The Minister of the Interior and “number two” of Chavismo, Captain Diosdado Cabello, lashed out at the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), after Catholic bishops criticize “the political use” of Christmas by the government of Nicolás Maduro, who decided to bring it forward to October 1. “The episcopal conference is a band of terrorists.”
In turn, President Nicolás Maduro warned that in the next few hours there will be new arrests of people defined as “criminals”, while human rights defenders and United Nations agencies denounce arbitrary arrests in a climate of “state terrorism”.
“Who can be upset because the people are happy? What is the political purpose of the president saying he is going to bring forward Christmas?” said Cabello in his weekly TV show “Con El Mazo Dando,” where he usually attacks opponents and critics of the regime.
The leadership of the Catholic Church “has shown such a crazy attitude, my dear God, it is bitterness,” Cabello added.
The Episcopal Conference criticized the political use of Christmas shortly after the ruler Nicolás Maduro ordered to bring forward the end-of-year festivities from October 1.
“Christmas is a celebration of universal character. The manner and time of its celebration is the responsibility of the ecclesiastical authority. This holiday must not be used for propaganda or particular political purposes,” the bishops said.
“Christmas, as a liturgical season, begins on December 25 with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,” they stressed.
Threat from Nicolas Maduro
“In the coming hours and days you will learn about the criminal plans that we will reveal to you in real time and the criminals that we are capturing. These are fascist, diabolical plans,” said the Venezuelan president during an official ceremony.
Maduro then highlighted the “extraordinary” work of the security, intelligence and counterintelligence apparatus, as well as “friends” who inform him in advance of everything that happens.
“I cannot reveal everything, because the investigation is too advanced and every detail I tell provides clues about those we are about to capture,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cabello said 11 people are in prison for a “terrorist attack” on the national electrical system on August 30, when a fault left the country without electricity for about 11 hours. However, according to experts, the blackout was caused by lightning.
“We’re not going to put up with shit from anyone”
Hair, on the other hand, nI think there are no plans for any meeting between Nicolas Maduro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro and Andres Lopez Obrador, by the electoral crisis in Venezuela, as stated on Wednesday by Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Murillo, whom he called a “traitor.”
“For those who believe that Venezuela is a colony, we are not going to put up with anything from anyone,” Cabello said at midnight on Thursday, during his program on the official VTV channel.
Murillo “is capable of betraying even his own origins due to his level of commitment and submission,” said Cabello, Minister of the Interior and vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
“This man thinks he can come and poke his nose into Venezuela. He is the foreign minister of Colombia, but in reality he is the foreign minister of the United States in Colombia (…) he is on the payroll of the United States, they pay him there,” said the leader of the most radical wing of Chavismo.
Foreign Minister Murillo had announced a meeting between Presidents Petro, Lula and López Obrador to try to find a solution to the post-election crisis.
Neither Colombia nor Brazil recognize Maduro’s victory announced by the National Electoral Council and ratified by the Supreme Court of Justice (both led by PSUV militants) and Mexico It also demands the publication of the minutes.
The European Union, the United States and Canada, They have not recognized Maduro either, while Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic recognize the victory of the opposition.
Everyone is asking the Chavista government to present the minutes of the election, which they have not shown until now.
According to Cabello, Murillo believes “he can say ‘we are coordinating a meeting between Colombia, Brazil and Mexico to discuss the issue of Venezuela’. What is this? The issue of Venezuela is discussed by Venezuelans,” the Chavista leader stressed, calling the alleged meeting “lies.”