The Venezuelan opposition Wednesday lashed out at the country’s president, Hugo
Chavez, saying it is not Colombian paramilitary infiltration that is
causing the increase in insecurity in the country, but the activity of
Colombian “narco-guerrillas” FARC and ELN.
According to Luis Carlos Solorzano, leader of one of the country’s main opposition parties, the extreme deterioration of security can only be explained for two reasons; “or this government is completely incapable of protecting the public or is complicit with Colombian narco-guerrillas.”
The opposition politician says Chavez undermined the authority of the Armed Forces by forming the Bolivarian Liberation Force (FLB), a security force made up by armed supporters of the President. According to Salorzano, this was done on purpose to allow a penetration of the Colombian guerrillas, the FARC and ELN, and allow them to “take possession of our territory.”
According to Solorzano, the guerrillas have settled in Alto Apure, just miles off the border with Colombia, from where theyorganize attacks in Colombia, but also carry out operations inside Venezuela.
In a press conference, the political leader showed maps, graphs, photographs, pamphlets of the FLB and letters of the FARC to demonstrate the ties the opposition says Chavez has with the FARC.
Chavez himself repeatedly accused the opposition of importing Colombian paramilitaries to states where the opposition is in power to sow terror and as a right-wing counterbalance to his left-wing government.
