If, for Donald Trump, the coronavirus is Chinese, for Nicolas Maduro it is Colombian. “We are waging a terrible battle to stop the Colombian virus which is spreading in Venezuela”, launched the Venezuelan president on July 6 during a televised address. By evoking a “Explosion of imported cases”, Mr. Maduro accuses his Colombian counterpart and fierce enemy, Ivan Duque, of deliberately wanting “Infect” Venezuela.
For the Chavist government, the thousands of Venezuelan migrants who return to the country represent a health hazard. Thursday, the Minister of the Interior, Nestor Reverol, “Declared war” returning migrants who cross the border illegally.
On Twitter, a Jesuit sympathizer of Chavismo, Father Numa Molina, called them “Bioterrorists”. The Society of Jesus released a statement on Friday to condemn the words of his disciple.
The opposition and human rights organizations protest against this rhetoric of the government which stigmatizes illegally returned migrants and participates in the “Endogenous xenophobia” that settles down. While denouncing ” the supplice “ lived by Venezuelans returning to their country, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization recalls that the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela is not the result of a natural disaster but of government policies.
“Before accusing the migrants of returning to the infected country, the responsible for the crisis who forced them to flee the country should be accused”, indignant economist Jose Toro. According to the United Nations (UN), more than five million Venezuelans have, since 2015, left their country devastated by an unprecedented economic recession.
Subject to strict quarantine
From Colombia to Chile, the majority of them live from the informal economy. The confinement deprived them of resources, housing and hope. According to Colombian migration authorities, more than 80,000 returned to Venezuela during the first half of the year, after an often trying journey.
When they get home, “They are free, they are worthy, they are human”, welcomed President Nicolas Maduro in June, failing to recall that these migrants who fled a country in crisis are returning to a country in crisis. Venezuelans who have crossed the border legally are under strict quarantine. Hotels, stadiums, school were mobilized. Reception services are overwhelmed.
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