In Venezuela, Will Maduro's Paramilitary Shock Troops Stay Loyal? That's Not a Given.
CARACAS, Venezuela—"There are things I would say if I had more freedom, if I were outside of the country. But I am not, so I will not answer your question."
I had just asked Gilberto, one of the most senior colectivo commanders in Caracas, what he thought of Nicolás Maduro’s leadership and future, and I'm taken aback by the almost reckless honesty of his non-answer.
We are 20 minutes into this, perhaps my most unexpected interview during my four week stint in Venezuela, and I can feel myself holding my breath on every question, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/in-venezuela-will-maduros-paramilitary-shock-troops-stay-loyal-thats-not-a-given
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Worth the read. Very well-written. I read a piece last week by the same woman after she was robber of all her possessions and threatened with death in Tachira by colectivos on the way to cover the 23 Feb attempted crossing of the border with humanitarian aid. In today's piece, she sits down with a colectivo honcho and gets some surprising answers out of the guy.