This was published 9 years ago
Venezuela keeps border with Colombia closed in trade, migration dispute
By Mery Mogollon and Chris Kraul
Caracas: Venezuela has announced a 60-day extension of its partial closure of the border with Colombia after President Nicolas Maduro said his country was under attack by neighbouring paramilitary groups, drug traffickers and black marketeers.
The move came after the governor of Tachira state in western Venezuela said more than 1000 undocumented Colombians had been expelled over the weekend for suspected black market activities. The expulsions followed an incident on Wednesday in which unknown gunmen wounded three National Guard members at an outpost near the border.
Colombian soldiers stand guard at Simon Bolivar international bridge, on the border with Venezuela.Credit: Reuters
Mr Maduro blamed the violence on Colombian paramilitary groups involved in smuggling.
The two countries have been at odds over trans-border trade. Colombians have taken advantage of Venezuela's government-subsidised economy to smuggle cheaper goods across the border for sale. That, in turn, has exacerbated severe shortages of basic food and household items in Venezuela.
People walk across the Simon Bolivar bridge on the Venezuela-Colombia border after Venezuela intensified deportations of Colombians.Credit: Handout/Reuters
In an interview with state-owned television on Monday, Mr Maduro also said Venezuela has been inundated by more than 100,000 Colombians in recent months, comparing it with mass migrations under way in the Middle East.
In the past, Colombians have migrated to Venezuela in search of work in oil-related industries. But Venezuela's economy has been struggling of late, raising questions as to whether so many Colombians would migrate there – and if so, why.
Speaking at an event in Bucaramanga on Saturday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos disputed Mr Maduro's claims and said the closing of the border and mass expulsions "have no logic".
On Monday, the Santos government issued a statement saying the two nations' foreign ministers would meet on Wednesday at an undisclosed location in an effort to resolve the dispute.
A man stands near houses used by people who do not possess proper documentation in Venezuela.Credit: Reuters
Also in the statement, the Colombian government expressed its "concern" over the expulsions and reported rough treatment of the expelled Colombians at the hands of Venezuelan authorities.
"Dialogue and diplomacy, especially in moments like these, is the most responsible and recommendable way to address the situation of our citizens," the Colombian statement said.
Venezuela has stepped up deportations of Colombians, in some cases separating children from their parents, since President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure of two border crossings last week.Credit: Reuters
In a separate statement, Colombia's Interior Ministry said officials at the border city of Cucuta had helped 751 Colombians expelled from Venezuela in recent days, of whom 514 had been placed in temporary shelters.
Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo suggested that Colombians living in Venezuela were being used as pawns in the Venezuelan political campaign before National Assembly elections in December.
Houses used by migrants in San Antonio, Venezuela, have been marked for demolition.Credit: Reuters
Los Angeles Times
Venezuelan National Guards (bottom) stand in front of Colombian soldiers on the Simon Bolivar international bridge, on the border with Colombia.Credit: Reuters