While
Venezuela’s government and the Chavista movement proclaimed victory
over the worst blackouts to plague the country, Washington’s coup
masters have promised more darkness until their goals are complete.
by
Misión Verdad
Part
6 - The harsh consequences of the blackout and Guaidó’s
destabilization plan
The
blackouts caused serious discomfort and inconvenience for most
Venezuelans. But they also prompted a striking show of resilience, as
citizens came together to defy the attempts to destabilize their
society.National
media outlets like El Universal and El Correo del Orinoco reported
through their social media platforms that the traffic system of
Caracas had collapsed due mainly to the interruption of electric
power during peak hours. The operations of the Caracas Metro were
stopped and the population had to travel by foot or by other means in
order to get home on March 7.The
loss of electricity led to the collapse of the electronic payment
platforms and their systems, generating serious complications for
consumers throughout the country soon after the blackout. This
platform malfunctions would only worsen, as banking institutions saw
their backup generating systems also collapse because of the
excessive number of transactions made during those hours. Offline
points of sale, combined with the deficiencies in cash flow, limited
the purchasing capabilities of the Venezuelan population during the
following Friday and Saturday.Sales
and perishable goods such as meats and vegetables were also affected.
The National Federation of Cattle Management reported a 2 million kg
of beef loss during the blackout in slaughterhouses across the
nation. In the majority of households, families chose to consume
these foods as soon as possible.In
cities with high temperatures, such as Maracaibo, where the use of
air conditioners is common, the discomfort was even greater. The
water service was affected in cities and towns that depend on
hydraulic pumps for their supply.There
was also a telephone and internet interruption throughout the
country. The CANTV, ABA, Movilnet, Digitel and Movistar servers,
which rely on battery powered transmitting antennas, experienced a
progressive drop of their signals as the power of their antennas ran
out. Cable service platforms were also affected, with the exception
of satellite platforms such as DirectTv. Many families and businesses
with power plants were able to access national and foreign TV
services through these satellite signals.In
many cities, the interruption of open radio and television signals
was reported. Many stations don’t have power plants and those that
did survived thanks to backup generators. This meant that besides the
electrical blackout, there was also an information blackout, given
that many of the few private broadcasters still on air were simply
playing music, violating their obligation to keep the population
informed about the events under development.The
interference in communication systems and the radio-electric spectrum
was the perfect recipe for a toxic broth of misinformation,
especially in the Andean region, allowing fake news to overwhelm the
reality of the situation.All
these components – rumors, false information, distortions and half
truths – pushed a noticeable percentage of the population into a
frenzied and anxious state of mind.In
the State of Zulia, violent groups looted deposits belonging to
Empresas Polar: beer, soft drinks and other beverages. Guaidó
justified the looting on the grounds that it was motivated by hunger.Many
service stations do not have a generator to support the supply of
fuel. Lines for gasoline were seen in places throughout the country
and the mobility of the population was seriously affected, while gas
was redirected to supplying generators around the country. Rubio’s
prophecy of the collapse of gasoline and food distribution had begun
to to materialize. But the continuity of the PDVSA system of fuel
distribution mitigated the impact, and the transportation of people
and food was maintained, albeit at half throttle.In
some cities, barricades and road closures appeared as an immediate
response to Guaidó’s calls for violence. Other known figures from
the Venezuelan political opposition tried to provoke reactions among
the population and called for their followers to spread the chaos
nationwide. But most rejected the appeals for chaos, ensuring that
any eruptions of violence that did occur were isolated and
insignificant. The ultimate effect of the blackout was keep most
people in their homes.By
Sunday the 10th, the government announced the partial restoration of
electricity in several cities throughout the country. This helped
restore calm while testifying to the resilience of a population that
was able to manage the dire situation with support from their
families and through communal solidarity.Information
began circulating on cellular platforms and TV networks about the
recovery of the electrical system as well as news of nationwide
social stability and the noticeable absence of violent elements
seeking destabilization.By
Monday, Maduro had informed the nation about the army’s actions
during the contingency plan, the deployment of its security
mechanisms and declared victory over the electric sabotage. The
president instructed the military corps to supply fuel to all health
center plants in areas that were still affected and emphasized the
return of communication platforms and other services dependent on the
electrical system.From
that point, Maduro made it clear that it was the Bolivarian
Government and not any other political element that would use
strategic management to assume the task of normalizing daily
activities. The announcement was a substantial setback to the
destabilization plans. The ultimate goals of Washington – social
fragmentation and chaos – remained unmet thanks to the rapid
government and society-wide response.By
Tuesday, the electrical system appeared to be returning to normal and
was overcoming its vulnerabilities. The reinstallation and start-up
of the electric distribution was similar to the recovery of the main
PDVSA system in 2003 during the oil industry sabotage enacted by the
opposition, but this time, with a greater sense of commitment and a
greater level of clarity about the severity of the scenario.Maduro
declared victory over the assault on the electricity grid, framing
the event as one of the most significant events in the protection of
the country’s population.
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