This week’s Stories from Latin America series focuses on why #VenezuelaExigeRespeto (Venezuela Demands Respect) trended today on Twitter.
While U.S. presidential candidates keep discussing immigration policy and borders, on August 21 Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro announced that his government would be closing the border between Venezuela and Colombia. The reason? According to reports, three Venezuelan soldiers and one civilian were wounded in an attack by smugglers. As a result, Maduro told his nation the following: “As part of measures to restore order, peace, tranquility and justice … I have decided to declare a state of emergency.”
The border between Venezuela and Colombia is about 1,400 miles, as shown on the following map. There has been a history of border tensions in this area, particularly when it comes to smuggling. In addition, Venezuelan municipalities like Táchira were at the center of anti-Maduro protests last year.
Today, Venezuelans took to Twitter to generate support for Maduro’s announcement, tweeting to #VenezuelaExigeRespeto (Venezuela Demands Respect). Maduro supporters have been tweeting at a steady clip of about a tweet per second:
We Venezuelans are the ones called to guarantee peace for our Nation, she is our treasure! We must protect her! #VenezuelaDemandsRespect
Los Venezolanos somos los llamados a garantizar la paz de nuestra Patria, ella es nuestro tesoro! vamos a protegerla #VenezuelaExigeRespeto
— Carmen Meléndez (@gestionperfecta) August 26, 2015
#VenezuelaDemandsRespect: We cannot allow to be invaded under any circumstance or that our military forces keep getting killed, time for strong measures.
#VenezuelaExigeRespeto no podemos permitir que, nos invadan bajo ningún concepto y sigan matando a nuestros efectivos militares, mano dura
— oswaldorevcagua (@oswaldorevcagua) August 26, 2015
We support the State of Exception Decree as a guarantee of peace an tranquility. #VenezuelaDemandsRespect
Apoyamos el Decreto de Estado de Excepción como garantía de Paz y tranquilidad | #VenezuelaExigeRespeto pic.twitter.com/Wa1GSTtWl3
— PDVSA (@PDVSA) August 26, 2015
The Bolivarian Government continues to work to build a border focused on work, prosperity and peace #VenezuelaDemandsRespect
El Gobierno Bolivariano continuará trabajando para construir una frontera de trabajo, prosperidad y paz. #VenezuelaExigeRespeto
— Delcy Rodríguez (@DrodriguezVen) August 26, 2015
The social media amplification and trending come at a time when the Venezuelan government is calling for the deportation of Colombians living unauthorized in Venezuela: “According to the Venezuelan authorities, more than 1,000 Colombians living illegally in Venezuela have been handed over to the Colombian authorities.”
A Colombian boy deported from Venezuela carries his belongings across the Tachira River in Cucuta pic.twitter.com/LDWcKiuAnA
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) August 25, 2015
What do you think about the situation in Venezuela? Tweet @LatinoUSA or me @julito77.