SundayNewspaper

2 R SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019 | | News A9 ed early Saturday, boasting of the country’s education and social security systems. “We show theworld that we can do social justice.” A once-wealthy oil nation, Venezuela has sunk into economic and social collapse marked by soaring inflation and a scarcity of basic goods that has caused an estimated 3.7million citizens to flee the country. interimpresident. Maduro hasmaintained control of themilitary by securing the loyalty of top commanders. He calls Guaidó a “puppet” of the Trump administration and says that the U.S. is support- ing a coup to oust him to exploit the country’s vast oil wealth. “The U.S. Empire aims to end the Bolivarian Revolution,”Maduro tweet- capital, Caracas. “We live in dictatorship,” Guaidó said, urging support- ers to press forward in their campaign to oust his foe. “We don’t have the option to stay at homewaiting, but to keep demanding our rights in the streets.” Guaidó argues that Ma- duro illegitimatelywon a second term in rigged elec- tions and declared himself By SCOTT SMITH The Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela— Venezuelan opposition leader JuanGuaidó on Saturday said he has in- structed his political envoy inWashington, D.C., to meet withU.S. military officials in a bid to bring more pressure on President NicolásMaduro to resign. The leader said he’s asked Carlos Vecchio, recognized by the U.S. as Venezuela’s ambassador, to open “direct communications” toward possiblemilitary “coordina- tion.” The comments, at the end of a rally Saturday, mark one of his strongest public pleas for greater U.S. in- volvement in the country’s fast-escalating crisis. While Guaidó has repeatedly echoed remarks from the Trump administration that “all options” are on the table for removingMaduro, few in the U.S. or Venezuelan opposition viewmilitary action as likely nor has the WhiteHouse indicated it’s seriously considering such a move. But with tensions be- tween the U.S. andMaduro running high, the saber rattling is getting louder. On Saturday, Venezuelan DefenseMinister Vladimir Padrino condemnedwhat he saidwas an illegal incur- sion by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter into Venezuelan territorial waters. He pro- vided no evidence to back the claimbut said the Vene- zuelanNavy vessels forced it towithdraw. “I don’t know if other Venezuelan opposition wants U.S. military help Chávez. Guaidó has said that as Venezuela’s rightful leader he reserves the option to invite foreignmilitary actions in the sameway indepen- dence hero Simón Bolívar hired 5,000 Britishmerce- naries to liberate South America fromSpain. He said any such help should be considered “cooperation,” instead of intervention, something he has accused Maduro of allowing in the formof military and intelli- gence support fromallies Cuba and Russia. In recent days, theMaduro government has sought to ramp up its own pressure on the opposi- tionwith the arrest of the No. 2 leader of the opposi- tion-con- trolledNa- tional Assembly, Edgar Zam- brano. Several other anti- Maduro lawmakers have sought refuge in the embas- sies of foreign nations as the country’s top court an- nounced investigations of Zambrano and nine other members of congress. Meanwhile, noticeably smaller crowds at opposition protests reflected a growing fear and demoralization that has permeatedGuaidó’s ranks of supporters after he led a failedmilitary uprising April 30. In previousmonths, thousands of demonstrators heeded his calls to protest. On Saturday, amodest crowd of several hundred Venezuelans gathered in the republics will accept actions like this in their jurisdiction, but wewill not,” he said. Army Col. Amanda Azubuike, a South Command spokeswoman, said a U.S. Coast Guard vessel was con- ducting a drug interdiction mission in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea. She declined to provide fur- ther comment. In past days, Padrino also denouncedwhat he saidwere attempts by the U.S. military to sowdiscord inside Venezu- ela’s barracks, inviting an angry response fromU.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller, the head of South Command, who said he “stands ready” to assist Guaidó. “I look forward to discussing howwe can support the future role of those (leaders of Venezuelan armed forces) whomake the right decision, put the Venezuela people first & restore constitutional or- der,” Faller said. As head of the embattled National Assembly, Guaidó launched a campaign in Jan- uary to oust Maduro, gaining the support of the U.S. and more than 50 nations. He announced Saturday a forthcomingmeetingwith U.S. military officials and said that newactions taken by the oppositionwill seek to “achieve the necessary pres- sure” to put an end to the Bolivarian revolution launched 20 years ago by the late socialist President Hugo “ We live in dictatorship. We don’t have the option to stay at home waiting, but to keep demanding our rights in the streets.” JUAN GUAIDÓ Venezuelan opposition leader speaking at a Caracas rally NATION&WORLD 6 Month CD Money Market 2. * – or – 50 ** 1100 Bellevue Way NE Suite #6, Bellevue sterlingbank.com · 425-278-6950 *The Annual Percentage Yield for each CD product is effective as of 05/09/2019 and is subject to change without notice. Each CD product requires a $500 minimum opening balance and a penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal. **The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective as of 05/09/2019 and is subject to change without notice. To qualify for the advertised rate, you must: (1) make a minimum opening deposit of $500 in the money market account, (2) open or maintain a Sterling Checking Account with a minimum $500 opening deposit, and (3) maintain a minimum monthly balance of $500 in both accounts. Rates are compounded monthly and paid on the entire balance in the account. 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