Venezuela: The assassination attempt in the Bolivar Avenue of Caracas

NOVANEWS

the assassination attempt in the Bolivar Avenue of Caracas

Simon Bolivar Hall, Miraflores Palace

Saturday, August 4th, 2018

Nicolas Maduro Moros

Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Fellow comrades, we are now in Simon Bolivar Hall of the Miraflores Presidential

Palace, today, August 4th, 2018, after a truly nice event, due to the anniversary of

our Bolivarian National Guard, an event of discipline, honor, strength of a

Bolivarian National Guard that has been guarantee of peace and protection of our

people.

We held an event in the afternoon, celebrating- as always- the day of the Bolivarian

National Guard and the day of the people. During the holding of this event without

any kind of problems at all and after listening to the extraordinary speech of

Commander General Lopez Vargas – really extraordinary – I congratulated him for

the words he addressed on behalf of the whole military component. We were

already closing the ceremony in the Bolivar Avenue.

Those who know Caracas and those who do not, must realize that the Bolivar

Avenue is a very symbolic avenue for the country. It is the avenue where we have

held dozens of acts of demonstration of strength, moral, and revolutionary spirit of

Venezuela. In that very same Bolivar Avenue, on October 4

th 2012, our Commander Chavez closed his electoral campaign as his last public event. Such

act was printed in the people’s memory, in the people’s myth. It was the farewell

act of our Commander Chavez. Something that was very heartfelt by all

Venezuelan men and women.

It is in the center of the city, surrounded by buildings, houses, in the north, in the

south, east and west, by stores, by the famous El Silencio towers; they were very

famous in the fifties. We were saying the last words to the National Guard and to

1 Television and radio national network address Message to the nation from President

Nicolas Maduro Simon Bolivar Hall, Miraflores Palace Saturday, August 4th, 2018

Message from the Constitutional President Nicolas Maduro to the nation after
violent and conspiracy plan against the people of Venezuela, foreseen and

announced by the Colombian extreme right and the Miami extreme right, in a total

despair that we had not seen in a while. It has been a while since we have heard

such maximalist statements, premonitory statements of tragedy, violence, I would

say.

It has been a while since we saw the coordination of statements of, for

instance, Juan Manuel Santos, where he said that Venezuela is at the end of the

regime; that Maduro is at edge of the end of his life. Juan Manuel Santos has

stated in several meetings “we are at the final days of Maduro…” If Juan Manuel

Santos himself says so, who is part of the Bogota assassin oligarchy, what can you

expect? It has been a while since we have heard the spokespersons of Miami

going crazy in the social networks, and the extreme right wing going crazy

announcing final times with such drama, with absolute no social, political, real base

in the Venezuelan society. Because Venezuela is in peace, the Venezuelan men

and women are daily and permanently working.

So there I was in that moment, denouncing the sabotage to the electric system –

Vice-president and Minister of Electrical Energy, comrade Major General of the

National Guard, Motta Dominguez; Vice-presidents: Jorge Rodriguez, Elias Jaua,

Aristobulo Isturiz, Ricardo Menendez, comrades who are here, Minister for Interior,

Reverol, Chief of SEBIN (Bolivarian Service of National Intelligence), comrade

Gonzalez Lopez, Military High Command, General in Chief Vladimir Padrino

Lopez. I was denouncing the specialized, millimeter-exact and terrorist sabotage

against the electric system. They have continued with the electrical war but more

precise, direct to hurt the people and to rehearse violent scenarios that have failed

and will continue to fail. They will continue failing, there is no doubt.

I was convening the people to register in the transportation census for the new

national hydrocarbon policy, which is necessary for the country, when I denounced

and said: “Let us not lower our guard”. You can see the repetition of the message,

comrade Jorge Rodriguez, can we repeat part of that message? Let the people see

2 Television and radio national network address Message to the nation from President

Nicolas Maduro Simon Bolivar Hall, Miraflores Palace Saturday, August 4th, 2018 our

people, precisely at that moment I was denouncing the coup d’état plan, the
conspiracy has returned”, in that very same moment, a flying artifact exploded in

front of me. It was a great explosion, comrades. My first reaction was to observe,

serenity, because I have faith in the people and the loyal Armed Forces. And God

protects me. Yes, God protects me but here on Earth, the people and the

Bolivarian Armed Forces protect me. Thanks to that, I’m still standing; I am alive

and victorious, ready to continue the battles I am to endure, always.

I even first thought that it was fireworks, some kind of explosive to conclude the

event, but I saw that soldiers were standing firm and at that moment of seconds,

microseconds, there was another explosion behind some platforms where there

were relatives and officers on my right – which is what you see in the pictures-

people running because of the explosion, and the rest of the personnel standing

would also look for protection. They walked and run to protect themselves from the

second explosion. All of this caused confusion at that time. And I was trying to

understand what was truly happening. At that moment, all the security and

protection mechanisms were activated to guarantee my safety and the safety of the

people.

The communication was cut off in that moment and the investigations immediately

started, the entire investigation group was deployed: intelligence, civil order police

staff, SEBIN, the military order, DGCIM (Military counterintelligence General

Direction) in coordination with Minister Nestor Reverol. I have to inform that some

of the perpetrators of the attack against my life are already being processed today

and part of the evidence has been collected and I am not going to say anything

else but the investigation is advancing. We have cleared the situation in record

time. It was an attack to kill me. They have tried to kill me today and I have no

doubt that the Venezuelan right, the Venezuelan extreme right with the Colombian

extreme right-wing, are involved in this. The name of Juan Manuel Santos is

behind this attack. I have no doubt. It was the murderous cruelty of the Colombian

oligarchy. I am sure all the evidences will appear but the first investigation

it all, that closing message of the event: “let us no lower our guard because the
end of Maduro, the end of the regime. Juan Manuel Santos will be handing over

the presidency on August 7 th , and he cannot leave without hurting Venezuela, we

have revealed all evil acts at the border. Maximum Alert! Bolivarian National Armed

Forces at the border, intelligence, counterintelligence and people’s coordination.

Thanks God I have an especial protection because it pointed directly to me. I feel

it; I am protected by our God, the Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed

Virgin of Chiquinquirá, our Chinita. I felt their love and blessings. I am blessed. I

got the prayers and protection from you, dear comrades of Venezuela, humble

women, mothers, grandmothers, combatant men, young people, children; I know I

got your prayers, your love. They have not beaten us yet and they never will. Be

assured that we will continue the path of a homeland that wants peace,

development, prosperity, happiness, tranquility and love.

An attack against a president was not seen in the country, since the attack against

Romulo Betancourt. Assassinations are not a Venezuelan custom. This idea of

assassinations or attacks does not come from Venezuela. Venezuelans solve our

differences with words, debate, people’s vote. They are incorporating into the

political life of the country elements that are not Venezuelan; burning human

beings one year ago, violence to impose reasons that they cannot impose by

politics, coup d’état attempts. All of them avoided and defeated. Now there is an

attack against the President of the Republic. This is serious. I am sorry, comrades,

we have been through so much together, I say to the Venezuelan bourgeoisie and

the political opponents who want to live in the country, I am the only guarantee of

peace for you to live in this country. If something happens to me, the right-wing

would face millions of humble people, workmen, farmers, soldiers taking justice

into their own hands. There will be no dust left. It is what the American empire is

looking for, the Bogota oligarchy, a violent Venezuela in a civil war, fratricide

struggle, brothers against brothers.

Elements point to Bogota, which is why we heard dramatic announcements of the
would be happening today in the streets of Venezuela? I do not want to overreact

but this is serious, the Venezuelan right-wing crossed the line in its hatred, its

despair. Of course, since they do not live in Venezuela, they hire killers already

caught and duly processed. I have talked to the Prosecutor General of the

Republic, Doctor Tarek William Saab, who witnessed the event. He was sitting netx

to Cilia and me. I watched the videos and how Cilia got surprised, then -I

remember every single thing we have gone through in that moment – my mind was

always clear. What the people would be thinking, how the people can perceive it. I

told the bodyguards that we must talk to the people in order to avoid despair. And

for that reason I am here. I told Minister Jorge Rodriguez to send a message of

tranquility to all Venezuelans and all our friends in the whole world: I am fine, I am

alive, and I can tell you that after this attack I am more determined to struggle, to

make revolution and to prevail by the single path that we have: the path to peace,

the Constitution. The Bolivarian Revolution continues its path and nowadays I am

more determined than ever to continue this path.

We want peace and coexistence, we always say it. The extreme right-wing

followers believe that they can impose their ideas in the country by any way. What

they have done is very serious. Investigations go further, no matter who is caught.

The Prosecutor General is a capable, smart and brave man and I am sure of the

progress we have made. He will work on that until the end. There is not a sacred

name here. We will also request – as we should – the people living abroad who are

responsible, especially in the United States of America. The first investigations

indicate that several intellectual and financial perpetrators of this attack against my

life are living in the United States of America, in Florida State; I hope that Donald

Trump’s Administration is willing to combat terrorist groups which pretend to

commit assassinations or attacks against specific countries of our continent,

Venezuela in this opportunity.

What would have happened if this attack against me had been successful? What
governments of the continent where there are extreme right-wing groups.

-What makes these groups so desperate? – Why have they opted for conspiracy

again? – Why have they chosen the maximum option of an attempt and

assassination of the president of the Republic? Why? – What are they looking for? –

We have to think about it carefully.

I am sure that the Program for Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity I have

activated is driving them to despair. This August 20th we will have a special day

with the currency conversion and an economic, financial and integral fiscal

reconversion. We are going to change the economic situation dismantling the

economic war mechanisms against the people. They have already assessed

announcements and pre-announcements. They are so desperate because they

know the economic recovery program is the solution that Venezuela needs and it is

well designed, its implementation brings tranquility, prosperity, recovery, economic

growth to the country.

They know that for the first time in five years, we have a comprehensive, well

thought and elaborated program that is coherent with the national reality that needs

great changes. I am sure that these changes will be accompanied by the great

majority of Venezuelans. I am sure. The good people, people who wants

tranquility, prosperity, people that wants this economic situation to be solved, to put

an end to this economic war. I am sure.

I was talking about the transportation census; we are going to take the fuel

business away from mafias and thieves. They stole more than 6 million dollar to

the country per year, the fuel to the country and I have the response and the

solution, I have them, but in order to make it work, we need the verified and

impeccable transportation census.

I hope that as the investigations advance, we get the collaboration of the
for a national transportation strike as an opposite response to the transportation

census. This is a madness never seen before. They have called to sabotage the

registration in the census of transportation. When a solution is proposed, these

people do not contribute. I was explaining it when the drones exploded in the

attack I endured today. I was explaining it in depth.

It is unbelievable, is not it? I believe in paranormal phenomena. It was surprising

that someone sought to kill me just when I was explaining a key element with

regard to the radical change in the economy field we are going to experience for

the benefit of Venezuelans from August 20th. A coincidence, right?

It happened when I was urging the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, the

Bolivarian National Guard and our people to massively participate in the

transportation census. Because we really need it in order to know the number of

motorcycles, cars, buses and loading vehicles in the country, to know their purpose

of usage, use of gasoline, diesel and gas consumption among others. All of that

seeks to implement policies such as direct subsidies, and to end the mafia that

steals gasoline and fuel at the Venezuelan border with the complicity and support

of the Colombian government. Is it not true? I say to you comrades, do I lie to you?

In that moment, I was urging all bus drivers and motor vehicle owners in the

country and now I urge them again – since I am determined- to go to all Bolivar

squares and participate as of today in the National Transportation Census in order

to implement a new and good policy with regard to the national fuel. I ask you to

support me and this program of economic recovery.

The magnitude of the insane actions based on the Miami and Colombian oligarchy

hatred has been immense. This was really an insane action of people who become

accustomed to kill the opponent, to capture them, to torture them, to attack them

with bombs in Colombia as Gaitan who was murdered 70 years ago, as the

revolutionary leaders of the guerrilla groups during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, who

were murdered, as the M-19 leaders and the leaders of the Patriotic Union, who

were killed –more than 5 thousand murder victims. How many murder victims are

7

And this disturbs them. So they just gave orders. Some of them have even called
most humble ones. It seems that there are no people that regret the death of these

fighters after 70 years or more, maybe two centuries.

Did not they attempt to murder our Liberator Simon Bolivar? Did not they murder

our father Antonio Jose de Sucre? So, the fratricidal death related to the political

field comes from Bogota, from its oligarchy.

Our people must be fully aware that we cannot allow them, under any situation, to

poison Venezuela with their violence, death, hatred. No. The political life of

Venezuela must be institutionally, democratically and constitutionally respected.

This criminal attack – ordered from Bogota and perpetrated by hired assassins that

are already captured – is useful for the national reflection. It is useful to strengthen

our Venezuelan awareness of peace, our awareness that our sons, daughters,

grandchildren have to grow up in a country of mutual understanding, of peaceful

coexistence; a country where the State and the institutions respect the people and

the people respects its State and institutions. This is a democratic and solid

country. This should be our goal. How many situations have we experienced? How

many situations have we endured? They want to take control of Venezuela. They

want to take control over our wealth, over the great wealth of Venezuela, the first

certified oil reserve, and other great wealth of our Homeland. They want to reverse

the courageous, revolutionary and independence project of our Liberator Simon

Bolivar, brought to the 21st century by our Commander Chavez. This is the other

great spiritual, ideological, political, cultural and human wealth that our country has

today. It is true. How many attempts have they perpetrated? We must be fully

aware of that.

Our government is ruling together with the people and it is preparing itself for the

success of the Program for Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity. Our

political forces, the parties of the revolution and the social movements are

generating awareness, preparing themselves for new battles and keeping the

permanent mobilization in the commune, the labor union, the UBCH (Hugo Chavez

Battle Units), the grassroots committee, all the forces of the Great Patriotic Pole,

after the signing of the FARC peace agreement? They were humble people, the
of the population of our country. Our Bolivarian National Armed Forces are

increasingly united with the greatest struggle morale. The FANB, the military

leaders of the Homeland, are guaranteeing the security on the streets since

Venezuela has to overcome all the obstacles for a better future, therefore, the

FANB have to guarantee the right to peace to all Venezuelans.

They failed. They always will. If God is with us, who can defeat us? Nobody! If the

people is with us, who can defeat us? Nobody! Union, union, maximum union!

Destiny brings great moments, great victories for all of us. In Venezuela, the peace

will triumph.

This attack aiming at stopping and ending this revolution will remain in history as

well as how our people grew and our Homeland overcame this.

They failed. They always will. I address you, oligarchs, you have failed again. In

Venezuela, we have to bring those who attacked me and other high authorities to

justice. Justice! Maximum punishment! There will no forgiveness. I say to those

who have dared to attack us: you will not be forgiven. We will pursue you and

capture you wherever you hide. I swear it for the future of the Homeland.

Moments like this one make evident our conviction that our struggle is the fairest

one in this Earth, and that we are on the right side of history. I can feel it in my

heart since the moment I saw the explosion of that drone in front of me. That drone

aimed at me. However, there was a shield of love that always protects us. I am

sure that I will live for many years. Amen. I will devote all my future years and days

to you, comrades, beloved comrades. Continue struggling, in permanent struggle.

I prepare myself with the greatest energy and force to continue loving the

Venezuelan people. I am sure that the steps we are going to take on August 20

thy through the Program for Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity will be

successful. The success of this program will be the tranquility and happiness of the

people.

The United Socialist Party, all the revolutionary forces, which represent the majority
they, I say, they failed. On August 4th, I say long live life, long live

the Homeland, long live peace. May peace remain in Venezuela and may we

continue to succeed with the truth and life.

I say from my heart- with great memories for our people- towards victory always!

We will be victorious. We will always prevail!

Today, on August 4,2018

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