Venezuelan military and police reject opposition leaders’ “seditious” plans

Caracas, Aug 6 (EFE).- Venezuelan military and police on Tuesday rejected what they consider “seditious claims” made by opposition leaders in a statement in which they asked state security forces to “enforce” the results of the presidential election, which they say was won by their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, and not President Nicolás Maduro, as announced by the electoral body.

“The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and the police forces attached to the Ministry of the Interior strongly reject the desperate and seditious approaches (…) by Mr. Edmundo González Urrutia, former presidential candidate, and the far-right María Corina Machado,” reads the statement read by the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, at an event broadcast by the state channel VTV.

Machado and González Urrutia on Monday called on the military and police to prevent what they consider a “coup d’état” by Maduro, who – they said – wants to make the troops “complices” in this operation.

“We urge you to stop the regime from unleashing its unbridled actions against the people and to respect and ensure respect for the results of the elections,” the opposition’s statement said, referring to the “repression” that has been received by demonstrators who took to the streets to protest against the result announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which ratifies Maduro as the winner.

The opposition coalition Democratic Unitary Platform claims that González Urrutia won the elections, since they have collected, so far, “83.5%” of the votes that prove – they insist – this victory.

In response, the military and police said that the elections “were conducted under the highest standards of transparency” and that the CNE “issued the corresponding results,” contrary to the claims of the Carter Center observer mission, as well as anti-Chavez supporters and a large part of the international community.

“But now they are trying to tarnish the aforementioned electoral process by means of the script (…) of violence,” Padrino read, referring to the protests against the result announced by the CNE.

He also said that the largest opposition coalition unleashed “a wave of terrorism through acts of vandalism” by “the commandos” – structures of citizen organization that were formed during the electoral campaign of the largest anti-Chavez bloc – who – he said – “raided” military and police headquarters with “firearms” and explosives.

The security forces considered it “offensive” that the opposition “attempts to address the military and police officers,” inciting them to “disobey the laws” and “take the side” of history and the people, when these officials “are the most affected by the violence.”

They also considered that “these fatuous and irrational calls” seek to “crack” the unity and institutionality of the military and police leadership, but – they said – “they will never succeed.”

According to a report provided by Padrino López, at least 59 police officers and 47 FANB members have been injured, in addition to the death of two soldiers.

The NGO Foro Penal reported 11 civilian deaths and 1,102 people arrested – which the government has put at more than 2,000 – including 100 teenagers, and dozens of people injured to varying degrees.

On behalf of the FANB and the police officers, Padrino confirmed the “absolute loyalty” to Maduro, who, he insisted, “has been legitimately elected,” despite the questions.

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