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VENEZUELA-POLITICS-ENERGY-ARMY-ELECTRICITY
Maduro creates military unit to protect public service installations
CARACAS, March 16, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro
created a military unit on Friday charged with protecting basic installations
and services such as electricity and water just over a week after the country
was hit with a massive blackout.
Maduro blamed that on a cyber attack directed by the United States but
critics say the government was at fault for failing to maintain
infrastructure.
Speaking on television and radio, Maduro said the “Command for the Defense
of Basic Strategic Services” would be tasked with ensuring “security,
operability and maintenance.”
Its officers would be responsible for guaranteeing both “physical and
cybernetic” security of infrastructure and maintenance of equipment.
Maduro repeated his claim that the blackout, which lasted almost a week,
was due to “successive attacks” against the country’s major hydroelectric
facility at Guri in Bolivar state, “directed” by US President Donald Trump’s
national security advisor John Bolton.
The blackout hit on March 7 and paralyzed the entire country.
The government announced on Tuesday that power was back on in practically
the whole country but western regions still reported cuts.
The socialist leader accused the opposition of concocting a plan “to
accompany the blackout with general violence,” claiming it was neutralized.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido launched a challenge to Maduro’s leadership
in January by declaring himself acting president.
He has since been recognized by more than 50 countries, led by the US.
He said the blackout was caused by burning vegetation that damaged
equipment.
Maduro accused him of “sabotage,” although experts doubt that version of
events.
Venezuela has been in recession for more than four years and is suffering
from an economic crisis. An estimated 2.7 million people have left the
country as poverty soared leaving shortages of food and medicines.
BSS/AFP/SSS/0843 hrs