A state of emergency has been declared along parts of Venezuela’s border with Colombia after clashes between smugglers and soldiers left four people injured. He says the 60-day state of emergency, which can be extended for another two months, would allow security forces to regain.
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Santos said that closure of two border crossings hurts innocent people, adding that he hoped to speak to his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro to find a solution. In addition, 1,500 soldiers would also be sent to the region to prevent petrol and food smugglers from crossing.
Without making direct reference to Maduro’s recent statements, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said that Venezuelan citizens “are always welcome”, noting that there are many Colombians in the neighbouring country.
Closure of the border was announced Wednesday night during a phone call to a state TV program hosted by National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello, hours after the attack of three army officers while they were carrying out patrols in the border town of San Antonio.
Venezuela closed its border with Colombia for the first time previous year , in a similar attempt to stop smugglers.
“This decree provides ample power to civil and military authorities to restore peace”, he said in a ceremony broadcast on state television.
“We’ve been discovering a frightful reality about how the criminals and paramilitaries operate”.
In response, the coalition of the Venezuelan opposition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, or MUD, said that the state of exception decreed by Maduro is a ploy to suspend the legislative elections scheduled for next December . 6, since the president’s party faces “imminent defeat”.
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As part of Venezuela’s crackdown against the flow of contraband, the government this year has closed the border in Tachira at night, deployed more troops and toughened jail sentences for anyone caught smuggling.
