Message from the Constitutional President Nicolas Maduro to the nation after the assassination attempt in the Bolivar Avenue of Caracas
Fellow comrades, we are now in Simon Bolivar Hall of the Miraflores Presidential Palace, today, August 4th, 2018, after a truly nice event, due to the anniversary of our Bolivarian National Guard, an event of discipline, honor, strength of a Bolivarian National Guard that has been guarantee of peace and protection of our people.
We held an event in the afternoon, celebrating- as always- the day of the Bolivarian
National Guard and the day of the people. During the holding of this event without
any kind of problems at all and after listening to the extraordinary speech of
Commander General Lopez Vargas – really extraordinary – I congratulated him for
the words he addressed on behalf of the whole military component. We were
already closing the ceremony in the Bolivar Avenue.
Those who know Caracas and those who do not, must realize that the Bolivar
Avenue is a very symbolic avenue for the country. It is the avenue where we have
held dozens of acts of demonstration of strength, moral, and revolutionary spirit of
Venezuela. In that very same Bolivar Avenue, on October 4 th 2012, our
Commander Chavez closed his electoral campaign as his last public event. Such
act was printed in the people’s memory, in the people’s myth. It was the farewell
act of our Commander Chavez. Something that was very heartfelt by all
Venezuelan men and women.
It is in the center of the city, surrounded by buildings, houses, in the north, in the
south, east and west, by stores, by the famous El Silencio towers; they were very
famous in the fifties. We were saying the last words to the National Guard and to
our people, precisely at that moment I was denouncing the coup d’état plan, the
violent and conspiracy plan against the people of Venezuela, foreseen and
announced by the Colombian extreme right and the Miami extreme right, in a total
despair that we had not seen in a while. It has been a while since we have heard
such maximalist statements, premonitory statements of tragedy, violence, I would
say. It has been a while since we saw the coordination of statements of, for
instance, Juan Manuel Santos, where he said that Venezuela is at the end of the
regime; that Maduro is at edge of the end of his life. Juan Manuel Santos has
stated in several meetings “we are at the final days of Maduro…” If Juan Manuel
Santos himself says so, who is part of the Bogota assassin oligarchy, what can you
expect? It has been a while since we have heard the spokespersons of Miami
going crazy in the social networks, and the extreme right wing going crazy
announcing final times with such drama, with absolute no social, political, real base
in the Venezuelan society. Because Venezuela is in peace, the Venezuelan men
and women are daily and permanently working.
So there I was in that moment, denouncing the sabotage to the electric system –
Vice-president and Minister of Electrical Energy, comrade Major General of the
National Guard, Motta Dominguez; Vice-presidents: Jorge Rodriguez, Elias Jaua,
Aristobulo Isturiz, Ricardo Menendez, comrades who are here, Minister for Interior,
Reverol, Chief of SEBIN (Bolivarian Service of National Intelligence), comrade
Gonzalez Lopez, Military High Command, General in Chief Vladimir Padrino
Lopez. I was denouncing the specialized, millimeter-exact and terrorist sabotage
against the electric system. They have continued with the electrical war but more
precise, direct to hurt the people and to rehearse violent scenarios that have failed
and will continue to fail. They will continue failing, there is no doubt.
I was convening the people to register in the transportation census for the new
national hydrocarbon policy, which is necessary for the country, when I denounced
and said: “Let us not lower our guard”. You can see the repetition of the message,
comrade Jorge Rodriguez, can we repeat part of that message? Let the people see
it all, that closing message of the event: “let us no lower our guard because the
conspiracy has returned”, in that very same moment, a flying artifact exploded in
front of me. It was a great explosion, comrades. My first reaction was to observe,
serenity, because I have faith in the people and the loyal Armed Forces. And God
protects me. Yes, God protects me but here on Earth, the people and the
Bolivarian Armed Forces protect me. Thanks to that, I’m still standing; I am alive
and victorious, ready to continue the battles I am to endure, always.
I even first thought that it was fireworks, some kind of explosive to conclude the
event, but I saw that soldiers were standing firm and at that moment of seconds,
microseconds, there was another explosion behind some platforms where there
were relatives and officers on my right – which is what you see in the pictures-
people running because of the explosion, and the rest of the personnel standing
would also look for protection. They walked and run to protect themselves from the
second explosion. All of this caused confusion at that time. And I was trying to
understand what was truly happening. At that moment, all the security and
protection mechanisms were activated to guarantee my safety and the safety of the
people.
The communication was cut off in that moment and the investigations immediately
started, the entire investigation group was deployed: intelligence, civil order police
staff, SEBIN, the military order, DGCIM (Military counterintelligence General
Direction) in coordination with Minister Nestor Reverol. I have to inform that some
of the perpetrators of the attack against my life are already being processed today
and part of the evidence has been collected and I am not going to say anything
else but the investigation is advancing. We have cleared the situation in record
time. It was an attack to kill me. They have tried to kill me today and I have no
doubt that the Venezuelan right, the Venezuelan extreme right with the Colombian
extreme right-wing, are involved in this. The name of Juan Manuel Santos is
behind this attack. I have no doubt. It was the murderous cruelty of the Colombian
oligarchy. I am sure all the evidences will appear but the first investigation
elements point to Bogota, which is why we heard dramatic announcements of the
end of Maduro, the end of the regime. Juan Manuel Santos will be handing over
the presidency on August 7th, and he cannot leave without hurting Venezuela, we
have revealed all evil acts at the border. Maximum Alert! Bolivarian National Armed
Forces at the border, intelligence, counterintelligence and people’s coordination.
Thanks God I have an especial protection because it pointed directly to me. I feel
it; I am protected by our God, the Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed
Virgin of Chiquinquirá, our Chinita. I felt their love and blessings. I am blessed. I
got the prayers and protection from you, dear comrades of Venezuela, humble
women, mothers, grandmothers, combatant men, young people, children; I know I
got your prayers, your love. They have not beaten us yet and they never will. Be
assured that we will continue the path of a homeland that wants peace,
development, prosperity, happiness, tranquility and love.
An attack against a president was not seen in the country, since the attack against
Romulo Betancourt. Assassinations are not a Venezuelan custom. This idea of
assassinations or attacks does not come from Venezuela. Venezuelans solve our
differences with words, debate, people’s vote. They are incorporating into the
political life of the country elements that are not Venezuelan; burning human
beings one year ago, violence to impose reasons that they cannot impose by
politics, coup d’état attempts. All of them avoided and defeated. Now there is an
attack against the President of the Republic. This is serious. I am sorry, comrades,
we have been through so much together, I say to the Venezuelan bourgeoisie and
the political opponents who want to live in the country, I am the only guarantee of
peace for you to live in this country. If something happens to me, the right-wing
would face millions of humble people, workmen, farmers, soldiers taking justice
into their own hands. There will be no dust left. It is what the American empire is
looking for, the Bogota oligarchy, a violent Venezuela in a civil war, fratricide
struggle, brothers against brothers.
What would have happened if this attack against me had been successful? What
would be happening today in the streets of Venezuela? I do not want to overreact
but this is serious, the Venezuelan right-wing crossed the line in its hatred, its
despair. Of course, since they do not live in Venezuela, they hire killers already
caught and duly processed. I have talked to the Prosecutor General of the
Republic, Doctor Tarek William Saab, who witnessed the event. He was sitting netx
to Cilia and me. I watched the videos and how Cilia got surprised, then -I
remember every single thing we have gone through in that moment – my mind was
always clear. What the people would be thinking, how the people can perceive it. I
told the bodyguards that we must talk to the people in order to avoid despair. And
for that reason I am here. I told Minister Jorge Rodriguez to send a message of
tranquility to all Venezuelans and all our friends in the whole world: I am fine, I am
alive, and I can tell you that after this attack I am more determined to struggle, to
make revolution and to prevail by the single path that we have: the path to peace,
the Constitution. The Bolivarian Revolution continues its path and nowadays I am
more determined than ever to continue this path.
We want peace and coexistence, we always say it. The extreme right-wing
followers believe that they can impose their ideas in the country by any way. What
they have done is very serious. Investigations go further, no matter who is caught.
The Prosecutor General is a capable, smart and brave man and I am sure of the
progress we have made. He will work on that until the end. There is not a sacred
name here. We will also request – as we should – the people living abroad who are
responsible, especially in the United States of America. The first investigations
indicate that several intellectual and financial perpetrators of this attack against my
life are living in the United States of America, in Florida State; I hope that Donald
Trump’s Administration is willing to combat terrorist groups which pretend to
commit assassinations or attacks against specific countries of our continent,
Venezuela in this opportunity.
I hope that as the investigations advance, we get the collaboration of the
governments of the continent where there are extreme right-wing groups.
-What makes these groups so desperate? – Why have they opted for conspiracy
again? – Why have they chosen the maximum option of an attempt and
assassination of the president of the Republic? Why? – What are they looking for? –
We have to think about it carefully.
I am sure that the Program for Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity I have
activated is driving them to despair. This August 20 th, we will have a special day
with the currency conversion and an economic, financial and integral fiscal
reconversion. We are going to change the economic situation dismantling the
economic war mechanisms against the people. They have already assessed
announcements and pre-announcements. They are so desperate because they
know the economic recovery program is the solution that Venezuela needs and it is
well designed, its implementation brings tranquility, prosperity, recovery, economic
growth to the country.
They know that for the first time in five years, we have a comprehensive, well
thought and elaborated program that is coherent with the national reality that needs
great changes. I am sure that these changes will be accompanied by the great
majority of Venezuelans. I am sure. The good people, people who wants
tranquility, prosperity, people that wants this economic situation to be solved, to put
an end to this economic war. I am sure.
I was talking about the transportation census; we are going to take the fuel
business away from mafias and thieves. They stole more than 6 million dollar to
the country per year, the fuel to the country and I have the response and the
solution, I have them, but in order to make it work, we need the verified and
impeccable transportation census.
And this disturbs them. So they just gave orders. Some of them have even called
for a national transportation strike as an opposite response to the transportation
census. This is a madness never seen before. They have called to sabotage the
registration in the census of transportation. When a solution is proposed, these
people do not contribute. I was explaining it when the drones exploded in the
attack I endured today. I was explaining it in depth.
It is unbelievable, is not it? I believe in paranormal phenomena. It was surprising
that someone sought to kill me just when I was explaining a key element with
regard to the radical change in the economy field we are going to experience for
the benefit of Venezuelans from August 20th. A coincidence, right?
It happened when I was urging the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, the
Bolivarian National Guard and our people to massively participate in the
transportation census. Because we really need it in order to know the number of
motorcycles, cars, buses and loading vehicles in the country, to know their purpose
of usage, use of gasoline, diesel and gas consumption among others. All of that
seeks to implement policies such as direct subsidies, and to end the mafia that
steals gasoline and fuel at the Venezuelan border with the complicity and support
of the Colombian government. Is it not true? I say to you comrades, do I lie to you?
In that moment, I was urging all bus drivers and motor vehicle owners in the
country and now I urge them again – since I am determined- to go to all Bolivar
squares and participate as of today in the National Transportation Census in order
to implement a new and good policy with regard to the national fuel. I ask you to
support me and this program of economic recovery.
The magnitude of the insane actions based on the Miami and Colombian oligarchy
hatred has been immense. This was really an insane action of people who become
accustomed to kill the opponent, to capture them, to torture them, to attack them
with bombs in Colombia as Gaitan who was murdered 70 years ago, as the
revolutionary leaders of the guerrilla groups during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, who
were murdered, as the M-19 leaders and the leaders of the Patriotic Union, who
were killed –more than 5 thousand murder victims. How many murder victims are
after the signing of the FARC peace agreement? They were humble people, the
most humble ones. It seems that there are no people that regret the death of these
fighters after 70 years or more, maybe two centuries.
Did not they attempt to murder our Liberator Simon Bolivar? Did not they murder
our father Antonio Jose de Sucre? So, the fratricidal death related to the political
field comes from Bogota, from its oligarchy.
Our people must be fully aware that we cannot allow them, under any situation, to
poison Venezuela with their violence, death, hatred. No. The political life of
Venezuela must be institutionally, democratically and constitutionally respected.
This criminal attack – ordered from Bogota and perpetrated by hired assassins that
are already captured – is useful for the national reflection. It is useful to strengthen
our Venezuelan awareness of peace, our awareness that our sons, daughters,
grandchildren have to grow up in a country of mutual understanding, of peaceful
coexistence; a country where the State and the institutions respect the people and
the people respects its State and institutions. This is a democratic and solid
country. This should be our goal. How many situations have we experienced? How
many situations have we endured? They want to take control of Venezuela. They
want to take control over our wealth, over the great wealth of Venezuela, the first
certified oil reserve, and other great wealth of our Homeland. They want to reverse
the courageous, revolutionary and independence project of our Liberator Simon
Bolivar, brought to the 21st century by our Commander Chavez. This is the other
great spiritual, ideological, political, cultural and human wealth that our country has
today. It is true. How many attempts have they perpetrated? We must be fully
aware of that.
Our government is ruling together with the people and it is preparing itself for the
success of the Program for Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity. Our
political forces, the parties of the revolution and the social movements are
generating awareness, preparing themselves for new battles and keeping the
permanent mobilization in the commune, the labor union, the UBCH (Hugo Chavez
Battle Units), the grassroots committee, all the forces of the Great Patriotic Pole,
the United Socialist Party, all the revolutionary forces, which represent the majority
of the population of our country. Our Bolivarian National Armed Forces are
increasingly united with the greatest struggle morale. The FANB, the military
leaders of the Homeland, are guaranteeing the security on the streets since
Venezuela has to overcome all the obstacles for a better future, therefore, the
FANB have to guarantee the right to peace to all Venezuelans.
They failed. They always will. If God is with us, who can defeat us? Nobody! If the
people is with us, who can defeat us? Nobody! Union, union, maximum union!
Destiny brings great moments, great victories for all of us. In Venezuela, the peace
will triumph.
This attack aiming at stopping and ending this revolution will remain in history as
well as how our people grew and our Homeland overcame this.
They failed. They always will. I address you, oligarchs, you have failed again. In
Venezuela, we have to bring those who attacked me and other high authorities to
justice. Justice! Maximum punishment! There will no forgiveness. I say to those
who have dared to attack us: you will not be forgiven. We will pursue you and
capture you wherever you hide. I swear it for the future of the Homeland.
Moments like this one make evident our conviction that our struggle is the fairest
one in this Earth, and that we are on the right side of history. I can feel it in my
heart since the moment I saw the explosion of that drone in front of me. That drone
aimed at me. However, there was a shield of love that always protects us. I am
sure that I will live for many years. Amen. I will devote all my future years and days
to you, comrades, beloved comrades. Continue struggling, in permanent struggle.
I prepare myself with the greatest energy and force to continue loving the
Venezuelan people. I am sure that the steps we are going to take on August 20 th
through the Program for Economic Recovery, Growth and Prosperity will be
successful. The success of this program will be the tranquility and happiness of the
people.
Today, on August 4th, I say, they failed. On August 4 th, I say long live life, long live
the Homeland, long live peace. May peace remain in Venezuela and may we
continue to succeed with the truth and life.
I say from my heart- with great memories for our people- towards victory always!
We will be victorious. We will always prevail!