Both El Tiempo and Semana used the term "guerra fría" on Sunday to describe Colombia-Venezuela relations. Both articles hint that the recent massacre on the Venezuelan side of the border could heat it up.Venezuela said the 11 dead in the massacre were actually Colombian "paramilitaries" infiltrating their country. They announced they would be adding security on the border near the region of the massacre and also announced the arrest of eight other "paramilitaries." They also continued their accusations against the DAS, saying they had uncovered a document that showed DAS operations in Venezuela, Ecuador and Cuba. Ecuador indicated that spying allegations could harm chances to restore relations between the two countries. Colombia recently arrested and deported several current or former Venezuelan intelligence agents who had crossed the border under false identity.
Beyond the question of who the 11 massacre victims were, nobody still knows who killed them. Was it the ELN? Colombian violence "spilling over" the border as some Venezuelan officials have suggested? Was it a guerrilla group based in Venezuela, which local officials deny exist? Was it Venezuelan government forces acting against what they saw as a paramilitary threat?
Meanwhile, analysts speculate over the political implications of the increased tensions. Is Chavez acting out because his poll numbers have dropped? Is Chavez going after the political opposition in Tachira? Is Uribe drawing attention away from the reelection debate or the new security agreement? Lots of questions, few answers, but tensions are increasing.
