How to cite this journal: Author, Date of the post, WMO Conflict Insight, Title of the post, ISSN:
2628-6998, https://worldmediation.org/journal/
The conflict in Venezuela began escalating on 10th January 2019 when the opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself as the acting president claiming that the incumbent Nicholas Maduro was not duly elected. The national assembly had earlier on invalidated the election of President Maduro during his second inauguration based on the 1999 constitution. However, the Supreme Court denied such claims holding that the national assembly’s act was not in line with the constitution (Grant, 2019). Thus, there was a need for re-election. However, the efforts of the Organization of America States to call for another election have not born any fruit. On that account, Maduro has accused the US of trying to oust him out of power through the opposition leader Guaido and regulate the country’s oil.
Since 2014, the economic status of Venezuela has been deteriorating which has eventually led to a humanitarian crisis hence the mass migration of millions of people out of the country. Since then the US and more than 50 countries have recognized the opposition leader Guaido as legitimate while other nations such as Russia and China among others have supported the election of President Maduro who is against the imperialists’ threats (Ponceleon, 2019). Besides, Venezuela’s military and national leaders have pledged their support for President Maduro.
However, the united states have increased their involvement in Venezuela claiming to be offering humanitarian aid amongst the Bolivians who are suffering from water shortages, food inadequacy, and medicine shortages among others. Protestants have died in a demonstration against the Maduro presidency, and several others sustained injuries (Ponceleon, 2019). To encounter these oppositions, Maduro accused Guaido of attempting a coup and ordered for his arrest besides arresting Leopoldo Lopez who was an opposition activist in a topple attempt. All these events have intensified the conflict in the nation.
Facts from the Conflict in Venezuela
The conflict that the country faces emerge political disagreements between the opposition leader Juan Guaido and president Nicholas Maduro. The former supports the imperialists’ ideologies during later socialism. For this matter, Guaido has the support of major capitalistic nations such as the US and Britain while Maduro enjoys support from the communists like China and Russia.
The US has played a significant role in the challenges that face the nation in several ways. First, they have established sanctions against Maduro’s administration despite the attempt of Maduro to establish a medium of exchange between Bolivian currency and dollars (Hetland, 2016). Banning Venezuela from the international capital market has led to the decline of its oil prices hence making it incapable of accomplishing its objectives towards improving the lives of its people. Moreover, Trump’s government has seized oil of Venezuela worth billions in their land hence military threats. Since Guaido came into the public platform when he was a student’s leader, he has been against Chavez communist approach and since 2014 been attempting to oust Maduro out of office.
There are a gross misrepresentation and misunderstanding that arises that president Maduro has managed to remain in power through corruption, fraud, and application of military force. The Chavismo communist approach has millions of support from the low-class citizens who enjoyed the aid and affordable lifestyle from the government (Hetland, 2016). The status quo in Venezuela is highly at risk, and that calls for the international community to come out and amicably help restore the situation.
As a human rights activist, many questions remain unanswered from the issues affecting the Latin American country. Venezuela is known for hugely producing oil and exporting to the US, but why does the US render blockade and sanction against them? The current war has seen the country lack essential amenities like food, adequate water, and medicinal drugs. In return, Trump’s administration has in several cases sent humanitarian aid to the citizens of the nation. Is it ideally true that the US is concerned about the situation of those people? If true, why do they ban them from participating in the international capital market that will otherwise improve their economic status from oil trade for self-sustenance?
So far, the international community and peace-keeping organizations like the United Nations have not taken any step to change the status quo in the country. However, they are watching the conflicts that are ongoing where the opposition leader is supported by the US and other nations to oust President Maduro (Grant, 2019). The most significant question that stands is why do they criminalize Venezuela for taking the communist ideology in running their economy? Can they allow the country to solve its problems democratically without attempting to topple him from power through the opposition?
The cause of conflict in the Bolivian nation is apparent in the embracement of socialism. Instead of taking this ideology with positivity, most people who like imperialism have termed it as a dictatorial regime, hostility towards the private sectors, and suffocating the state control on the economy of the country. However, these claims bear thin reality and cannot be used as a hanging rope against Maduro’s government. For that matter, the concerned stakeholders that include the UN, the US, the opposition and the government, and the international community should approach the situation with objectivity, neutrality, and impartiality to seek long-lasting amicable resolutions to end the war. The leading cause of the conflict is clear therefore the international community and relevant bodies should hold a major conference with the aggrieved parties to meditate on the conflict rather than hiding behind humanitarian aid with evil motives (Grant, 2019). Otherwise, there shall be a bitter confrontation between the Latin American nation and its northern counterparts.