Violent Opposition Forces Throw Molotovs At Venezuelan Forces, Colombian Police Complicit

Colombian forces at the border with Venezuela are looking the other way as violent Venezuelan opposition protesters, or ‘Guarimberos’, throw homemade Molotov cocktails at Venezuela’s National Guard while in Colombian territory.

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The violent opposition are trying to cross from Colombia into Venezuela in order to attack the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) protecting Venezuela’s border.

The Guarimberos used a similar tactic Saturday torching trucks parked in Venezuela trying to incriminate Venezuelan security forces, according to teleSUR's Madelein Garcia who was on the ground at the time.

On Saturday as well, Colombian forces were “complicit” with the Guarimberos, according to the Venezuelan administration under President Nicolas Maduro.  

"On the other side (of Venezuela, opposition legislator) Jose Manuel Olivares and Colombians and Venezuelans were aggressive toward Venezuela with the complicity of the Colombian national police as they attacked the fences at the Tachira River trying to enter Venezuela," said government spokesperson, Freddy Bernal. 

Feb. 23 was the deadline that self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guido gave to let in four trucks with alleged "humanitarian aid" from USAID that were trying to illegally enter Venezuela. At least two of the trucks were burned on the Colombian side of the border.

The Venezuelan administration closed the passage completely at the Simon Bolivar bridge, alleging "serious and illegal threats attempted by the Government of Colombia against the peace and sovereignty of Venezuela."

Local authorities in the state of Tachira in Venezuela denounced the Colombian government of President Ivan Duque for damaging peace in Venezuela and complying with the orders given by U.S. President  Donald Trump. "Duque is trying to damage the peace of Venezuela and is attacking" a sister nation, despite this "we are still here calmly and peacefully," said the Tachira official Saturday.

Guarimberos are often young, poor and male, and have been used over the past several years by the opposition to destroy infrustructure and act violently against the Chavez and Maduro administrations.