María Corina Machado: ‘They think they’re unbeatable because they have the weapons, the money, and the control’

The information gap surrounding the departure from Venezuela of María Corina Machado‘s five associates, who had been taking refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas for more than 400 days, continues to be filled by the main opposition leader and her allies. The “precision” operation, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it, to extricate the opposition members is now known as “Operation Guacamaya.” It had been in the works for some time and, according to Machado herself in an interview with an online television channel Thursday night, is proof — in her opinion — of the vulnerability of Nicolás Maduro’s government.

“They think they’re unbeatable because they have the weapons, the money, and the control,” Machado said. “The second most-heavily guarded facility in Venezuela, after Miraflores (the presidential residence), was the Argentine Embassy, surrounded by elite forces, and they couldn’t detect what was coming and what happened.” Machado insists that the Maduro government was caught unawares and dismissed the versions provided by Minister of the Interior and Justice Diosdado Cabello — the only ones that have emerged from within the Chavista regime — about a supposed negotiation.

“Who do Venezuelans believe? Diosdado Cabello, or Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Argentine government, and the Brazilian Foreign Ministry? While saying this, he sent his troops to (political activist and Machado’s campaign leader) Magalli Meda’s house to raid it. This contradictory and erratic attitude shows that they continue to make mistakes,” the opposition leader said.

On Thursday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson also denied that the politicians’ release was the result of negotiations and assured that when new details regarding the “extraction of the opposition members” become available, they will be shared through U.S. spokespersons. “What I do know is that these people are now out of danger while we continue working to rescue more people,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a press conference.

Machado avoided providing details of how the extraction of Meda, Claudia Macero, Pedro Urruchurtu, Omar González, and Héctor Villalobos was orchestrated, arguing that she needed to protect those involved. “Operation Guacamaya was complex and carried out with such precision and perfection. We must protect everyone involved, including the freed hostages. The entire country understands that we must act with secrecy and confidentiality. This fight has new stages,” she asserted.

“This is part of this entire journey that began when we managed to hold the primaries, went to the July 28 elections, and managed to demonstrate [Chavismo’s] defeat. Now we have managed to demonstrate that we were also able to penetrate that security ring, that last remaining line, which is their repressive system,” Machado insisted.

The opposition leader also confirmed that her mother, Corina Parisca, had left Venezueal. Cabello had claimed that Parisca left via Maiquetía Airport on a flight to Colombia, providing alleged photographs and images of her passport and boarding pass. Machado did not say where Parisca is now, but assured that she is fine. “She didn’t want to leave. We’ve been asking her to leave for months because they cut off her water and electricity and placed surveillance on her home. Her children and grandchildren persuaded her.”

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