03.14.15: Bolivarian Shield

A 10-day long military drill – called the “Ejercicio Nacional Escudo Bolivariano” [Bolvarian Shield National Exercise] – has kicked off today. Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino Lopez spoke on the nature of the drills today, saying:

One of the fundamental points [of the drills] is to strengthen integral defences… they are exercises, I say again, that strengthen hardness, familiarize soldiers with their work, mission, and their willingness to win.

80,000 military personnel and 20,000 civilians are expected to participate in the drill. The Venezuelan government considers the union civico-militar [civil-military union] to be a cornerstone of its national policy. On the weakening of the barrier between the military and the civilian sphere, Lopez said:

The defence of our homeland is a task that belongs to all Venezuelans. Private industry, public institutions, and all of the branches of the government and the state should include themselves in it. Article 326 [of the Constitution] talks about the co-responsibility when it comes to all matters pertaining to the defence of the homeland.

Below, some shots of the drills.

From the Agustin Armario Navy Base in Puerto Cabello:

A mixed crowd of military members and civilians approaching Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas:

The drills were preceded by a security blitz involving the deployment of 1,200 motorized police officers and over 8,000 National Bolivarian Police officers across the country.

National Bolivarian Police Director Manuel Perez Urdaneta said that most of the officers were being deployed to Tachira, Lara, Carabobo, Aragua, Zulia, Anzoategui and Nueva Esparta states. He also said that the blitz would be in place until Sunday night.

Russian Military Participates in Drills

Minister of Defence Vladimir Padrino Lopez announced last night that a a group of Russian military officers would be in attendance during today’s nation-wide military drills. Lopez said that Russian navy vessels are expected to join the drills, along with an unspecified number of Russian soldiers and BM-30 Smerch multiple-rocket systems.

Maduro ordered the drills, which are scheduled to start today and continue over the last several days, in response to the United States sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials announced earlier this week.

PSUV Uses U.S. Sanctions to Vilify Opposition

The PSUV political machine appears to be using the U.S. sanctions to solidify its base and draw lines against dissenters.

The party continued its vilification of the opposition this week, accusing opposition supporters of being traitors. Speaking at an event before members of the Unidades de Battala Bolivar-Chavez [UBCh] on Thursday, Diosdado Cabello said:

Cabello: … and I’m going to give you some instructions now, fellow UBCh members. Because all the people are here. Each UBCh [unit] will have to become an unbeatable Vietnam for anyone who wants to use power over Bolivar’s homeland! Each UBCh must organize. Each patrol man and patrol woman will have to organize. North American imperialism is looking for a fight against the entire Venezuelan people, not only against chavismo.
(…)
I wish someone would enlighten the Venezuelan opposition, and tell them, “Look, that’s not how it is. Why won’t you defend your homeland?” Let’s send the Venezuelan opposition a message: our homeland is being threatened. Any Venezuelan who is not ready to defend the homeland is ready to become a traitor. They’re surely ready to become an enemy and a malinche [someone who sympathizes with and aids the enemy]. Surely. And they must be treated as such. Our homeland must be defended.

Carabobo state Governor Francisco Ameliach had similar words for the opposition, accusing them of treason. Referring to the Mesa de la Unidad Democratica‘s official response to the sanctions, Ameliach said:

The press release from the so-called MUD is sad. It justifies war by the United States against Venezuela. We should go over the laws because that’s treason.

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