Luisa Ortega Díaz is convinced that there is a magnicidio plot

Today, Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz told reporter José Vicente Rangel in an interview that she has no doubt that there is a plot (conjura) to kill President Maduro.

“Undoubtedly there is a national and international plot against the Venezuelan State, the plot includes the assassination of the President of the Republic, a magnicidio, and attacks against [government] institutions. (…) We are investigating and we still have not reached the bottom of this problem because it is much more serious than revealed by the [initial] investigations, but we will continue investigating and taking measures,” said Ortega Díaz.

She linked the alleged plot against the government with the street protests of the last months, calling them “terrorist acts executed by ultra-rightist groups.”

Ortega Díaz also called on the central government to strengthen its “media defenses.” “This has to be a State policy,” she remarked, “because the [media] attack against Venezuela has been fierce.”  

Government silent on Magnicidios and Coups

The 193^rd anniversary of the Batalla de Carabobo was commemorated with the usual patriotic and militaristic discourses common in these events.

Maduro and other orators insisted on the need for “unity and loyalty” in the face of internal and external threads. The emphasis however was on the “internal” front, as the government has been receiving strong criticisms from its own left flank.

But the most notable issue, at least from this blog’s perspective, was the absence from the government’s rhetoric yesterday of any claims of supposed plots to kill the President or of an on-going coup d’état. In fact the official media has been almost completely silent for some days on the issue.

Instead, the current leading discourse this week seems to be this: The Empire is using “dissolving tactics” against the Revolution by “inoculating” internal divisions. Ranks are to remain united and trust their leader with “maximum loyalty” in the face of these threats.     

Minister Rodríguez Torres receives journalism award for unmasking conspiracies

The Minister of Poplar Power for Interior Relations, Justice and Peace, Mayor General Miguel Rodríguez Torres, has received the “Premio de Periodismo Aníbal Nazoa” awarded by the pro-government organization Movimiento Periodismo Necesario.

Announcing the unanimous decision by the jury of the journalism award, Rosa Caldera, of the Movimiento, stated that the decision was based on the fact that: “on a daily basis he [Rodríguez Torres] has provided Venezuela with information through which the truth has been revealed. We believe that he has [successfully] refuted the versions of Venezuela as being in total chaos. (…) Rodríguez Torres has also been able to unmask national and foreign coup leaders who have conspired against the peace of the country. He has therefore neutralized a coup d’état against President Nicolás Maduro.”

(Image from the MPPRIJP web page)

Maduro returns from Bolivia and pledges strong action against conspirators

After denouncing in the G77 meeting in Bolivia that there is an Imperial conspiracy to overthrow him and “take over Venezuela’s resources,” president Maduro has returned to Venezuela to continue revealing what he claims is an opposition plot against him.

“There will be justice on coup mongers, guarimberos, and magnicidas [assassins of head of State], it doesn’t matter who they are, whatever office they hold, they will pay for their crimes, all the extreme right. We will keep on denouncing them permanently,” declared Maduro yesterday in his weekly radio program En Contacto con Maduro.

Arrest warrants have been issued for three of the alleged plotters of the magnicidio conspiracy: Pedro Burelli, Ricardo Koesling, and Diego Arria. The three are out of the country.

Another alleged main plotter, Maria Corina Machado, was cited yesterday to the General Attorney’s office as a witness to the case. According to Machado, she was questioned for more than 7 hours but never formally accused of being part of the plot. In fact she was told that since she is not under formal investigation, and is only a witness, she could not have access her file and her lawyers were not allowed to be present during the interview.

Machado has been publically accused by president Maduro of being an “assassin” and one of the master minds of the supposed plot to kill him. 

Hyper-magnicidio

Public media is now devoting most of its attention to elaborate on a supposed plot to assassinate president Nicolas Maduro and stage a coup d’état against the government.

Yesterday, in the Venezolana de Televisión TV show hosted by president of the National Assembly Diosdado Cabello “Con el Mazo Dando,” Jorge Rodríguez and Tareck El Aissami revealed what they claim is new evidence on the case.

Rodriguez made public what he claims are voice messages sent by one of the plotters, Pedro Burelli, to an undisclosed Armed Forces official. In the recordings the voice argues that the only missing piece of the plot is for a part of the army to “make the decisions it needs to make,” in order to “clean the scum of chavismo.”

So far the plot to kill Maduro includes, according to the government: Gustavo Tarre, Maria Corina Machado, Pedro Burelli, Henrique Salas Romer, Diego Arria, Ricardo Koesling, and US ambassador to Colombia Kevin Whitaker.

Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz has issued arrest warrants for Pedro Burelli, Ricardo Koesling and Diego Arria. The three are out of the country and Ortega Díaz says her office has petitioned Interpol to arrest them. Machado has been cited to the Attorney’s office as a witness on 16 June. She has declared she will attend.

   

Tarek El Aissami, Jorge Rodríguez, and Diosdado Cabello explain the plot. Image from AVN.