VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports: Executive Vice President Ramon Carrizalez has stated that Venezuela will take to all forums and instances complaints about Colombian government destabilization plans, currently being employed in Tachira State and other border areas, especially using the strategy of infiltrating paramilitaries.

Carrizalez announced that 11 alleged paramilitaries have been arrested in the Venezuelan border town of San Antonio de Tachira for publishing and distributing fliers to tradesmen demanding protection money and threatening “social cleansing.”

Commenting on the murders of two National Guard (GNB) sergeants yesterday, Carrizalez proclaimed that the government will not allow destabilization in border areas.

The Vice Minister traveled to the border town of San Antonio for a press conference with Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister Tareck El Aissami and the Police Detective Branch (CICPC) chief.

During question time Carrizalez accused Tachira State Governor, Cesar Perez Vivas of allowing the regional police to use unregistered weaponry and of letting Colombian paramilitaries run riot. The regional government is lying, Carrizalez maintained, and is trivializing the violent incident because of the governor’s “personal plan to destabilize the region.” Venezuela, he declared, will run the territory and defend national sovereignty against all incursions.

When asked how long the border will be closed, Carrizalez said it is the Colombian government that closed the frontier but on being quizzed further, the Vice President admitted that the government had to implement measures of control, declaring that "officially the border is not closed."

Carrizalez referred to the tactic of people crossing the border bridge to confront Venezuelan military.

Efforts by Chavez to improve relations and boost trade and integration via bilateral projects, Carrizalez retorted, have always been met with the Colombian government “biting" the President’s hand, threats, spying activities and in general, adopting an aggressive attitude. The Colombian government, he said, will have to explain to its citizens the handing over of national sovereignty to the North Americans.

Finally, Carrizalez hinted of a possible intervention of the regional police stating that it was the national government’s duty to intervene the regional police if it failed in its duty to protect citizens.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
news.editor@vheadline.com