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It’s tempting to celebrate the U.S.’s capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, says a Venezuelan-Canadian professor at McMaster University.
“People celebrate this because they operate on the logic of the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” said Manuel Vasquez Villavicencio, an assistant professor of philosophy in Hamilton.
When American forces struck Caracas on Jan. 3 and took Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges, Vasquez Villavicencio said a part of him was glad.
He moved to Canada over 11 years ago, but his mother, sister and other family members remain in the capital and continue to experience hardships.
During Maduro’s time as president, since 2013, millions of Venezuelans have been pushed into poverty and face food shortages. Maduro, whose government has been subject to aggressive sanctions by the U.S. and other powers, has been accused of abusing rights and rigging elections.
But, Vasquez Villavicencio said, knowing it was the U.S. that removed Maduro from power and did so for better access to Venezuelan oil, he ultimately can’t celebrate.
“Motives matter,” he said.
Venezuela’s high court and its military back Delcy Rodgríguez as the country’s interim leader — a Maduro ally and former vice president who appears to be cooperating with the Americans. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Rodríguez was someone the administration could work with, unlike Maduro.
The current political situation is “very dangerous” for the people of Venezuela, said Vasquez Villavicencio.
As long as the Venezuelan government gives the Trump administration access to its resources, it will be protected and allowed to operate as it sees fit — even if that means risking the liberties and rights of civilians, Vasquez Villavicencio said.
“The price we are paying is too high,” he said. “I would like a free, prosperous Venezuela, where there are institutions that work for people and people can change institutions when they want to.”
‘A little bit of freedom’
María Fernanda Aguirre also moved from Venezuela to Canada over 11 years ago. She works as a chemical engineer in Hamilton.
She said she followed the U.S. military operation unfolding early Saturday morning on social media, not sure what was going on.
“When it was released that the president was captured, I’m going to be very honest, I was very happy about that — my entire family, too,” she said.
Venezuelans opposed to Maduro have tried “everything” to see a change in government, Aguirre said. She protested for years, but nothing seemed to change.
But to see the president removed, she said, “I just couldn’t believe it.”
“People think maybe the U.S. is invading,” said Aguirre. “We don’t see it this way. It’s more about a little bit of freedom, change.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlines a three-phase plan for Venezuela, including stability for the country, recovery of oil and overseeing transition.
Aguirre is concerned about an “internal battle of power” within Venezuela in the coming weeks or months, but is hopeful there will be a “reliable” election eventually.
After that, she said she’d like to see a new president take power, who will gradually make positive changes.
“Venezuelans want something new, to start fresh in whatever form that can be.”
