Sabotage? No water for activists besieged in Venezuela's US embassy, govt denies cut-off
Anti-coup activists holed up in the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington say they have been left with no utilities after the water supply was shut off or disrupted. The municipal water provider has denied responsibility.
The already dismal conditions the activists known as the Embassy Civilian Protection Collective have had to endure after the US authorities complied with the opposition's request to shut down power in the building, have grown even worse, with water now reportedly gone as well.
Since it comes just two days after the 'ambassador' appointed by Juan Guaido, the US-backed opposition leader and self-proclaimed 'interim president' of Venezuela, demanded that the US authorities shut down the power, the activists said it was yet another joint attempt by Washington and Guaido to drive them out of the embassy.
Also on rt.com US cuts off power to Venezuelan Embassy with activists besieged inside"The US govt turned off water at Venezuela Embassy this morning to try to force the #EmbassyProtectionCollective to leave," Code Pink's Medea Benjamin wrote, while another activist, reporter Mark Hand, accused municipal water company DC Water of leaving the activists without water, and public utility Pepco for the continued blackout.
After @dcwater and @PepcoConnect cut off utility services to Venezuelan embassy, @RealAlexRubi and Margaret Flowers enjoy some spring weather on this beautiful Saturday. pic.twitter.com/oo9umkTUGa
— Mark Hand (@MarkFHand) May 11, 2019
DC Water denied being behind the cut-off. Responding to Hand, the company said it neither shut off the supply nor received a request to do so.
Mark, we have not shut off water to the embassy nor have we received a request to do so.
— DC Water (@dcwater) May 11, 2019
The provider's response has sparked more questions, with activists asking the company to turn the water on and investigate the incident.
Then how is it shut off? And what are y'all doing to rectify the situation? Shouldn't someone be down there investigating?
— foot soldier in the war on civility ☭🚩💜 (@alaway52) May 11, 2019
Journalist Max Blumenthal, who is also a member of the 'Collective', hinted that sabotage might be to blame.
So who shut it off then? Was it sabotage? And will you now restore water per DC law?
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 11, 2019
As the conditions inside the embassy become more unbearable, several activists appeared to be leaving the building with pro-Guaido protesters rejoicing at the difficulties they had to face.
5 more people from #codepink colectivo abandoning the Embassy by the back door. They could’t stand 2 days with no food, water and electricity. Venezuelans have been going through this situation for months. Baño de patria para Uds invasores! pic.twitter.com/cP1CbOV9ja
— Katy Siino-Pérez (@KatySiino) May 11, 2019
Opposition supporters have encircled the embassy in a bid to prevent activists from breaking the siege or bringing much-needed water and food inside. The pro-Guaido crowd is reportedly being aided by the DC police, which replaced the Secret Service in standing guard outside the building.
Earlier today, activists led by @JasonRCharter on the @codepink / @answercoalition attempted to deliver food and water to the people inside the embassy via the south entrance, but were prevented by the pro-Guaidó side, with the aid of the police. pic.twitter.com/zFLVKo8H6H
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 11, 2019
The standoff between pro-Guaido protesters and the 'Collective', which says it was invited by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry into the embassy after US authorities forced diplomats loyal to President Maduro to leave the premises, has been ongoing since late April. A failed coup attempt on April 30 inflamed the situation, with protesters blocking any attempts by activists to sneak supplies inside. Several people were arrested as they attempted to throw food and hygiene products through the open windows.
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