Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) Samuel Moncada denounced Thursday the terrorist attacks against the National Electric System before the U.N. Security Council.
“Terrorist activities against Venezuela are planned, instigated, executed and financed, with resources that have been stolen from the nation as part of a campaign of aggression that supported by foreign powers, whose policies and practices represent a threat to world peace and security,” said Moncada in an open debate of the Security Council on preventing and combating the financing of terrorism.
There is no good terrorism. In Venezuela there is terrorism promoted and protected by foreign powers, today we denounce these criminal actions before the Security Council and we demand the effective action of the organism responsible for international peace and security.
Acts of terrorism affect the stability of nations and the foundations of societies, have adverse consequences for economic and social development, and cause the destruction of the physical and economic infrastructure of States.
The first sabotage happened on March 7, when a major cyber attack to the country’s electrical system resulted in a six-day nation-wide blackout, which according to the national government was executed by the United States. An account that Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, on behalf of her government, backed, explaining that “it was an attempt to remotely influence control systems at major electrical substations.”
The second attack happened on Monday, March 25, as El Guri Hydroelectric plant was targeted wice on the same day. Vice President of Communication, Tourism and Culture Jorge Rodriguez gave a press conference Wednesday showing evidence related to the recent attacks, which he stated were intended to cause chaos by leaving the Venezuelan people without electricity for weeks.
“In the last two years, the Venezuelan fascist opposition has perpetrated more than 250 attacks on the National Electric System,” said Rodriguez adding that such attempts have been foiled by the Venezuelan government on different occasions.
On behalf of 120 countries, we reiterate the obligation of the international community to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts and to criminalize the intentional provision or collection of funds intended to be used to commit terrorist acts.
Because of this Moncada asked the U.N. Security Council to categorically reject the use of terrorist practices against government institutions, adding that the attacks on the electrical system are a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions.
