Spanish
Caracas.- Thousands of motorcyclists sympathetic to Chavismo rode through several streets of Caracas this Saturday in support of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and against what were described as "threats" from the United States, in view of the recent proposal by the North American country to deploy ships near the Caribbean under the argument of combating drug trafficking.
The drivers departed from the headquarters of the Ministry of Transportation towards the Cuartel de la Montaña, which houses the tomb of the deceased president Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), where they met with another march organized by the ruling party, as part of the activities celebrated simultaneously to the process of enlisting militiamen convened by Maduro, in response to what were denounced as "hostile actions" by the U.S..
The motorcycle mobilization was led by the head of Transportation, Ramón Velásquez, who also expressed his support for Maduro in the face of "the threats" of the "decadent gringo empire".
"Here we are with the iron horses (motorcyclists) nationwide, (...) we are committed," expressed the minister, who highlighted the "mobilization capacity that these people have."
The official said that "no one can give up" or be "at the service of the gringos", in reference to the US authorities, who, he assured, are seeking Venezuelan "natural riches" and "intend to tarnish the name" of Maduro, whom Washington, which doubled to 50 million dollars the reward for information leading to his capture, accuses of "violating US narcotics laws".
"But they have not been able nor will they be able, we are going to battle," added Velasquez.
The leader of the Bolivarian National Union of Motorized Vehicles and Motorcyclists of Venezuela, Kelvis Maldonado, assured that the mobilization of the sector took place throughout the country, with the purpose of telling "the world that here there is a sovereign people who are willing to defend their president".
For her part, Chavista militant Katy Aponte stated that "the people are willing, if necessary, to risk their lives" and to "give their lives to defend their national territory, to defend sovereignty and to defend their president."
This Saturday, when the second stage of the enlistment ends, there were also activities in several regions, including Zulia (northwest, bordering Colombia), where fishermen mobilized on Lake Maracaibo, the largest in the country, in 165 boats, according to the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
This public media also broadcast images of a mobilization of another group of fishermen on the Apure River, in the southwest. This enlistment process is part of the so-called 'National Sovereignty and Peace Plan' activated by Maduro. On Tuesday, the Government, through its permanent mission to the UN, warned that the U.S. plans to send "a missile cruiser" and "a fast attack nuclear submarine" to the Venezuelan coast next week.Faced with this, Maduro asked the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to intercede so that the U.S. Government would cease its "hostile actions".
