them. However, later in the day, Venezuela’s Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, held this televised Defense Council meeting. All the senior leaders of the Venezuelan government were present and she was very defiant. She said there is only one president in Venezuela – and that is Maduro – and that Venezuela will never surrender, will never return to being the colony of anyone, including new and declining empires.

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DELCY RODRIGUEZ: (speaking Spanish).

KAHN: “The extremists who encouraged this armed aggression against our country will have to pay in history and in justice,” she said. And she also added that the Venezuelan people have already relegated him to the dustbin of history. This does not seem like someone who is entirely consistent with the American position.

KELLY: It’s not, no.

KAHN: And it was clear that the televised meeting was also a display of unity, Mary Louise, of the Maduro government and the socialist core that has kept them in power all these years.

KELLY: OK, so this is what we’re hearing from Venezuelan government leaders, or what’s left of it. What about ordinary Venezuelans, people on the streets of Caracas? What do you hear?

KAHN: We sent a reporter to speak with people in Caracas. I think the general feeling we heard was just shock. You know, this happened at 2 a.m. These explosions took place at several sites in the city. We heard some relief following Maduro’s departure, including from retired civil servant Sandra Martinez. She is 59 years old and says Maduro had to go.

SANDRA MARTINEZ: (speaking Spanish).

KAHN: “It was already necessary,” she said, and if a transition is to take place, God willing, she said, she hopes it will be peaceful. We also heard the testimony of a trader, Carlos Barada, aged 57. He had been queuing for medication at a pharmacy since 5 a.m., and by the time we spoke to him, he had already been there for four hours. There were long lines of people shopping, stocking up on groceries and medicines. He lives near this military airport that was bombed at 2 a.m., and he said there were three explosions, one of which sent shock waves throughout his apartment, but he’s really worried now about what’s next.

CARLOS BARADA: (speaking Spanish).

KAHN: He says everyone says the next few days will be difficult. And he said he decided to take the little money he had stashed away and buy as much food as possible. He says he and his wife are alone, that 80% of his family has left the country and now lives in exile.

KELLY: Before I let you go, Carrie, I want to ask you a question that you just heard me ask Franco Ordoñez, which is where Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado fits into all of this. Leader of the Venezuelan opposition, she dedicated this Nobel Prize to President Trump. What does it say about the future of Venezuela?

KAHN: She released a statement today saying that peace and sovereignty are coming to Venezuela and that soon order will be restored to the country. All political prisoners will be released. And she says: we will build a great country and bring all our children home. She added that a plan was in the works and that she would announce it soon. But, as Franco said, when Trump was asked about her, he dismissed her role and said she was a very nice woman but had no respect in Venezuela.

KELLY: NPR’s Carrie Kahn, reporting from Rio de Janeiro. I know you’ve had a long day. Thanks so much for all your ideas, Carrie.

KAHN: You’re welcome.

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