VENEZUELA’S Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Embassy in Georgetown, yesterday, criticised United States Secretary of State John Kerry for comments following charges, by high-ranking Venezuelan officials, that his country is supporting the orchestration of a coup d’état by the Opposition.

The Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Margarita Arratia Diaz, on Tuesday in an interview, denounced the “destabilising actions” of the Opposition in her country, for “violating” the nation’s people.
She charged that the “fascist” Opposition is being supported via “interference” by the U.S. through its State Department, to orchestrate a coup d’état.
Speaking through translator Liliana Tejeda, the Ambassador alleged that the U.S. support is being offered to Opposition elements through the funding and training of youth organisations, as well as civil society, to “practice acts of violence” and create chaos.
On Wednesday, the U.S. issued a statement, from its local embassy, debunking claims by high-ranking Venezuelan officials that it is supporting the orchestration of a coup d’état by the Opposition in the neighboring State.
This was in addition to the comments made by Secretary Kerry.
New ploy
A statement from the Embassy rejected Kerry’s assertions, saying these “constitute a new ploy from the government of Washington to promote destabilisation attempts against the Venezuelan democracy, triggered by violent groups” over the last week.
It continued:“Obama’s Administration lies when it questions the validity of human rights and democratic guarantees in our country.
“Institutions of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, formed in a State of Law and Justice, guarantee the enjoyment of political rights to all its citizens, in a framework of large and constitutionally enshrined civic freedoms.
“The Government of the United States lies when it denounces the detention of pacific anti-government protesters.
“The Venezuelan State has acted and will continue to do so against violent actions by small groups of right-wing extremists who, dangerously, conspire against democratic freedoms by putting at risk the life of our fellow citizens, against their freedom to peacefully exercise their rights, as well as acting against public and private property through loutish acts punishable by law.”
According to Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kerry, on behalf of his Government, comes to the defence of violent leader Leopoldo Lopez.
“The world must know that there is enough evidence that the groups who have provoked violence in the last few days are led by Mister Leopoldo Lopez, who has been issued a legal arrest warrant so that he is brought to the authorities and there will be neither force nor coercion able to halt this decision made by the Venezuelan authorities, which is necessary to restore peace in our Homeland,” the statement said.
The Venezuelan Ministry has, since, called on the Government of the U.S. to accept its responsibility towards the Venezuelan people and the world, for allowing American institutions and individuals to finance, legitimate and encourage actions by people and groups who attack the Venezuelan society and seek to twist the democratically expressed will of our people to build their destiny in sovereignty and peace.
Authentic democracy
“The Venezuelan people and Government, along with the rest of State institutions and organizations of the people’s power, will, imperturbably, continue to exercise all actions which, within the framework of the Constitution, as well as laws and principles of authentic democracy for the people, are necessary to guarantee the normal development of society, and to defeat the violence agenda openly endorsed by the imperial government of the United States,” it warned.
The neighbouring State has also called for the “most active solidarity” from independent governments and peoples of the world, against American intervention.
Hundreds of students have spent the past week in the streets of Caracas, alternating between peaceful protests by day and pitched battles with Police at night, in the massive unrests fed by hardships that include rampant crime, 56 per cent inflation and shortages of basic goods.
The massive protest actions have left four people killed and saw three American diplomats expelled from the country.
According to reports in the Venezuelan media, the Opposition firebrand Leopoldo López, on Tuesday, handed himself in to the authorities after coming out of hiding to attend a rally of supporters in Caracas.
The Venezuelan Government issued an arrest warrant for López, who is accused of “terrorism” for his alleged role in violent anti-government demonstrations across the country.
President Maduro has also publicly claimed that López has been conspiring to overthrow the Government with the connivance of university students and the backing of the U.S.
López, a former mayor of one of the capital’s districts, has denied the accusations.