Borrowing a page from Putin, perhaps?
Colombia accuses Venezuela of new airspace violation
Colombia accused Venezuela Monday of violating its airspace for the second time in two days amid a smoldering border crisis, saying a warplane had again flown well into its territory.
. . .
The accusation came after Colombia said two Venezuelan warplanes crossed its northern border on Saturday — a claim Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez dismissed as “an invention.”
The plane flew six miles into Colombian airspace, did a sharp turn and returned to Venezuela – all without requesting permission.
The first incursion happened twice on Saturday, the day that both countries announced that they would renew ties amid the border crisis. The second took place yesterday, as Colombian president Santos announced that he was planning to visit
the northeastern province of La Guajira to assess the situation after Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro extended border closures to the region last week.
According to the reports, all incursions lacked warning to or authorization from Colombia.
Venezuela denies the incidents.
Video (in Spanish) from EFE,
Adding insult to injury, After deporting 1,400 Colombians, Venezuela pledges to take 20,000 Syrian refugees.
In other Colombian news,
Murder of Colombian journalist sullies local election campaign. Reporters’ association calls for more security measures in wake of Flor Alba Núñez’s death. She was shot as she arrived at La preferida estéreo radio station in Pitalito, southwest Colombia, where she worked. The link shows surveillance camera footage of the murder.
UPDATE
While the warplanes were flying, over 400 (civilian) passengers were stranded in Madrid for four days following cancellations by Conviasa, Venezuela’s national airline. Due to currency exchange laws, any Venezuelan passengers could not get more cash, either. (links in Spanish)
I expect that when Iran get ahold of the $150 billion it will help Venezuela restart Conviasa flights between Tehran and Caracas.
Among other things, OT.
An invention that Venezuelan AF planes crossed the border with Colombia? When they are shot down in Colombian territory…
standard South American (among other places) strategy: create an external enemy or “othered” internal groups to explain the hardships, and why rights and material needs need to be suspended
Two thoughts:
1) I’m told that Maduro has publicly stated that he received advice from his deceased mentor, Chavez, who appears in the form of a talking bird. I would imagine Maduro’s talking bird is a buzzard.
2) In an exalted place in heaven, Simon Bolivar weeps at what has been done in his name.
Joules, yes indeed.
One scene in the Netflix series Narcos even involves Bolivar’s sword.