On July
22nd, most states in Venezuela suffered a blackout after an alleged
“electromagnetic attack” on the country’s power grid.
This was
announced by both Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Information Minister
Jorge Rodriguez.
Ante el nuevo
ataque criminal contra la tranquilidad y la Paz de la Patria, el Gobierno
Bolivariano y la #FANB
se encuentran desplegados atendiendo las necesidades del pueblo. Los hijos e
hijas de Bolívar demostraremos una vez más nuestra voluntad inquebrantable.
¡Venceremos!
“Faced
with the new criminal attack on the tranquility and peace of the motherland,
the Bolivarian Government and National Bolivarian Armed Forces are deployed to
meet the needs of the people. The sons and daughters of Bolivar will once again
demonstrate our unwavering will.”
The
statement is the following:
“The
Bolivarian Government of Venezuela informs all the people that today, at
4 and 45 in the afternoon, a national event of interruption of the electricity
supply was presented. The first indications received from the investigation in
Lower Caroni indicate the existence of an electromagnetic attack that sought to
affect the hydroelectric generation system of Guayana, the main provider of
this service in the country.
Fortunately,
and after the focused aggressions during the months of March and April of this
year, the Bolivarian Government has implemented protection and security
protocols that allow us to ensure that we are already in the reconnection
process to restore the electric power service in the shortest possible time.
At the
same time, we have activated, through the Electric General Staff, the CEO, and
the corresponding ministries, the mechanisms to meet the contingencies in the
supply of drinking water, the provision of transport services and the
monitoring and approach of any situation in our health centers. We also inform
that we have ordered the deployment of the competent security agencies to
guarantee the peace and tranquility of the entire population. Those who have
attacked the noble people of Venezuela in every possible way and in a
systematic way will once again know about the temper and courage that, in the
midst of the difficulties, we have shown as the daughters and sons of our
Liberator Simón Bolívar. We will win”
The
blackout includes Caracas. Social media users report that basic services have been affected.
This includes the Caracas Metro, which has to shut down a number of lines. The
new blackout comes mere months after an attack on the country’s power grid left
most of the nation without power for several days.
Health
officials informed that hospitals and health centers have optimally initiated
safety protocols as well, to ensure patients are not affected. Caracas’ largest hospital,
Domingo Luciani, is operating normally as it is working with an independent
power plant that can last for more than 20 hours.
While
other key areas of the country such as transportation, security, and sanitation
have also activated contingency plans.
“With
the coordinated effort of the Integral Transportation System, Metrobus,
National Police, ministries, and private entities to put into action a
contingency plan to ensure no one is left stranded and can safely reach home,”
Minister of Transporation, Hipolito Abreu, stated.
US-Proclaimed
Interim President Juan Guaido said that the blackout was the result of the
“regime’s” corruption and mismanagement.
5to #ApagónNacional
del año, 10 PM: 5 horas #SinLuz en toda Venezuela producto de la
corrupción e incapacidad del régimen. Hemos advertido de la catástrofe
humanitaria latente si el régimen sigue secuestrando el poder sin capacidad de
ofrecer solución a emergencia que generaron
“5 hours
of Blackout throughout Venezuela as a result of corruption and incapacity of
the regime. We have warned of the latent humanitarian catastrophe if the regime
continues to sequester power without the ability to offer an emergency
solution”
It
currently appears that the Venezuelan crisis is in a sort of vicious cycle, in
which the same rhetoric and actions by the opposition are repeated, which makes
it impossible to reach a settlement, regardless of how many times the
government and opposition meet.
Interestingly,
also on July 22nd, Venezuelan airspace was violated by US aircraft.
During a
press conference, the Venezuelan vice-president explained that at 09:52 hours
(local time), a new violation occurred on the part of the US aircraft model
EP-3E ARIES II, a specialist plane used in intelligence, war and electronic
espionage, in the airspace of the South American nation.
Rodríguez
explained that the violation occurred when the aircraft did not communicate its
flight plan when venturing into Venezuelan airspace, so the aviation of the
Bolivarian National Armed Forces ( FANB ) proceeded to intercept and later
eject the plane.
“By
flying over the Flight Information Region (FIR) of Maiquetía, this in addition
to spying produces a danger within the airspace of Venezuela,” he said.
Rodriguez
also noted that since January of this year (2019), violations and incursions
into Venezuelan airspace have increased by 167 percent, in addition to having
detected at least 78 opportunities a violation of the Maiquetía FIR.
“These
US planes that have entered illegally within Venezuelan airspace, have the
ability to carry missiles, as well as high technology and extensive electronic
capabilities,” said the Venezuelan sector vice president.
In
response, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said that “the Venezuelan
regime” had no right to undertake provocative actions against US Navy aircraft
that is partaking in a routine mission.
The United States
condemns the illegitimate Venezuelan regime’s provocative actions against our
US Navy aircraft while on a routine mission. These unsafe & unprofessional
actions are yet another example of dictator Nicolás Maduro’s willful violation of
international norms & laws.
The
protection of Venezuelan airspace was also called “aggressive posturing.”
Venezuelans want
an end to the grave humanitarian crisis & the senseless arbitrary
repression. Instead, Maduro seeks to engage in aggressive posturing against the
US. We will support Venezuelans & our partners in the region as we all
pursue a return to democracy in Venezuela.
It is
interesting that on the same day an intelligence aircraft violated Venezuelan
airspace, an alleged electromagnetic attack took place on the power grid.
The
Maduro government hasn’t alleged that specifically that was the reason, since
there probably isn’t any evidence.
So any such
scenario falls in the realm of speculation.
