30/01/19
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has issued a video message addressed directly to "the people of the United States," urging them to prevent President Donald Trump from starting a war in Latin America.
In a video published Wednesday to Maduro's account on Facebook—which recently removed the socialist leader's "verified" check amid the ongoing political crisis—he warned U.S. citizens not to trust the media, which had waged a "brutal campaign of false images" and "mounted videos." He said that "a campaign has been prepared to justify a coup d’état in Venezuela," one that has been "set, financed and supported actively by the Donald Trump administration."
Protests against deteriorating economic conditions—along with allegations of election fraud and human rights abuses—swelled as Maduro was sworn into his second term earlier this month, compelling opposition leader and National Assembly head Juan Guaidó to declare himself interim president. The U.S. recognized the move and has increasingly pressured Maduro to step down in a series of developments that the Venezuelan leader warned could lead to a military confrontation akin to U.S. wars in Iraq, Libya and Vietnam.
"If the U.S. intends to invade us, they will have a Vietnam worse than they can imagine. Let’s not allow violence," Maduro said, urging viewers to "not permit a new Vietnam in Venezuela."
Video clip here
Transcript of part of video
Venezuela has a solid democracy. We have our own problems, as any other country and we will solve them by ourselves. Our people deserve respect.
In our country there is the largest certified oil reserve in the world and the eyes of those who lead the empire in the United States want to put their hands on it as they did in Iraq and Libya. That wealth belongs to us. We are now certifying the world's first gold reserve. We have the fourth largest gas reserve in the world. We are a country of great resources both natural and energetic. This is the truth and this explains the constant attack against Venezuela. That's why I call you to the conscience to solidarity.
Do not let Donald Trump and the group of extremists around him like John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, the CIA and Mike Pence impose their lives and their coup against Venezuela, the coup that they support, and support the people of Venezuela in their struggle for democracy.
I expect a lot from you, American citizen.
Video link: https://www.facebook.com/NicolasMaduro/videos/616514302112932/
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